These Pineapple Coconut Chess Bars are perfectly gooey with the delightful combination of crushed pineapple and shredded coconut. Serve them as a dessert for potlucks, picnics, the holidays or as an anytime dessert.

Easy Pineapple Coconut Chess Bars Recipe

What’s the difference between chess bars and gooey butter cake? In short, very little. The only variation of note is; often chess bars have a bit more mix-in ingredients in the cream cheese layer than a standard gooey butter cake.

Both gooey butter cakes and chess bars have been popular in the South for eons. Both are made with a cake mix foundation and transformed into a variety of flavor combinations and similar texture. This recipe for coconut pineapple butter cake bars make a delicious sweet treat for the holidays, potlucks, tea parties and casual gatherings. The tropical flavor in these coconut chess bars is addictive!

Key ingredients to make Pineapple Coconut Chess Bars: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

Cake Mix – One box of yellow cake mix. You can use any brand that you enjoy.
Pineapple – Two cans of crushed pineapple.
Sweet Coconut – Sweetened flaked coconut gives this bars a tropical flavor twist.
Cream Cheese – Cream cheese stabilizes the filling.
Butter – Melted unsalted butter for the cake mix layer and the coconut filling.
Whole Eggs – Large eggs for the cake mix layer and the coconut pineapple filling.
Sugar – Powdered sugar for sweetness.
Flavoring – Vanilla extract balances the flavor.

How to Make the Best Pineapple Coconut Chess Bars Recipe

Heat Oven and Prepare Pan – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spritz a 13×9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Make the Crust – In a large bowl, use a mixer to combine cake mix, melted butter and one egg. Press onto the bottom of the prepared pan. (The cake layer is stiff, it won’t form a classic cake batter.)
Whip the Wet Ingredients – In the same mixing bowl beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar. remaining butter and vanilla extract.
Whole Eggs – Add reserved eggs. Whip the cream cheese mixture until creamy and fluffy.
Combine – Fold in the crushed pineapple and shredded coconut by hand. Pour pineapple filling over the cake mix crust.
Transfer to Oven – Bake per the recipe until the center is loosely set and the top is golden brown.
Cool – Cool coconut pineapple butter cake chess bars in the pan on a wire rack.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Coconut Chess Bars

Large mixing bowl.
Stand mixer or hand mixer.
Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
Rubber spatula or offset icing spatula.
13×9-inch cake pan.
Wire rack.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substituions

Flavoring Variations – You can add coconut extract for more coconut flavor or substitute pineapple extract in place of vanilla extract to amp up the pineapple flavor.
Nuts – You could sprinkle the top with chopped pecans, macadamia nuts or almonds for texture and crunch.
Cake Mix Substitutions – You could also use a pineapple cake mix or a butter cake mix in place of yellow cake mix. Regular cake flour or all purpose flour, isn’t going to work the same as a boxed mix for this recipe.
Drain the Crushed Pineapple Well – It’s important to fully drain all of the pineapple juice from the crushed pineapple before adding it to the filling.
Don’t Overbake – It’s important not to overbake chess bars. The center should still have a slight movement when the pan is gently shaken. This is one rare moment in baking where the toothpick method doesn’t work.
How to Serve Coconut Pineapple Chess Bars – You can serve coconut pineapple bars with whipped cream, dusted with powdered sugar or slightly warm with vanilla ice cream. Another decadent option is to add a dollop of coconut cream cheese frosting on top.

Storage and Leftovers

Leftovers: Store leftover pineapple coconut chess bars in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap and foil chilled in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer Storage: Store coconut pineapple bars in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Separate layers with parchment paper or wax paper to prevent sticking together. Thaw in the refrigerator.

More Southern Gooey Butter Cake Recipes and Chess Bars to Make

Whether you call them chess bars or gooey butter coconut pineapple cake the end result is always delicious. More gooey butter cake recipes you may like to try:

Pretty as a picture Strawberries and Cream Gooey Butter Cake
Banana Pudding Gooey Butter Cake is a fusion of two all-time favorites.
Mocha Molten Lava Gooey Butter Cake is made using Nutella for the filling.
Caramel Chocolate Almond Gooey Butter Cake features dulce de leche in the filling.
Orange Creamsicle Gooey Butter Cake is like a bite of sunshine.
Cheesecake Chess Squares from Six Sisters Stuff.

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