How To Carve a Pineapple for Halloween

While pumpkins are the fruit of record for Halloween decorating, they’re not the only ones capable of holding a funny face! With the all-things-tropical trend still on the rise, a new player is in town: the pineapple.

The tall, oval shape lends itself to imagining faces, and the fact that it comes with its own hairdo — those nice spiky leaves up top — makes the pineapple a prime candidate for carving. Its size means it’s a great choice for decorating inside an apartment or another small space — plus, you get leftover pineapple meat to eat or turn into a piña colada!

Here’s how to carve a pineapple for Halloween.

• Pineapple
• Cutting board
• Dish towel (optional)
• Sharp knife
• Pineapple corer (optional)
• Bowl
• Paper towels
• Battery-operated votive candle

1. Cut the top off your pineapple: Cut off the top one to two inches of the pineapple, leaving the leaves attached to the top. Set aside. Tip: You can nest the pineapple inside a dish towel, if you need to steady it and keep it from rolling.
2. Scoop out the pineapple meat: Set the pineapple upright. Use a pineapple corer to scoop the pineapple meat from the inside. If you don’t have a pineapple corer, use a knife to cut around the meat (about 1/2 inch from the skin). Then, cut the meat into quadrants to make it easier to pull out. Use your knife to trim out any remaining pieces. Save the meat to eat!
3. Dry the inside of the pineapple: Pour out any juice into a bowl to enjoy, then dry the inside of the pineapple with paper towels.
4. Carve the face: Set your pineapple on its side again, then cut out the features. Because you can’t really draw on a pineapple, use the spikes as a guide to carve out the face.
5. Dry the newly exposed flesh: Set the pineapple upright and dry your new cuts and the inside again with paper towels.
6. Add the candle: Place your candle inside and put the top back on. You’re done!

Styling: Brigitt Earley

Have you ever carved a pineapple instead of a pumpkin before?