1 1/2 cups coconut flaked
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
2 8-ounce cans crushed pineapple drained
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup red maraschino cherries chopped
1 quart vanilla ice cream softened
Frozen whipped topping, thawed
8 red maraschino cherries whole
Place coconut and butter or margarine in a 10 x 6 x 2-inch baking dish. Mix well with a fork and pat evenly in bottom. Chill while making filling.
Place pineapple and sugar in a blender container. Cover and blend with on-off bursts until pureed, scraping sides of container as needed.
In a large bowl, stir ice cream until almost smooth. Stir in pineapple-sugar mixture and chopped cherries until blended but not melted. Spread evenly over coconut crust. Cover and freeze at least 4 hours or until firm.
Can be served straight from the freezer or place in refrigerator 15 minutes before serving. Cut into squares and garnish each with a dollop of whipped topping and a maraschino cherry.