Tropical Oat Bars with Pineapple & Coconut

Looking forward to your next vacation?  These oat bars will send your taste buds straight to paradise!  Sweet pineapple, flaked coconut, and freshly squeezed lime juice give them a delicious tropical flare.  The pineapple filling in the center is made by cooking fresh pineapple in some sugar and lime juice.  When the bars are baked, the the center sets up as delicious pineapple preserves.  Better yet, I made these lower in fat by using nonfat Greek yogurt to replace half of the butter!  These are great for breakfast or as a snack.  Give them a try!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c butter, room temperature
• 1/2 c nonfat Greek pineapple yogurt, room temperature
• 1/2 c white sugar
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 c quick cooking oats 
• 1/2 c flaked coconut, sweetened 
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp salt

Pineapple Filling:

• 2 c fresh pineapple, finely chopped 
• 2 tbsp white sugar 
• 1 lime, juiced 
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

Make the pineapple filling.  In a small sauce pan, add the fresh pineapple, sugar, lime juice, and salt.  Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.  Continue to boil over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Use a potato masher to mash the pineapple.  Continue to boil for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease an 8 x 8 baking dish.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the butter, Greek yogurt, white sugar and brown sugar, until smooth and creamy.  Beat in the egg.  In a separate large bowl, add the flour, oats, coconut, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Gradually incorporate the flour mixture into the wet ingredients with a spoon, being careful to not over mix.

Spread half of the batter in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.  Pour the pineapple mixture (along with the juices) evenly on top of the batter.  Carefully spoon the remaining batter over the pineapple layer.

Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes.  Allow it to cool completely before serving.

Enjoy!