Quick and Easy Coconut Squares for Unexpected Company

“I got this recipe from a friend in Quebec years ago,” Diane Barlow writes. “It is great for an afternoon snack when we have unexpected company because I always have the simple ingredients on hand.”

COCONUT SQUARES

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

2/3 cup milk heated with 1 tablespoon butter

Coconut Topping

Beat eggs with electric mixer. Beat in sugar. Using wooden spoon, add flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla. (Mixture will be very dry.) Mix lightly. Add hot milk mixed with butter. Stir only until ingredients are just blended. Pour into 8-inch square baking pan and bake at 325 degrees 30 to 35 minutes.

Add Coconut Topping and bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until topping bubbles. Cool and cut into squares. Makes 9 servings.

Coconut Topping

5 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons evaporated milk

1/2 cup shredded coconut

2 tablespoons butter, softened

Combine brown sugar, evaporated milk, coconut and butter. Mix well.

--DIANE BARLOW

Trabuco Canyon

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