Pineapple Buttercream

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Take your creations to the next level with our tantalizing Pineapple Buttercream recipe. Use in your cakes, cupcakes, and pastries for a burst of tropical flavor that will transport your taste buds to paradise.

Vanilla cupcakes lined with white or yellow cupcake lines are topped with pineapple buttercream. In the background are green and white flowers, a pineapple, clear glass bottle and small wooden planks to give a tropical feel.

Freeze dried pineapple is my secret to create the most incredible and flavorful fruity frosting. Once ground into a powder and added to our traditional buttercream, it makes the most delicious Pineapple Buttercream that takes your tastebuds to paradise. This buttercream is perfect year round for whenever you want to taste the tropics regardless of where you are. No need to try and find a perfect fresh pineapple!

This Pineapple Buttercream frosting adds a burst of tropical flavor to any dessert, creating a heavenly combination that is both indulgent and refreshing.

Love the taste of fresh tropical fruit? Check out my Tropical Popsicle recipe.

An overhead of vanilla cupcakes with frosted pineapple buttercream on a cement background. There's a yellow gauze that runs through the cupcakes. In the upper left corner are wooden planks, glass bottles and green and white flowers.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Vibrant Tropical Flavor - Delicious sweet and tangy! It has so much pineapple flavor. Its bright and refreshing without needing a ripe pineapple or dealing with messy crushed pineapple.

A Delicious Surprise - Transforms any cake or cupcake with this fruity flavored frosting. Use it on vanilla, lemon, coconut, or even orange cake and cupcakes. You can even use it as a delicious filling for macarons.

Can be Made Year Round - You can make this frosting ALL YEAR ROUND with our secret ingredient of freeze dried pineapple. No need to wait until fresh pineapple season.

Ingredient Notes

A flat lay Pineapple Buttercream ingredients of freeze dried pineapple chunks in a white bowl, two sticks of butter on a grey small plate, powdered sugar in an oval-like white bowl, a bottle of vanilla extract and a small metal container of heavy whipping cream. all the ingredients are on a cement background and each is labeled with a white rectangle with black font in all capitalization.

Butter, unsalted - lets you control the amount of salt in frosting. Should be room temperature!

Freeze Dried Pineapple - has so much pineapple flavor! We grind them into a fine powder. Can be found at Target, Trader Joes, some other grocery stores and even Amazon!

Powdered Sugar - also known as confectioners sugar.

Vanilla Extract - extra flavor! Real vanilla will result in the best flavor. Alternatively, you could use a coconut extract for a bit of a tropical twist to your frosting.

Heavy Whipping Cream - helps create a light and fluffy whipped texture.

Step-by-Step Instructions

A mini food processor with freeze dried pineapple powder. the lid is removed and it sits on a cement background. In the upper left corner is a '1' in white font in a small red circle.

Using a mini food processor or blender, process the freeze dried pineapple into a powdery crumb. Sift the freeze dried pineapple powder with a fine mesh sifter to get rid of the larger pieces. BUT SAVE THEM! They make pretty 'sprinkles' and can be used for decoration on top of your cake or cupcakes.

Butter getting beaten in a large stand mixer with a paddle attachment. In the upper left corner is a '2' in white font in a small red square.

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a handheld mixer, beat butter on medium speed for about 2 minutes until creamed.

A large mixing bowl with pineapple buttercream with a paddle stand mixer attachment. In the upper left corner is a '3' in white font in a small red square.

Finally, add in powdered sugar, freeze dried pineapple powder, vanilla extract and heavy cream. Beat on low speed for about 30 seconds and then increase to medium speed for another 30 seconds and then medium-high for another 2 minutes until frosting is well combined and fluffy. You will want to scape the bottom of the mixer at least once with a silicone spatula to ensure everything gets beaten well together. Use immediately!

Expert Tips

Simply Sift! Best practice is to sift your freeze dried pineapple powder and powdered sugar to ensure a lump-free frosting.

Room temperature butter is a must! Cold butter for frosting can result in a chunky frosting or the frosting will not come together. Forgot to soften your butter? Check on this video on how to quickly soften butter. As for the heavy whipping cream, it can be room temperature, however, I have used cold heavy whipping cream in my frosting as well without problem.

A close up on a vanilla cupcake in a yellow cupcake liner with a mountain of pineapple buttercream piped on top. in the background is a rattan tray with more vanilla cupcakes with pineapple buttercream frosting.

Recipe FAQ

Can I double this recipe? or make a smaller batch?

Yes! Just increase or decrease ingredient quantities as needed.

Do I have to sift the powder sugar and freeze dried pineapple powder?

Yes to the freeze dried pineapple powder this will ensure a smooth frosting.

As for the powdered sugar, if it's super lump, I would highly recommend it but you don't technically have to. Sifting just guarantees a lump free frosting.

What kind of cake would this frosting be good for?

This frosting would be great for a variety of cakes and cupcakes! Here are some cake flavor ideas:
- Vanilla
- Lemon
- Lime
- Orange
- Coconut
- Carrot Cake

Storage

Pineapple Buttercream can be stored in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. I recommend if you are freezing or storing it in the refrigerator to beat the frosting (after thawing/bringing to room temperature) with a splash of heavy cream to restore the frosting to its proper texture as it will stiffen when cold.

PS If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page? I always appreciate feedback. You can also follow me on Pinteres t, Facebook or Instagram.

Mara

This Pineapple Buttercream frosting packs a tropical punch! It's so delicious and can be enjoyed all year round.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 3 cups

Calories 1320 kcal

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
▢ 4 cups powdered sugar (480 grams)
▢ 2.5 ounces freeze dried pineapple
▢ ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Using a mini food processor or blender, process the freeze dried pineapple into a powdery crumb. Sift the freeze dried pineapple powder with a fine mesh sifter to get rid of the larger pieces. BUT SAVE THEM! They make pretty 'sprinkles' and can be used for decoration on top of your cake or cupcakes.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a handheld mixer, beat butter on medium speed for about 2 minutes until creamed.
Finally, add in powdered sugar, freeze dried pineapple powder, vanilla extract and heavy cream. Beat on low speed for about 30 seconds and then increase to medium speed for another 30 seconds and then medium-high for another 2 minutes until frosting is well combined and fluffy. You will want to scape the bottom of the mixer at least once with a silicone spatula to ensure everything gets beaten well together. Use immediately!

Notes

Nutritional information for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. Please calculate your own nutritional information if you want it exact to what you make and use my calculations as a guide only.