Pineapple Dessert Squares Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 egg
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
• FILLING:
• 1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple
• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 5 eggs, separated
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Whole milk
• Ground cinnamon

Directions

• In a bowl, combine butter and sugar. Stir together flour and baking powder; add to bowl. Add egg. Mix until well blended and crumbly. Add milk and blend until dough is moistened.
• With floured hands, pat dough onto bottom and 1-1/2 in. up sides of a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Place pineapple in a sieve over a 4-cup glass measure; press with the back of a spoon to squeeze dry. Spread pineapple evenly over bottom crust, reserving juice in glass measure. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese , sugar and flour. Add egg yolks, lemon juice and vanilla; blend well. Add enough milk to reserved pineapple juice to measure 2-1/2 cups. Add milk mixture and blend well.
• In a large bowl, beat egg whites on high until stiff. Fold filling mixture into egg whites. Gently pour into crust. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 325° for 55 minutes or until filling is set. Cool completely on wire rack. Chill until serving. Yield: 12-15 servings.

Pineapple Dessert Squares published in Taste of Home Cooking School Collection Spring 2007, p69