These Are The 5 Best Desserts To Make With Pineapple!

Caramelized, pureed or used fresh, as a dessert ingredient, the pineapple unravels layers and layers of deliciousness. There’s its sun-kissed sweet-meets-tart juice explosion, its lovely appearance that whispers all-things-tropics… simply put, you can’t go wrong with a pineapple-based dessert! As for pineapple toppings on pizza --- well that’s a whole other story!

Do attempt to craft these odes to the pineapple, in your own kitchen.

1. Pineapple Halwa

You will need:

• Finely chopped pineapple, 1 cup
• Ghee, 2 tbsp
• Semolina, 1/2 cup
• Sugar, 1/4 cup
• Cardamom powder, 1 tsp
• Cashews and raisins for garnishing

To make the halwa:

• Heat ghee in a pan and gently roast the semolina until golden.
• Combine it with pineapple, sugar and cardamom powder. Cook the semolina-pineapple mixture until it thickens.
• Once done, you can optionally add cashews and raisins as garnish. 

Note: To make it suitable for vegans, replace ghee with coconut oil when cooking.

2. Pineapple Sorbet

You will need:

• 2 cups of pineapple chunks
• 2 tbsp of lime juice
• 3 tbsp of honey, or agave syrup if you’re feeling fancy

To make it:

• Blend pineapple chunks, lime juice and honey until you achieve a smooth consistency.
• Let the mixture freeze for 2 hours before serving scoops of this chilled treat.

You can also use an artificial sweetener in place of honey.

3. Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Get these ingredients:

• 1 cup of sliced pineapple
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 50g butter
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Follow this method:

• Begin by caramelizing pineapple slices in a pan, with sugar and butter.
• Prepare your batter using flour, baking powder, eggs and vanilla extract.
• Transfer the batter onto the pineapple that has been caramelized in a baking dish and bake it at a temperature of 360°F (180°C) for 25 minutes.

Note: You can use a mixture of flaxseed meal and water as an alternative to eggs.

4. Pineapple Coconut Mousse

You will need:

• 1 cup of pineapple
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon of agar-agar powder
• 1/4 cup of sugar

Let’s get to it:

• Heat the pineapple puree with sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved.
• Combine agar-agar, with coconut milk bring it to a simmer. Then combine it with the pineapple mixture.
• Allow the mixture to chill until it sets, creating a mousse with a tropical twist.

5. Pineapple Tarte Tatin 

Get these on your countertop:

• 1 cup of pineapple slices
• 1 sheet of puff pastry
• 50g of butter
• 1/4 cup of sugar

Method:

• Caramelize the sugar and butter in an ovenproof pan. Add the pineapple slices. Cook them until they turn golden.
• Cover the pan with the puff pastry sheet, ensuring that its edges are tucked inside.
• Baking instructions: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake for 20 minutes until the pastry rises and turns a lovely golden color.

You may substitute the butter with a dairy-free alternative if required.