Baked Brazilian Pineapple (2024)

Our Baked Brazilian Pineapple recipe shows you all about how to cook this yummy tropical fruit using many different methods and styles! Learn how to make baked pineapple in the oven or outdoors on the grill. Juicy cinnamon, sugar spears cook up perfectly no matter which way you choose!

Baked Pineapple

If you love baked pineapple, then you are going to fall head over heels for this oven caramelized baked Brazilian pineapple, also called Brazilian grilled pineapple.

This recipe is inspired by a dish at our favorite Brazilian steakhouse, where we also enjoy these Brazilian Cheese Puffs. After trying it for the first time, I was determined to make a homemade oven-baked version of this dessert fruit with its sweet, buttery brown sugar cinnamon glaze.

This amazing baked pineapple recipe can be made in the oven or grill. The flavor is absolute perfection! Sweet and lightly spiced cinnamon baked pineapple makes a delicious side dish for juicy, bacon-wrapped pork or dessert treat with this orange bundt cake.

If you like this recipe featuring pineapple, I think you will also love Easy Grilled Chicken Kebabs made with the BEST marinade.

What is Brazilian Pineapple?

This tropical fruit came from South America, namely Brazil, and has been grown for centuries. In Europe, it became a symbol of welcoming and warm-heartedness.

Baked Brazilian pineapple is a delicious dessert made by grilling fruit that’s been basted in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Traditionally it’s grilled but I’m going to show you how to make it in the oven too. This oven-roasted Brazilian pineapple is dessert perfection, and it tastes simply divine!

Ingredients

All you need are a few simple ingredients to prepare this recipe.

• pineapple
• brown sugar
• cinnamon
• butter
• cooking spray

How to Cut Fresh Pineapple

There are a few ways to cut or slice this fruit when making baked fresh pineapple recipes.

1. On a cutting board, slice the top and bottom off of the fruit.
2. Stand it up on its end.
3. Carefully use a sharp knife to remove the outside peel or skin, slicing downward.
4. Using a small sharp knife, do your best to remove the remaining thorny bits!
5. After the outside is cleaned and prepared, decide how you want to serve it

Once you’ve got the outside cleaned, you can cut it into spears, rings, or chunks.

• Rings: Slice rings to a thickness of about half an inch. Use an apple corer, (like this one) to press into the center of each ring and remove the core from each slice.
• Spears: Slice the fruit vertically in half. Place both halves flat on the cutting board and slice lengthwise to create three or four spears out of each half. Lay each spear on its side and slice off the remaining core.
• Chunks: To make chunks, slice each spear into one inch pieces.

Not sure which shape to choose?

• For a burger or sandwich, use slices or rings.
• Make a teriyaki chicken breast as a "burger" and top with baked pineapple rings.
• Ham salad or, as my husband calls it, "Spam salad," add a ring on top or chop it up inside the salad
• For pineapple salad, use baked fresh chunks
• Chop them up and serve over ice cream and drizzle caramel sauce on top. Add the drippings as a delicious sauce.
• Chop up into small pieces after cooking and blend with some cream cheese for an excellent topping for a bagel or toast

How to Make Baked Brazilian Pineapple

Follow along with this brief overview of how to make this delicious dessert recipe. For step-by-step images and more detailed instructions check out the recipe card.

Step 1: Cut the Fruit

Choose your cut of pineapple to make this recipe and prep them up.

Step 2: Make the Coating for the Oven Caramelized Pineapple.

Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a large resealable bag or on a shallow plate or bowl.

Step 3: Add the Coating or Marinade

Add the spears, rings, or chunks to a resealable bag and close the bag tightly.

Shake it so that the cinnamon and brown sugar completely coat the spears.

Press sugar mixture onto spears as you remove from bag. If you are using a bowl or plate, roll each piece of pineapple in the sugar until all are coated.

HINT: You can also use a shallow dish or bowl and dip each piece into the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Step 4: Prep for the Oven

Place on a prepared baking sheet in a single layer and dot with tiny butter cubes across the top of the pieces.

Step 5: Bake Oven Roasted Pineapple

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or so, then flip each piece over with tongs and baste with the sugary mixture for another 12 to 15 minutes.

Total cooking is 25-30 minutes and the baked pineapple will be juicy and bubbly.

How to Make Brazilian Grilled or Baked Pineapple Slices or Rings

Grilled slices or rings are delicious on their own and perfect for sandwiches, burgers and that's just the beginning. The list is endless!

Keep each slice at about ½ an inch thick; especially if using the ring to add to a burger or sandwich.

The size of the fruit will determine how many grilled slices you end up with.

How to Make Baked or Grilled Pineapple Spears

Whether on the grill or the oven, this is how we usually cook up baked Brazilian pineapple. It comes out so incredibly delicious. It works either on the grill or baked in the oven.

After cutting the spears, you can put them on a skewer to cook in the grill or oven or simply leave them loose and cook them that way.

How to Make Brazilian Grilled Pineapple Skewers or Chunks

You can cook up chunks either on their own in a pan or skewer them for cooking. I suggest aiming for one-inch chunks when making baked or grilled pineapple skewers.

When cooking the skewers directly on the grate, be sure to turn the skewers at least twice while cooking, so all the sides evenly cook. You will need to cook for two or three minutes per side depending on the thickness of the fruit.

This Brazilian grilled or baked pineapple, in slices, spears, or skewered in chunks, is always a delicious crowd pleaser, every time. No matter how you choose to prepare it.

Variations of Baked Fresh Pineapple

Want to keep it simple? Make plain grilled or baked pineapple by basting the outside of the fruit pieces with your favorite neutral oil.

Want a more savory preparation? Brush the outside of the pieces with teriyaki sauce or marinate in a bag for a more intense flavor prior to cooking.

Add some citrus? Squeeze some lime juice or lemon juice over the top of your freshly cooked Brazilian oven roasted pineapple.

Change up the shape? This method works for all different types of pineapple, but you might need to make a few changes.

• Chunks: Baked pineapple chunks, especially when caramelized in the oven, make a great dessert. Perfect for serving over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Rings: While cutting rings might be a little more work, it really gives a stellar presentation. Serve it up for a delicious dessert either on its own or with whipped cream or a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

Substitutions

Sugar: Use honey or maple syrup instead of brown sugar to make the Brazilian sauce for the pineapple. You can also use white sugar instead of brown sugar but brown sugar does have a more flavorful taste.

Different flavors: We keep it simple with just cinnamon but you could also use pumpkin spice mix or any blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.

Make it spicy: Add a touch of cayenne pepper or chipotle chili powder to the cinnamon-sugar mixture for a little spicy and sweet combo.

All I can say is WOW! Baked pineapple is not to be missed!

How to Grill Brazilian Pineapple

Use this method to cook spears, rings, or skewers of pineapple chunks.

1. Clean and oil up the grill. To oil the cooking grate, squeeze a bunch of paper towels together and grab some tongs. Dip the paper towel in vegetable oil and rub on top of each grate, repeatedly.
2. Turn burners on high, cover, and heat the grill until hot (about 15 minutes).
3. When you’re ready to start cooking, reduce burners to medium heat and add the skewers or fruit directly to the grill.
4. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. Basting with any leftover juices from marinating the pineapple.

Alternatively, you can also cook the pieces in a pan on top of your grill. This method works much better when you are preparing chunks of pineapple.

Prepare the pan with cooking spray or just smear some extra butter over the insides of the pan.

Dump the contents of the resealable bag into the pan, including the brown sugar mixture. Use a brush (or even a spoon) to make sure each piece is completely coated.

Place the pan on top of the grill and cook until the fruit is heated through, turning to heat on various sides of the pieces of pineapple.

Tips for Grilled Brazilian Pineapple

My son made grilled Brazilian pineapple over a campfire and said it was absolutely delicious.

Grilling Brazilian pineapple directly on the grill can cause it to smoke and burn. As a result, I don't recommend grilling Brazilian pineapple inside on an indoor grill.

Before placing the fresh pineapple on your outdoor grill, it MUST be coated fully with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon!

Expert Tips

Try serving this baked Brazilian pineapple dessert warm or cold and decide which temperature you like best. Either way, this roasted pineapple is so wonderful it's like a ray of sunshine on a plate!

Whether cooking in the oven or on the grill, be sure to brush or baste excess mixture as often as possible and just before serving. This seals in the flavor of that gorgeous sauce on your grilled pineapple skewers.

Use a fresh, good-quality pineapple for making baked Brazilian pineapple.

FAQs

More Great Tasting Pineapple Recipes

• Easy Grilled Pineapple Chicken Kebabs
• Curry Pineapple Chicken
• Smoked Pineapple

Take a moment to view the Baked Brazilian Pineapple video below. You won't be disappointed and that's a promise!

Baked Brazilian Pineapple Video