Elsie's Pineapple Oatmeal Bars

SrtaMaestra's Note:

A sweet lady at the church I attended growing up used to make these for potlucks and church dinners. She once gave me the recipe on a card, which I've long since misplaced, but I had copied the recipe into another cookbook and have made it many times. Every time I take these bars somewhere, people ask for the recipe. They're also great made with zucchini pineapple (the recipe is also posted here on the zaar, by another chef). I like to cut the sugar down by at least 1/4 cup, because the pineapple is sweet enough, and I've always made these with real butter. Quick oats or old-fashioned will work, but the old-fashioned does make it a little more challenging to press the crust into the pan. I intend to try a mixture of the two at some point, but haven't ever done it. These would be great for a bake sale, potluck, or gifts. The crust does tend to be a little soft, so I'd be sure to package with something firm underneath, rather than just wrapping in plastic. I've seen other recipes that add nuts, coconut, etc. I'm sure that would be great as well, but this is just the basic, buttery, oatmeal and brown sugar crust and topping. Yum!

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 24

• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple (Do NOT drain)
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 ¾ cups oatmeal
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ cup butter or ¾ cup margarine , softened

Directions:

1. For the filling, combine the sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan and mix well. Add the pineapple and its juice, and cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Cool.
2. For the crust, combine oatmeal, salt, brown sugar, flour, and baking powder together. work in butter until mixture is uniform.
3. Reserve 1 1/4 cup of crumb mixture, and press the rest into an ungreased 9 x 13 pan, working up edges just slightly to help hold filling off of the edge of the pan.
4. Pour filling over oatmeal mixture and spread evenly.
5. Sprinkle reserved crumbs evenly over filling.
6. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. cool and cut into bars.

Reviews

[CrazyNoodles]

A wonderful addition to any meal!

[secretcook]

so good. You have to let these cool before you eat them or they just fall apart. Wonderful recipe.

[StacyMD187373]

Delicious and easy to make! Mine didn't stay together very well, but this is likely b/c I used light margarine instead of butter. So they pretty much needed to be eaten with a fork or spoon, but that's my fault. The taste was fantastic! Will likely make this one again.