Air fryer pineapple is a quick and easy to make grilled pineapple recipe made using an air fryer instead of a grill. Caramelized pineapples are made with fresh pineapple coated in brown sugar and cinnamon, air fried to golden perfection. Serve as is or with cold vanilla ice cream for a wonderfully healthy pineapple dessert.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
I absolutely love baking with pineapple. The sweet, tropical flavors found in pineapple instantly gives me calm, relaxing, vacation vibes. Some of my favorite pineapple dessert recipes on the blog are my Pineapple Cookies, Pineapple Bread, Pineapple Pound Cake and Pineapple Dump Cake recipes. I am so excited to add these caramelized pineapples made in an air fryer. I know you’ll love this easy grilled pineapple recipe too.
- The perfect grilled texture and flavor. There is something incredibly delicious about grilled pineapple. Now you can skip the grill, use an air fryer and have perfectly caramelized pineapple in under 20 minutes.
- Easy and healthy dessert made with simple ingredients. What I love most about this air fryer pineapple recipe is how easy it is to make and to customize to your preferred dietary needs. Simply cut and core the fresh pineapple, toss in your choice of sweetener and air fry to golden perfection. Serve as is or with ice cream.
Ingredients
This air fried pineapple recipe requires just three ingredients to make. Here’s what you will need to make this healthy grilled pineapple recipe.
Gather fresh pineapple, light brown sugar and ground cinnamon.
Substitutions
Here are my recommended substitutions to make this pineapple in an air fryer recipe in case you need to swap an ingredient or two.
- Fresh Pineapple: I recommend buying a whole fresh pineapple rather using frozen or canned pineapple. If needed, frozen pineapple can be used and air fried for a similar caramelized pineapple treat. There is no need to thaw the pineapple before tossing into the sugar and cinnamon. Canned pineapple can be used in a pinch. Just make sure to fully drain the pineapple and use large chunks or pineapple rings.
- Light Brown Sugar: This is used to coat the pineapple to ensure a lovely caramelized finish. If you prefer to have a refined sugar free option, use coconut sugar or maple sugar.
- Ground Cinnamon: This is purely for flavor. Feel free to omit or use another ground spice. Allspice, cloves and cardamom would be lovely options to use instead of cinnamon.
How To Make
Learn how to make air fryer pineapple in a few easy steps.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 (190 C). Slice, core and cut the fresh pineapple into slices, spears, chunks or rings. Make sure to cut the pineapple into even sized pieces. This ensures the pineapple fries or is grilled evenly and at the same time. Toss the pineapple into a bowl with light brown sugar and ground cinnamon until all the pineapple is fully coated.
- Lightly spray the air fryer tray or basket with a non stick cooking spray. Fry the pineapple for 6 - 8 minutes. Then carefully pull the air fryer basket out, flip each of the pineapple pieces and return to the air fryer for an additional 6 - 8 minutes. Air fry the pineapple for 12 - 16 minutes total or until your preferred level of caramelization.
- After the pineapple is grilled or air fried, cool the pineapple slightly until warm. Serve as is or serve this delectable caramelized pineapple with ice cream, whipped cream, or to top a a stack of pancakes.
How To Store and Serve
- Store: Transfer any leftover caramelized pineapple into an air tight container to store in the fridge for up to 4 - 5 days. Enjoy cold from the fridge or reheat in the microwave for 20 - 30 seconds.
- Serve: Air fried pineapple is a delicious and healthy addition to any breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. I love serving mine with cold vanilla ice cream. Fried pineapple would also be especially delicious served with Sweet Cream Pancakes, Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce, Buttermilk Pound Cake or Brioche French Toast Casserole.
M’s Expert Tips
- Grease the air fryer. To prevent the pineapple from sticking, make sure to lightly spray the air fry basket or tray with a non sticking cooking spray.
- Evenly cut the pineapple. Evenly sized pineapple chunks, slices or rings bake at the same time.
- Evenly coat the pineapple. Make sure the each pineapple piece is fully and evenly coated in the cinnamon sugar.
- Air fry the pineapple in a single layer. Avoid over crowding and layering the pineapple. Each piece should lay easily on the air fryer basket or tray. If needed, air fry the pineapple in two batches.
- Flip the pineapple. This is an important step to ensure both sides of the pineapple have the same final texture.
FAQs
Yes, canned or frozen pineapple can be used instead of fresh pineapple. For frozen, the frying time may increase a bit. Canned pineapple is usually softer and doesn’t require as long to air fry.
Yes, maple syrup or honey can be used instead of light brown sugar in this air fryer pineapple recipe.
Prepare the pineapple as written in the recipe. Bake the pineapple at 400 F (205 C) for 10 - 15 minutes.
Some nutrients can be lost when pineapple is cooked. However, cooked or air fried pineapple still contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals.
Other Air Fryer Recipes to Try
If you try this Air Fryer Pineapple recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking!
Air Fryer Pineapple Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 knife
- 1 large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pineapple cut into cubes, spears or rings (about 4 cups of cut pineapple)
- 2 - 4 tablespoons (25 - 50 g) light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 (190 C). Slice, core and cut the fresh pineapple into slices, spears, chunks or rings. Make sure to cut the pineapple into even sized pieces. This ensures the pineapple fries or is grilled evenly and at the same time.1 pineapple cut into cubes, spears or rings
- Toss the pineapple into a bowl with light brown sugar and ground cinnamon until all the pineapple is fully coated.2 - 4 tablespoons (25 - 50 g) light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Lightly spray the air fryer tray or basket with a non stick cooking spray. Fry the pineapple for 6 - 8 minutes. Then carefully pull the air fryer basket out, flip each of the pineapple pieces and return to the air fryer for an additional 6 - 8 minutes.Air fry the pineapple for 12 - 16 minutes total or until your preferred level of caramelization.
- After the pineapple is grilled or air fried, cool the pineapple slightly until warm. Serve as is or serve this delectable caramelized pineapple with ice cream, whipped cream, or to top a a stack of pancakes.
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