Pineapple Topping for Cakes and Desserts

Jump to Recipe

This pineapple topping recipe makes a very easy fruit topping. Loaded with tiny chunks of juicy pineapple, this topping is also quick to make and perfect for cakes and other desserts.

A spoon scooping out some pineapple filling of a glass bowl. — Quick & Simple Pineapple Topping

I have another recipe for pineapple filling which is pretty much similar to this topping recipe, except that I choose to make that filling without any chunky fruit pieces in it.

Smooth fillings work better for desserts like cheesecakes that require cutting (like my baked pineapple cheesecake here). Chunky fruit pieces in the cheesecake can make it difficult to cut neat pieces, hence my preference for a smoother filling in such treats.

Jump to:

❤️Why you will love this recipe
📋Ingredients
🧾Substitution and variations
👩🏻‍🍳How to make
🍽️Serving & storage
💡Expert tips
⭐What can you use the pineapple topping for?
💭FAQs
❤️More recipes you will love ❤️
📖Recipe

❤️Why you will love this recipe

This is an easy recipe. It can be made using both fresh and canned pineapple, making it flexible enough to be made even when fresh fruits are not available.
This pineapple topping recipe requires only 5 ingredients – pineapple, sugar, water, lemon juice and cornstarch. All these ingredients are very basic pantry supplies except for pineapple. And even if fresh pineapple is not readily available, it can be easily substituted with canned pineapples which can be easily obtained.
This is a very versatile topping recipe. It is great on cakes, cupcakes, pancakes, ice creams, and many other treats. And despite calling this a topping recipe, it is also great as a filling, especially for individual-sized treats like mini cheesecakes.

Like this recipe? Here are my other posts you might want to check out:

📋Ingredients

Fresh or canned pineapple - if using fresh pineapple, use a well ripened fruit. For canned pineapple, you can use either crushed pineapple, pineapple cubes or pineapple rings.
White sugar - both coarse sugar or granulated sugar will work for this recipe.
Cornstarch (mixed with some water) - cornstarch tend to be lumpy. It is best sifted before using.
Lemon juice - Use fresh lemon juice and strain it to remove any seeds or pulps.
Water ( and pineapple syrup if using canned pineapple) - use filtered water.

*Refer to the recipe card below for exact quantities of the ingredients above. For best results, use a digital kitchen scale where applicable*

🧾Substitution and variations

This pineapple topping is made using white sugar. You can always substitute it with brown sugar is you wish. Substitute with the same amount. Do take note that brown sugar will result in your pineapple topping to be of a brown hue and white sugar will keep it yellow.

This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you do try, please let me know in the comments section below!

👩🏻‍🍳How to make

Preparing the pineapple

Option 1: Fresh pineapple - peeling & processing

If you plan on making this topping with fresh fruit, start by preparing the pineapple first. Peel and chop it into small cubes. Not sure how to peel a fresh pineapple? Check out my detailed, step-by-step tutorial on how to peel a pineapple (including a video tutorial here).
The next step is to chop the pineapple into tiny pieces. You can do this in a food processor or by hand. In a food processor, pulse the fruits until they are all chopped roughly. There is no need to blend until smooth. Suffice if they look like crushed pineapple.
If cutting by hand, chop them into as small pieces are you wish.

Option 2: Canned pineapple (crushed pineapple, pineapple cubes and pineapple rings in syrup) -Processing the pineapple

Place the pineapple cubes into a food processor. If using pineapple rings, chop them into smaller pieces first. Pulse until the pieces are chopped into smaller pieces.
If you are using crushed pineapple, there is no need to chop them further.

Cooking the pineapple topping

A poster of 6 images showing how to cook pineapple.

Once the fruit is all prepared, transfer the chopped fruit into a medium saucepan.
Add the sugar, lemon juice, and water.
Stir and cook them over low to medium heat. The mixture will appear runny initially.
Turn the heat to low and let the topping simmer slowly to allow the chopped pineapple to cook. As it starts to thicken, keep stirring to avoid it from burning.
Mix corn starch with some water. Pour it into the pineapple topping mixture. Stir quickly and thoroughly to avoid clumping.
Continue to cook until the topping thickens up. Once it reaches your desired consistency, turn the heat off. Let it cool before transferring it into a clean container. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

A small glass bowl filled with yellow fruit filling. A small spoon is in the jar. — Pineapple Topping Recipe for Desserts

🍽️Serving & storage

Given that this is a fruit topping and there are no preservatives in it, it should be kept refrigerated if not used immediately. It can last in the refrigerator for a good 4 to 5 days. Store it in an airtight container or clean mason jar to avoid it from becoming dry and absorb the odor in the fridge.
The topping can also last longer if it is frozen. You can freeze it for up to 2 months. Thaw it completely before using.

💡Expert tips

The taste of canned pineapple is more consistent as they are soaked in sugar syrup compared to fresh pineapple. If you are using fresh pineapple, choose a fruit that is well ripened. A not-so-well ripe fruit will be more sour and taste somewhat bland.
Regardless of whether you are using fresh pineapple or the canned version, pineapple chunks do not generally soften easily with cooking. Hence you will notice that I have used quite a lot of liquid (water or syrup) in making this fruit topping. The water helps the fruits simmer longer and that helps to soften them better.
Fresh pineapple is often a lot firmer compared to the canned version. Hence, given the same cooking time, you will find that the topping made using canned pineapple is softer than that made using fresh pineapple.
There is no difference in the amount of sugar used for the topping made with fresh pineapple and canned pineapple. Despite the canned pineapple being soaked in sugar syrup, it still requires sugar to be added to it when making the topping for best results.
Cornstarch slurry (mixture of cornstarch and water), if not used immediately will cause the cornstarch to settle into a layer at the bottom of the container. Mix it properly again before using.

⭐What can you use the pineapple topping for?

Here is what you can use this delicious pineapple topping for:

Spoon over a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream for a classic and tropical flavored ice cream or banana split.
Spoon over pancakes or waffles for a tropical twist to your breakfast.
Layer with yogurt and granola in a glass or bowl to create a vibrant and flavorful parfait.
Spread on toast, bagels, or English muffins for a whole new way of adding some tropical twist to your morning meal.
Use pineapple as a filling for cakes, cupcakes, or muffins.
Add to a green salad or fruit salad. It pairs well with fresh fruits, leafy greens, and other salad ingredients.
Add as a condiment to your sandwiches or burgers. It creates a unique flavor profile and pairs well with savory ingredients like grilled chicken, ham, or turkey.
Use the topping to sweeten and flavor mixed drinks and cocktails for a refreshing twist.

💭FAQs

How to choose a ripe pineapple?

This recipe can be made with both fresh pineapple or canned pineapple.
If using fresh pineapples, the topping is best made with well-ripened fruits. I often use 2 methods to choose a ripe pineapple.

The first method is testing the fruit by pressing it. A well-ripened pineapple will be slightly softer as compared to an unripe one. This is not always an obvious method, and if you are not used to pineapples, it might be a little hard to notice this as the thick and rough pineapple skin often makes it hard to feel this. Too soft a pineapple is not necessarily good, as it could indicate the pineapple having gone bad on the inside.

The second method is testing by smelling it. This is another way to test if a pineapple is ripe. As I have indicated in my post here on how to cut a pineapple, a ripe pineapple cannot be determined by its skin color. You can, however, do a simple smell test to determine if a pineapple is ripe. Simply hold the pineapple and smell it at the bottom. Often, ripe pineapple will have a sweet pineapple fragrance. If you get the smell, that is a good indication of ripe pineapple.

If you are not able to find a pineapple that is fully ripe, you can buy an unripe fruit and continue to let it ripe at home. Simply wrap it well with a newspaper (you can remove the crown and the stem at the bottom of the pineapple by simply snapping them out) and keep the it wrapped in a cool and dry place. Check every day for progress. Do note that this method will not work if you have already cut or peeled the pineapple.

How to chop the pineapple?

If you are using crushed pineapple in a can, there is literally no chopping or processing required in making this fruit topping. You can simply drain the syrup and proceed with cooking the fruit.

If you are using fresh or canned pineapple cubes or rings, the easiest way to chop the fruit is by using a food processor. Place your fruits in the processor and use the pulse function to crush and chop the fruit into small chunks.

You can also choose to chop the pineapple by hand. This can take a bit of time, but it is definitely an option. Slice and chop the fruit into small chunks.

Another way is to grate the pineapple with a vegetable or cheese grater. This is best for fresh pineapple as you need the fruit to be a little firm for easy grating. Also, if you use this method, cut the pineapple into long wedges for easy holding when grating.

Can I omit the lemon juice in the recipe?

Lemon juice is used in very little quantity in this topping recipe and it is meant to enhance the taste. If you leave the lemon juice out, your pineapple filling will still be ok, but there will be a difference in taste.

Can I omit the cornstarch in the recipe?

The purpose of cornstarch in this pineapple topping recipe is to thicken it up. You can omit the cornstarch and continue to cook the filling until it thickens up via longer cooking, however, when thickened in this manner, what effectively happens is that the liquid in the filling is let to dry up, resulting in a thicker, but drier filling.

❤️More recipes you will love ❤️

Do you like this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐rating in the recipe card below and consider a review further down this page. I would love to hear from you. Thank you!