Caramelized Pineapple

Pineapple seared in brown-sugar butter until the edges burn sweet — dessert from one hot pan.

15 min4 servingsAmerican150 kcal/serving1g protein
Caramelized Pineapple — American recipe, finished and plated

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Ingredients

  • ½ Pineapple
  • 30 g Butter
  • 2 tbsp Brown sugar
  • ½ Lime (optional)
  • ¼ tsp Ground cinnamon (optional)

Method

  1. Slice the skin off the pineapple and cut out the tough central core.
  2. Cut the peeled pineapple into thick wedges, about two fingers wide.
  3. Pat the pineapple wedges dry with paper towels so they sear instead of steam.
  4. Melt the butter with the brown sugar in a wide skillet over medium-high heat until bubbling.
  5. Sear the pineapple wedges in the bubbling sugar butter, about 3 minutes per side, until the edges are deeply caramelized and burnished.
  6. Squeeze the lime over the hot wedges, dust them with a little ground cinnamon, and serve warm.

Nutrition per serving

150Calories
1gProtein
22gCarbs
7gFat
1gFiber

Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.

About Caramelized Pineapple

Caramelized pineapple is dessert reduced to its most direct form: fruit seared in brown-sugar butter until its edges turn deep and burnished. Pineapple is ideal for this because it is high in both sugar and acid, so as it hits the hot pan the sugars caramelize into something almost candied while the fruit's natural tartness keeps it from being sickly. Lime squeezed over the top and a dusting of cinnamon at the end sharpen and warm the flavor, turning a simple wedge of fruit into something that tastes indulgent.

The technique is what carries it. Patting the wedges dry before they hit the pan is the small step that matters most, since dry fruit sears and browns rather than steaming in its own juice. Cooked in bubbling brown-sugar butter over fairly high heat, the wedges pick up those deeply caramelized edges in just a few minutes a side. It is an entire dessert from one hot pan, ready in about fifteen minutes, and it is especially good warm alongside a scoop of ice cream or a spoonful of yogurt.

Caramelized Pineapple: frequently asked questions

How many calories are in Caramelized Pineapple?

One serving of Caramelized Pineapple has about 150 calories, with 1g of protein, 22g of carbs, 7g of fat and 1g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.

Is Caramelized Pineapple gluten-free?

Based on its ingredients, Caramelized Pineapple has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.

Is Caramelized Pineapple dairy-free?

Not as written — it uses Butter. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.

Do I need every ingredient to make Caramelized Pineapple?

The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out lime, ground cinnamon — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.

How many servings does Caramelized Pineapple make?

This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.