1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Sweet Pineapple Rings

Sweet Pineapple Rings

Featured in Sweet Treats to Make at Home.

With just three simple items, canned pineapple slices become shiny, sweet bites packed with flavor. Slowly cooking the pineapple in a mix of sugar, syrup, and its own juice makes them soft yet chewy, soaking up all that syrupy goodness while keeping their shape. No need for special tools—just patience as they dry out to perfection. They work great as a snack, decorative topper for tropical drinks, or even as a sweet addition to baked treats like cookies and cakes. Enjoy them anytime for an easy, sunshine-filled snack, or gift them to loved ones!
Pin it Share it Send it Print it Jump To Recipe
A woman wearing a chef's hat and apron.
Updated on Sat, 22 Mar 2025 22:24:18 GMT
A plate holding slices of pineapple. Pin it
A plate holding slices of pineapple. | mecooking.com

Tangy chewy glazed pineapple turns plain fruit into amazing snacks with little work and only three basic ingredients. This simple method doesn't need fancy tools like dehydrators or candy thermometers but still makes top-notch treats every time. These sweet rings work great for snacking, jazzing up cakes, giving as presents, or adding tropical taste to your favorite sweet dishes.

I whipped up these glazed pineapple rings while getting ready for my sister's beach-themed birthday bash. They started as just decorations for her coconut cake but ended up stealing the show at the dessert table. I caught guests sneaking pieces all night, and many folks wanted the recipe before they headed home.

Tasty Basics

  • Pineapple rings: Form the base with their tropical taste and circular shape that looks elegant when served.
  • White granulated sugar: Makes the perfect sweet layer while helping keep the fruit fresh longer.
  • Light corn syrup: Stops sugar crystals from forming while cooking and gives that shiny finish everyone loves.
  • Pineapple juice: Boosts the natural flavor and supplies the needed liquid for making candy syrup.
  • Fresh pineapple option: Gives stronger flavor with a bit more chew in your finished treats.
  • Canned pineapple alternative: Saves time and gives reliable outcomes for first-timers.

Cooking Instructions

Pineapple Preparation:
If using canned rings, drain them well but save the juice for your syrup, or if using fresh, cut uniform half-inch thick circles and take out the hard middle for even cooking.
Syrup Creation:
Mix 1 1/2 cups of pineapple juice with 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup corn syrup in a big pot, stirring on medium heat until sugar melts completely and you can see through the mixture.
Heat Management:
Let your syrup reach a soft low boil and keep it there for four minutes, watching it closely so it won't burn or turn into caramel by mistake.
Pineapple Immersion:
Turn heat down to a simmer then gently put pineapple rings into the warm syrup, laying them flat without touching so they all cook the same and soak up plenty of sweetness.
Cooking Process:
Let pineapple simmer in the syrup for about 45 minutes, flipping each piece now and then with a slotted spoon until the fruit turns see-through and gets fully sweet.
Drying Method:
Move your sugar-coated rings to a wire rack placed over parchment paper to catch drips, letting them dry overnight or speed things up by putting them in a 200°F oven for 30 minutes.
Final Coating:
When completely dry and no longer sticky to touch, roll each piece in more sugar if you want extra sweetness and that pretty sparkly look that keeps them from sticking together.
Storage Preparation:
Put fully dried glazed pineapple in sealed containers with parchment paper between rows to stop sticking, keeping at room temp for short times or in the fridge to last longer.
A tray of pineapple slices. Pin it
A tray of pineapple slices. | mecooking.com

This method came from my grandma who used fresh pineapples right from her Florida yard. She always waited for them to get super ripe before cooking, saying the natural sweetness made the finished treats way better. Since I rarely get such perfect fruit, I've found that adding a spoonful of vanilla to the syrup helps bring out the sweetness in grocery store pineapple, making it taste like those summer treats I remember from visits to her house.

Serving Suggestions

Make plain fruit platters look fancy by adding glazed pineapple rings next to fresh berries and mint for nice color. Cut glazed pineapple into small bits and mix into vanilla ice cream with toasted coconut for a taste of the tropics. Stack whole rings between cake layers with cream cheese frosting to create a beautiful cake that shows off pretty cross-sections when you cut it.

Flavor Variations

Add extra flavors to your syrup like vanilla bean, cinnamon sticks, or star anise for grown-up taste beyond just sweetness. Pour in a bit of rum to the mixture for adult versions that work great in holiday fruitcakes or fancy desserts. Try sprinkling finished glazed pineapple with chili powder or Tajín for a surprising sweet-hot combo that's popular in beach destinations.

Preservation Tips

Keep fully dried glazed pineapple in glass jars instead of plastic bags for better freshness and flavor. Don't mix different sizes together since smaller pieces dry faster and might get too hard if stored with bigger, juicier chunks. Think about vacuum-sealing portions if you want them to last up to six months with perfect texture, which also stops them from getting damp in humid weather.

A plate of pineapple slices with a drizzle of honey. Pin it
A plate of pineapple slices with a drizzle of honey. | mecooking.com

Making glazed pineapple at home links me to cooking traditions that turn basic ingredients into something really special. What I love most about this method is how it shows off food preservation techniques from before we had fridges, while making something way tastier than just practical. The process changes both how it feels and tastes, concentrating that tropical pineapple essence into golden rings that bring summer sunshine even on cold winter days.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can fresh pineapple work instead of canned ones?
It sure can! Slice it into ½-inch thick rings. Fresh ones give a tangier taste and firmer texture, while canned is softer and sweeter.
→ How do I tell when the pineapple is dry enough?
When it’s no longer sticky, you’re good to go! Any tackiness means it needs more time. The texture should be chewy but not sticky.
→ Is it possible to skip the corn syrup?
Yep, you can use honey or maple syrup instead. Corn syrup helps reduce crystallization and adds shine, but other options will work too with a slight texture change.
→ How long does candied pineapple stay fresh?
Keep it in a sealed container at room temperature for about a week. For longer, refrigerate up to 2 months or freeze for 6 months.
→ Why did my candied pineapple turn out hard?
It might have been overcooked or the heat was too high. Stick to a gentle simmer and watch for it to turn see-through without overcooking.
→ What can I use leftover syrup for?
Don't waste it! Sweeten drinks, drizzle it on pancakes or ice cream, or use it to make more candied fruit like oranges or lemons.

Sweet Pineapple Rings

Turn canned pineapple rings into shiny, chewy snacks using only 3 ingredients. They’re great for munching or topping your favorite desserts!

Prep Time
5 Minutes
Cook Time
50 Minutes
Total Time
55 Minutes
By: Mariana

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 20 Servings (20 pineapple slices)

Dietary: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ Main Components

01 40 ounces of pineapple rings (two cans of 20 ounces each), drained; save the juice
02 3 cups white sugar, split
03 1/4 cup of light corn syrup

Instructions

Step 01

Open the pineapple cans and set the rings aside, keeping the juice. You need 1 1/2 cups of juice, so add a bit of water if it's short. Toss the juice into a big pot with half the sugar and all the corn syrup. Heat this up on medium, mixing until the sugar disappears. Let it simmer for around 4 minutes.

Step 02

Lower the heat, then lay the pineapple rings into the syrup without stacking them. Keep simmering and flip them regularly to stop them from sticking, making sure they're all coated well.

Step 03

Let everything cook for about 45 minutes. Don't forget to check and stir often so nothing sticks, and cook until the pineapple rings are totally clear.

Step 04

Take the pineapple slices out of the syrup and place them on a cooling rack with some parchment paper underneath. Let them dry entirely to the point they aren't sticky anymore, which might take overnight. If you're in a hurry, pop the rack over a tray and stick it in the oven at 200°F for around half an hour.

Step 05

Once they’re all dry, grab the leftover sugar and spread it in a flat bowl. Roll the rings around in the sugar until they’re covered well. Keep them in a tight-sealing container at room temperature when done.

Notes

  1. If your pineapple still sticks to the touch, it needs more time to dry! Let it air-dry in a cool, dry area or place it in the oven on low heat until the texture is right.
  2. Using canned pineapple makes a sweeter, softer snack, while fresh pineapple has a tangier taste and chewier texture.
  3. These homemade treats can swap in for store-bought candied pineapple in desserts like fruit cakes and cookies.
  4. Have a food dehydrator? It's a great tool for speeding up the drying process of your glazed pineapple slices.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large skillet or deep pot
  • Wire rack for cooling
  • Baking paper or parchment sheets
  • Flat plate or wide bowl

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 162
  • Total Fat: 0.2 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 42 g
  • Protein: 0.3 g