halloween

I Just Discovered THE Cutest Way to Carve a Jack-o-Lantern (It’s Not on a Pumpkin!)

published Oct 14, 2024
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Credit: Cat Meschia

I’m usually a big Halloween fan — the excuse to eat copious amounts of chocolate, creative costumes, and spooky traditions just scratch a certain itch. But for this Halloween, I wanted to try something totally different. I recently came across a fun, new Halloween trend that seems to be taking the internet by storm, and I couldn’t wait to try it: pineapple jack-o’-lanterns. 

Okay, hear me out. You might be thinking, “How is that different from carving a face through a regular old pumpkin?” Well, for one, they come with their own built-in spiky hairdo and can add a fun, tropical twist to your typical kitchen or porch Halloween decor. Secondly, the scraps can be repurposed to make a delicious drink or snack afterwards! For me, that’s more of a reward than pumpkin seeds, as delicious as they are.

Credit: Isabella Paoletto

How to Carve a Jack-o’-Lantern Into a Pineapple

The process of carving a pineapple jack-o’-lantern is pretty similar to pumpkin carving, except you’ll want to make sure you have a pretty sharp knife on hand to cut through the thick, spiky skin. Fruit and vegetable producer Fresh Del Monte shares that all you have to do is start by chopping off the top 1 to 2 inches of the pineapple. Set the spiky top aside and carve out the insides of the pineapple using a pineapple corer or a sharp knife. When I did this, I had to trim some remaining stragglers and drained the excess pineapple juice. 

This is the part where I set aside any pineapple meat and juice to make my favorite piña coladas. If piña coladas aren’t your thing, you can make a pineapple-cucumber salad, pineapple upside-down cake, or a fresh pineapple salsa. (Plus, here’s The Kitchn editors’ best trick for ripening a pineapple!).

Dry off the inside of your pineapple to avoid making too sticky of a mess, and then start carving your jack-o’-lantern’s face into the front of your pineapple! I recommend keeping the design simple since it can be a little more difficult to get the details and dimension to shine through as opposed to with a pumpkin. 

Credit: Isabella Paoletto

Once finished carving, simply place a tea light or battery-operated candle inside your pineapple, put the top back on, and place it on your front porch or kitchen counter and watch as your neighbors flock to admire your sweet Halloween decor! I personally found this process easier and much more fun than traditional pumpkin carving.

Credit: Isabella Paoletto

Pineapples aren’t just great for carving because of the tasty things you can make with the leftover pineapple, but they also don’t leave slimy residue on your hands that you often get with pumpkins, which in my opinion is the worst part of pumpkin carving. If you’re looking for a tropical twist on Halloween decor this year, or want to mix it into your spread of traditional jack-o’-lanterns, look no further than the beloved pineapple.