Pineapple Sauce

If you’re looking for a way to take your meals up a serious flavor notch, you’re in the right place with this sweet pineapple sauce recipe. It can be used on desserts and dinners alike, it’s easy to make, and it’s unique enough to be impressively memorable.

And because this recipe for pineapple sauce uses canned pineapple tidbits instead of fresh fruit, you can prepare it any time of year, even when pineapples aren’t available in the produce section.

Pineapple Sauce Ingredients

EMILY DAVIS for Taste of Home

• Pineapple tidbits: This pineapple sauce specifically calls for pineapple tidbits, not larger chunks. If all you can find is regular canned pineapple, make sure to take the time to chop the pieces down smaller.
• Sugar: Use white sugar or brown sugar in this recipe, either works fine, as would a blend of the two mixed evenly together.
• Cornstarch: The cornstarch thickens the sauce into its proper consistency.
• Butter: Butter might be unexpected alongside pineapple, but don’t worry, it works beautifully.
• White vinegar: Just a single teaspoon of white vinegar helps bring the flavors of the other ingredients into harmony.
• Vanilla ice cream: Serving this pineapple sauce over ice cream is optional, of course, but once you’ve tried it, you might not see it that way anymore.
• Chopped walnuts: The chopped walnuts add a lovely texture along with their nutty flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Form the sauce

EMILY DAVIS for Taste of Home

Drain the can of pineapple, reserving the juice, and set the pineapple tidbits aside. In a saucepan, combine the sugar and cornstarch, then stir in the pineapple juice, stirring until the mixture is smooth. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat, and cook and stir it for 2 minutes or until it has thickened and become bubbly.

Step 2: Stir in other ingredients

EMILY DAVIS for Taste of Home

Remove the sauce from the heat, then stir in the butter, vinegar, salt and pineapple. Serve the sauce over ice cream and then sprinkle on the walnuts.

EMILY DAVIS for Taste of Home

Pineapple Sauce Variations

• Skip the nuts: The chopped walnuts you sprinkle over the sauce are entirely optional. If you don’t care for nuts, or if you have an allergy, just leave them off.
• Add some heat: Stirring a half teaspoon of cayenne pepper into this pineapple sauce when you add the butter, vinegar and salt is a delicious way to spice things up, adding a kick to your pineapple sauce.
• Blend in some horseradish mustard: For a sauce that’s sweet, but also savory, mixing in a horseradish mustard is a good idea.

How to Store Pineapple Sauce

Store the pineapple sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to seven days, and reheat it in a sauce pan or serve it cold.

Can you freeze this pineapple sauce?

This sauce will not freeze well; the consistency will be thrown off by the freezing process.

Pineapple Sauce Tips

EMILY DAVIS for Taste of Home

What should I serve this pineapple sauce over?

As noted, it is a delight served over ice cream, but it’s also delicious with many savory foods, like chicken or ham.

Why is my sauce coming out so thick?

If your sauce is too thick, you might be cooking it for too long, or you might not be adding enough pineapple juice. If it seems like there’s not enough liquid in the can of pineapple tidbits, you can add pineapple juice from a different source, or just add a bit of water and a little more sugar.

What can I use instead of cornstarch?

If you don’t have cornstarch, many other ingredients can be used as a thickener, such as tapioca starch, potato or rice flour or all-purpose flour.