Let’s make homemade pineapple topping! Made from just 4 ingredients, this easy pineapple sauce is delicious on ice cream sundaes!

It’s turning into a bit of an ice cream summer here at Sweets & Thank You! We’ve been having fun with classic ice cream treats, like Classic Ice Cream Sundaes and Old-Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce. We’ve got another fun treat to share later this week, but for now, let’s talk about our Homemade Pineapple Topping recipe!

These days, you won’t see it in ice cream shops as often as you might have a few decades ago, but pineapple ice cream topping has been around for ages. I thought it deserved a spot on the blog!

There is no shame in the store-bought game (I LOVE a good shortcut!), but this is one of those things that’s even more delicious when you have the time to make it from scratch. Many brands use mostly corn syrup, so I love that a homemade pineapple sauce recipe like this is made with pineapple as the main ingredient, with less sugar and more delightful pineapple flavor in every bite.

Best of all, you only need 4 ingredients to make it. Let’s dive in!

Ingredients for pineapple ice cream topping

Simple Ingredients To Get Started

Smucker’s pineapple topping is a popular brand, but their ingredients list is: high fructose corn syrup, pineapple, corn syrup, citric acid, and yellow 5 food dye. Our homemade pineapple sauce is made from simpler ingredients, like:

Crushed Pineapple. I start with canned crushed pineapple. It has no added sugar and is already in a nice, fine texture that works well for spooning over ice cream.
Sugar. Our recipe uses less sugar than many recipes, but I find it’s still sweet enough.
Lemon Juice. A little lemon juice gives this sauce a bright flavor while still letting the pineapple shine through. I recommend fresh lemon juice when possible, for the best flavor!
Cornstarch. This helps thicken the sauce and gives it a glossier finish.

How To Make Pineapple Ice Cream Topping, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

making homemade pineapple ice cream topping step by step

Combine. In a medium saucepan, combine crushed pineapple, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Stir to combine well.
Cook To Thicken. Stir over medium heat until the pineapple sauce comes to a simmer. Cook 8-10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and looks glossy. (Keep in mind it will thicken more as it cools!)
Cool. Remove the sauce from the heat and cool to room temperature. Transfer to a jar or airtight container and chill in the refrigerator.
Serve & Store. Enjoy on ice cream, angel food cake, pound cake, and more! Pineapple topping will keep in the refrigerator 1 week. (You can also freeze it up to 2 months!)

Vanilla ice cream topped with pineapple sauce, toasted coconut, macadamia nuts, and fresh pineapple

Yummy Ways To Use This Sauce

Now that you know how to make pineapple topping, let’s talk about how to use this delicious sauce!

Over Ice Cream! I love the way pineapple and vanilla pair together. Try this pineapple topping over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple treat with a tropical twist.
For Ice Cream Sundaes. Or, use it to make a fruity ice cream sundae. Try adding toasted coconut and crushed macadamia nuts for some crunch!
Homemade Banana Splits. Always a classic! Pour this pineapple ice cream topping over a scoop of vanilla ice cream (along with our chocolate sauce on chocolate ice cream + strawberry topping on strawberry ice cream!)
Over Angel Food Cake or Pound Cake. Add a dollop of whipped cream and some pineapple topping to a slice of cake for an easy finish.
On Cheesecake. You can also top a cheesecake with this pineapple topping recipe! (Might be yummy with a coconut or lime cheesecake!)
In Crepes. It’s a delicious topping for crepes, especially with some whipped cream and fresh berries!
On Rice Pudding. Pineapple topping can be GREAT on rice pudding! Bonus points if you also add toasted coconut.

pineapple ice cream topping in a glass jar next to fresh pineapple

FAQ + Tricks For The Best Pineapple Topping

Can I Use Fresh Pineapple Instead?

Yes. If you’re using fresh pineapple, I recommend weighing out 2o ounces (about 3 heaping cups), then pulsing it in a food processor to break it up a bit before you get started.

If you want larger pieces, you can dice the pineapple, but you may need to add a little pineapple juice to help you get to that saucy texture we’re going for.

Variations To Try

Use Brown Sugar. For a flavor more like pineapple upside down cake, you can use brown sugar instead of white sugar. It’ll give the sauce a darker color, but adds a tasty warm note!
Add Orange Juice. Combine the bright flavors of pineapple and orange by adding 1/4 cup orange juice along with the other ingredients. It’s an extra dose of citrus!

More Ice Cream Toppings To Try

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

thick strawberry sauce in a white saucepan

Easy Strawberry Topping

Pouring thick homemade caramel sauce into a jar

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce

Recipe Card

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Leave a star rating below when you try our homemade pineapple topping recipe! We can’t wait to hear how it goes!