Makeover Cherry Coconut Bars Recipe

Makeover Cherry Coconut Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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This made over recipe has less than half the fat, saturated fat and cholesterol of the original recipe...plus 32% fewer calories. Yet the thin crust retains its buttery taste and the fruity filling is still sweet and gooey.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin

This recipe is:

Healthy

Diabetic Friendly

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Makeover Cherry Coconut Bars Recipe

Prep: 15 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling

Yield: 12 Servings

15 35 50

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons cold butter
FILLING:
1 egg
2 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup quartered maraschino cherries
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup flaked coconut

Directions

In a food processor, place flour and confectioners' sugar; cover and process until blended. Add butter; cover and pulse 15 times or until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Press into a 9-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
For filling, combine the egg, egg whites, sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add the egg mixture. Stir in cherries, nuts and coconut. Spread over crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until firm. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 1 dozen.

Nutritional Analysis: One bar equals 194 calories, 7 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 25 mg cholesterol, 128 mg sodium, 31 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.

Originally published as Makeover Cherry Coconut Bars in Light & Tasty October/November 2004, p11