Fresh pineapple and homemade ice cream are two of my summer favorites. So, naturally, combining the two into a batch of sweet and creamy pineapple ice cream was going to happen.

Pineapple Ice Cream

There are a couple of requirements for this ice cream. First, the pineapple must be fresh. And second, it must be sweet. Mediocre “okay” pineapple isn’t going to cut it for this ice cream, because that fresh pineapple carries the flavor here.

If you buy a pineapple and it turns out to be less than amazing, just enjoy it as the refreshing fruit that it is, or try using the pineapple in some pineapple rice, or pineapple jalapeno salsa, or in a smoothie. Wait to make this ice cream when you get your hands on a truly delightful pineapple. It makes a big difference, friends.

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

And for what it’s worth, the same thing goes for most ice creams that include fruit. With baked goods, you can often get away with using less than perfectly sweet fruits, because you’re adding so many other ingredients that bring out the flavors. With ice cream? It’s all about the fruit and the cream, so the fruit’s flavor needs to be strong and sweet.

If you happen to love pineapple and ice cream as much as we do, you’ll want to put this mango pineapple ice cream and this coconut pineapple smoothie on your must-try list as well.

Pineapple Jalapeño Turkey Burgers

Add some tropical flavor and a spicy kick to your next burger with this delicious and saucy pineapple jalapeño turkey burgers. Perfect for summer cookouts or anytime you’re in the mood for a unique and tasty twist on a classic dish.

We had a bunch of family in town a couple weeks back and I was trying to think up something quick and easy to have for dinner. Instantly BBQ came to mind because you can just throw it all on the grill and sides are always easy. I’m not a huge hamburger fan so I changed things up and made them sweet, spicy and saucy.

I loved the juiciness that the Mar A Lago turkey burgers recipe had because of the fruit in it so I threw pineapple into this one. The preserves give it a little heat and sweetness which even our youngest loved. The burgers stay really moist and when you bite into them you get a little sweet and tang from the sauce.

Ingredients for Pineapple Jalapeño Turkey Burgers

These burgers are sweet and tangy and I crave them all summer long! Here is everything you will need:

Burgers

• Ground Turkey: don’t go too lean or the burgers will be crumbly and dry
• Salt and Pepper: adds flavor to the meat
• Hamburger Buns: We prefer brioche for the best flavor and texture.
• Toppings: Havarti Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato Slices and Red Onion Slices

Sauce

• Pineapple Jalapeño Preserves: We love Kelly’s brand, but any brand you can find should work great.
• Spices: Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger
• Lemon Juice: adds acidity to the sauce
• Soy Sauce: adds flavor

The measurements and details for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Pineapple Jalapeño Turkey Burgers

We have found that chilling the turkey burger patties after they are formed makes all the difference, so be sure to plan that into your prep time. Here are the steps:

1. Form the Patties: Divide the ground turkey into 4 equal balls and form into patties and cover both sides in salt and pepper.
2. Refrigerate: Place the patties in a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.
3. Make Sauce: While the turkey patties are chilling, make the sauce by adding all the ingredients to a small bowl and whisking everything until well combined.
4. Grill: Heat the grill to medium-high heat, and grill the patties for 6-8 minutes on each side. Only flip them once and don’t press them.
5. Stir: Add all the ingredients for the sauce to a sauce pan and whisk together
6. Assemble: Top each patty with a slice of Havarti cheese and close the lid for a minute or tw

Pineapple coconut cake is a rich white cake full of pineapple flavor and just a hint of coconut, layered with a velvety smooth, indulgent coconut cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with toasted coconut. It’s the perfect dessert for coconut and pineapple lovers alike. 

Pineapple Coconut Cake

Handy canned pineapple and a splash of coconut milk make this special cake reminiscent of a Pina Colada. You already know how much I love a well-stocked pantry and these are two foods that you will always find in my kitchen.

This is not your average pineapple cake. The pineapple is pureed and mixed into the actual white cake batter so you get the tropical flavor in every bite. The resulting batter was so moist and pineapple-y that I could hardly believe it.

Coconut Frosting

In a nod of understanding to all of the people who can’t get past the texture of coconut, this is a smooth frosting flavored with creamy coconut milk. This gives the frosting a subtle coconut taste without the texture that some might find off-putting.

The higher fat content in canned coconut milk makes the frosting nice and creamy. Use the full fat variety of canned coconut milk rather than the lite or reduced-fat versions for the best results.

The coconut milk gets blended with cream cheese and powdered sugar to become a creamy sweet cake frosting that’s worth licking the spoon for. Please note that refrigerated coconut milk will not work in this recipe.

When making the easy coconut cake frosting, be sure to only beat the cream cheese in with the rest of ingredients until just combined. If you beat it for too long, the icing is prone to become runny no matter how much more powdered sugar you add.

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Tangy, sweet pineapple rice with cilantro and lime is a guaranteed win for any pineapple lovers. My family gives it two thumbs up around the table every time I make it.

This is a fun side dish that was originally inspired by this recipe for Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken. I wanted something sweet and just a bit tangy, and the rice worked out beautifully.

Rice with Pineapple

To say that we’re a family of pineapple lovers just doesn’t even do justice to how much we all enjoy fresh, frozen, or canned pineapple. (And speaking of those options, any of them will work nicely in this recipe.)

The much-loved pineapple was a big hit when I added it to the cilantro lime rice. My family informed me that I should probably double the recipe the next time I make it.

If my boys are at home while I’m slicing a pineapple, the odds are good that it will disappear within moments. I’m just as guilty as they are though, seeing how I’ve been known to demolish a batch of pineapple salsa entirely on my own.

Pineapple rice would also be delicious with Sticky Chicken or Sweet and Spicy Glazed Salmon – or honestly, just about any other main dish imaginable. My boys went a little crazy over this rice and repeatedly told me how much they liked it.

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Bursting with the sweet, juicy flavors of pineapple and coconut, this Pina Colada Smoothie brings a bit of vacation sunshine, no matter the weather.

Pina Colada Smoothie

Years ago, when I first put this recipe on the blog, I had just made this piña colada smoothie and churned it into ice cream. I can still remember how my little boys jumped up and down with excitement.

They loved the sweetness of this refreshing ice cream treat during the heat of a Phoenix summer. I loved that it had no refined sugars.

I had been on a bit of a smoothie kick, back then. But, I’d never tried freezing a smoothie recipe before that. The result is a creamy texture that is more like soft-serve ice cream.

The twist of lime in this Pina Colada Smoothie gives it a unique taste that is more complex than the simple combination of coconut and pineapple. And, the tiny pinch of sea salt likewise enhances all of the flavors.

Be aware that different manufacturers produce their coconut milks at varying levels of creaminess and thickness. My favorite is the canned coconut milk from Thai kitchen.

I typically use store-bought frozen pineapple chunks for smoothies, but you can also freeze fresh pineapple chunks with the banana. Also, the honey could be swapped out for another natural sweet