Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

island cookie bars

(27 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Emily Glover
Lawrence, KS

These bars bring back memories of my honeymoon in the Bahamas. Naturally, I love every bite!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This was a HUGE crowd-pleaser. Jam-packed with peanut-y flavor, they were a unanimous hit with everyone on the Crew. We had success making these with regular pastry flour in place of the whole wheat pastry which can be a little harder to find.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(27 ratings)
yield 32 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 25 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For island cookie bars

  • 1 3/4 c
    whole-wheat pastry flour
  • 1/2 tsp
    baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp
    salt
  • 3/4 c
    sugar
  • 1/2 c
    brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 3/4 c
    natural peanut butter
  • 1/4 c
    crushed pineapple, juices drained
  • 2 Tbsp
    butter
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla
  • 1
    large egg
  • 1 1/4 c
    white chocolate
  • 1/2 c
    sweetened flaked coconut

How To Make island cookie bars

  • 1
    In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • 2
    In a large mixing bowl, cream together sugars, peanut butter, pineapple, buttery spread and vanilla. Beat in the egg. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until completely combined. Fold in 1 C of the white chocolate chips, saving remaining 1/4 C.
  • 3
    With dampened hands, press the dough into a greased 9 x 13" baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining white chocolate chips and press them down lightly.
  • 4
    Bake bars in a 350 degree oven for 22-25 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • 5
    Put baking rack on the middle level. Turn oven to broil. Sprinkle coconut on top of the bars. Broil for 30-60 seconds, until coconut begins to brown. Be careful not to burn coconut!
  • 6
    Allow pan to cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into 32 bars.
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