Pineapple Cheesecake Bar

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose bleached flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick softened)

Batter:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup crushed pineapple or 1 (8-ounce) can, drained
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine flour, sugar, and butter until mixture is crumbly. Spread evenly into a 13 by 9-inch baking pan with raised sides. Press down until an 1/8 of an inch thick and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Mix cream cheese and 1 cup powdered sugar until frosting texture. Add egg, sugar, crushed pineapple and vanilla extract, mix thoroughly. Fold 1/4 cup white chocolate chips and 1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts reserving 1/4 cup of each. Bake for additional 15 to 20 minutes or until batter is set. Remove from oven, melt reserved white chocolate chips and drizzle on top and sprinkle with 1/4 cup reserved chopped macadamia nuts. Let stand for 1 hour and cut into bars.