Dole Whip Cupcakes (Printer-friendly)
Tropical pineapple cupcakes with light, fluffy crumb and creamy pineapple-whip frosting, ideal for summer gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cupcakes
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained (reserve juice)
08 - 1/4 cup pineapple juice (from can or fresh)
09 - 1/4 cup milk
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Pineapple Whip Frosting
11 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
13 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 1/4 cup pineapple juice
15 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
16 - Yellow gel food coloring, optional
→ Decoration (Optional)
17 - Dried pineapple flowers or pineapple wedges
18 - Maraschino cherries
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a standard muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - In a large bowl, cream unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Incorporate eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
04 - Stir in drained crushed pineapple, pineapple juice, milk, and vanilla extract until just blended.
05 - Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Distribute batter evenly among cupcake liners. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
07 - Allow cupcakes to rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
08 - Beat unsalted butter and cream cheese in a bowl until smooth. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, then mix in pineapple juice, vanilla extract, and food coloring if desired. Beat until frosting is light and fluffy.
09 - Generously frost cooled cupcakes. Top with dried pineapple flowers or maraschino cherries as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- If you’ve ever wished summer could linger a little longer, these cupcakes are its edible memory.
- That first, fluffy bite with creamy pineapple frosting always gets people grinning.
02 -
- Once I forgot to drain the pineapple thoroughly—my cupcakes turned gooey, so squeeze extra liquid out.
- Chilling the frosting briefly helped it stay perky and pipeable on humid days.
03 -
- Letting all ingredients come to room temperature helps everything blend for a finer crumb.
- Piping a swirl with a star tip gives the cupcakes a bakery-worthy look even if you’re a little messy.