Food & Recipes
Pineapple-Coconut Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
The first time I had Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars was at a company potluck. I noticed this caramel color dessert on the tray, so unassuming. I think I had walked by them a few times, opting for a brownie and whatever else was on display that day. Then a coworker said, have you tried the ‘Sopapilla’, not wanting to offend her, I mumbled no and walked away. A few minutes later, she saw me going for my second brownie and suggest that I give it a try. Reluctantly, I picked one up and took a bite, OMG. This is cheesecake, I said.
She looked at me, like duh, of course, it’s cheesecake. What did you think it was? Honestly, I don’t know and really didn’t want to. I went back twice after that and had the nerve to take an additional slice home. Potluck foods are sometimes scary. Sopapilla isn’t one of them. I decided to switch up my recipe a bit by adding pineapple and coconut because I can’t leave well enough alone. Don’t judge, it’s the African in me.
It goes without saying, this isn’t dieting-friendly but it’s worth trying out on cheat days.
Pineapple-Coconut Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
- 2 pkg (8 oz) crescent rolls
- 2 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, soften
- 1½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp coconut extract
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- ½ cup sweet coconut flakes
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup melted butter
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Grease 9 x 13 baking pan and line with 1 can of crescent roll, make sure the seams are sealed
- In a stand mixer, combine 1 cup sugar, cream cheese, coconut extract, lemon juice and zest. Mix until creamy.
- Slowly, fold in the drained crushed pineapple and coconut into the cream cheese mixture.
- Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture onto the crescent roll
- Cover the cream cheese with the remaining crescent roll, making sure the seams are sealed.
- Mix the remaining sugar and cinnamon to make - cinnamon sugar
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top of the dough and top with melted butter
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and center is almost set.
- Remove from oven, let it cool.
- Serve warm.
Recipe adapted from Pillsbury
Michelle Catallo
at
My kids and I loooove sopapillas and am loving your twist on this! Nice and summery with a twist in the tropics 🙂