Best Pineapple Pecan Cupcakes

The best pineapple pecan cupcakes come together using crushed pineapple and pineapple juice. We topped it with a delightful creamy pineapple cream cheese frosting and edible sparkles.

a frosted cupcake inside a yellow liner

This super easy cupcake recipe is a sponsored collaboration with DixieCrystals.com.

two bags of sugar one granulated and one confectioners

The taste of the cupcake is sweet, nutty, and with floral hints, thanks to the pineapple. The consistency of the pineapple pecan cake is soft and moist. And the creaminess of homemade cream cheese frosting is the perfect topping to complete the classic sweet dessert.

the ingredients include eggs, crushed pineapple and pineapple juice, flour, sugar and more

And to make the best pineapple pecan cupcakes even more unique, we have added a Mexican wedding pecan cookie, edible glitter sparkles, and candied pineapple pieces. The result is two desserts in one.

a collage showing the step by step process on how to make the cupcake batter

Tips for baking the best pineapple pecan cupcakes with homemade cream cheese frosting.

When baking treats such as these pineapple pecan cupcakes, the best ingredients make the baked goods tasty and unforgettable. That is why I like to use Dixie Crystals granulated sugar and powdered sugar. Plus other high-quality ingredients. Such as fresh farm eggs, good quality canned crushed pineapple on its natural juice, pecans, all-purpose flour, fresh baking soda, European style butter, vanilla extract, and premium cream cheese.

a small cake tin filled with batter ready to go inside the oven
Pinching the cupcakes with a toothpick to verify doneness

These are the easy steps to follow for baking the pineapple pecan cupcakes.

  • Measure the ingredients using measuring cups and spoons.
  • Sift the all-purpose flour before mixing.
  • Check the expiration date on your baking soda. Use fresh baking powder.
  • Use room temperature eggs and crushed pineapple.
  • Utilize a food processor to finely chop the pecans.
  • Whip the cake batter with an electric mixer at medium speed to achieve a smoother texture. Do not over mix.
  • Spray the muffin pan with baking spray for easy release.
  • Preheat the oven at 350F before baking. These cupcakes are oven-baked at medium heat for 30 to 45 minutes.
  • There’s no need to use cupcake liners for baking the pineapple pecan cupcakes.
  • Mix the dry ingredients first and, secondly, the wet ingredients. Add the sifted flour in stages too.
  • Use this same recipe to make a pineapple pecan cake. Use a round cake pan and follow the exact instructions.

For the batter

  • Add the sugar to the mixer and mix with the eggs until the sugar dissolves for about 1-2 minutes at medium speed.
  • Incorporate the vanilla extract and the crushed pineapple with the juice. And continue mixing at medium speed.
  • Mix in the flour one spoon at a time. And add the baking soda and the salt.
  • Finally, add the finely chopped pecans and mix for another minute at medium speeed.
  • Grease a muffin tin with baking spray and spoon the same amount of batter into each muffin cup.
  • Bake the cakes for 30-45 minutes. After that time, insert a wooden toothpick to verify doneness. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cupcakes are ready.
  • Place the cupcakes in a wire rack and allow them to cool before adding the frosting.
  • Use decorative cupcake liners cups and place the cakes inside the paper cups.
Collage on how to decorate cupcakes with frosting
Ingredients for making homemade cream cheese frosting

The best pineapple pecan cupcakes deserve a homemade frosting with hints of crushed pineapple and vanilla.

Below are our recommendations and the cream cheese frosting ingredients.

  • Use Dixie Crystals confectioner’s sugar and sift it before use. Please keep it in a small bowl.
  • The butter and the cream cheese must be at room temperature. Cut the butter into small pieces for a creamier texture.
  • Add two tablespoons of pineapple puree made of crushed pineapple and combine with vanilla extract for a delectable taste.
  • Whip the cream cheese and the butter first and add the sifted confectioner’s sugar in stages.
  • If using a piping bag, refrigerate the frosting for at least thirty minutes. And keep the frosting cold before use.
  • Cool the cupcakes in a wire rack before frosting.
step by step on how to make the homemade cream cheese frosting
best pineapple pecan cupcakes with homemade frosting
Decorative garnishes for the pineapple pecan cupcakes inlcude edible sparkles
The best Mexican wedding cake cupcakes with crushed pineapple

Differences between the best pineapple pecan cupcakes, the Mexican wedding cake, and the hummingbird cake.

The hummingbird cake is a famous three-layered cake typically served at parties and special occasions in the south. Many enjoy this cake because it has tropical flavors. The recipe merges banana bread and a pineapple cake with pecans, and many compare it with a delectable carrot cake.

The Mexican wedding cake is similar to the hummingbird cake

The hummingbird cake originated in Jamaica and became famous in the American south in the 1970s. The ingredients of this cake are similar to the best pecan cupcakes, also known in the south as the Mexican wedding cake. However, the pineapple pecan cupcakes recipe differs as it doesn’t contain cooking oil, cinnamon, nor banana. But both are dressed with a cream cheese frosting and use crushed pineapple and pineapple juice.

Mexican wedding cake and pineapple pecan cupcakes ready to eat

The Mexican wedding cake uses the same ingredients as the best pineapple pecan cupcakes but is it also considered a dumped cake as the batter is dumped and baked in glass ovenware, topped with frosting, and cut into squares.

There is no background as to why the pineapple pecan cake received the name of Mexican wedding cake. Nonetheless is a tasty homestyle dessert. Depending on the occasion, you can dress it up or down, and I can confirm that wedding cakes are more elaborate and differ from this recipe in Mexico.

The pineapple pecan cupcakes we decorated with golden edible sparkles and Mexican wedding cookies as a topper

The pineapple pecan cupcakes we decorated with golden edible sparkles and Mexican wedding cookies as a topper, which resulted in two desserts in one. Because who doesn’t like a buttery pecan cookie dusted with confectioners sugar on top of a delightful cupcake?

Yummy pineapple pecan cupcakes topped with a Mexican wedding cake cookie

Best Pineapple Pecan Cupcakes

Chef Adriana Martin
The best pineapple pecan cupcakes come together with crushed pineapple and a creamy homemade cream cheese frosting. Topped Mexican wedding cookies and golden edible sparkles. These mini cakes are delightful to enjoy during the holidays or any occasion. Or use the same recipe for baking a cake.
5 from 63 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine American Contemporary
Servings 12 people
Calories 599 kcal

Equipment

  • measuring cups and spoons
  • Electric mixer
  • Sifter
  • Muffin tin
  • Cupcake liners
  • Wire rack
  • Piping bag and tips

Ingredients
  

For the cupcakes

  • 2 cups granulated sugar Dixie Crystals brand
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 1 can crushed pineapple with its juice a 16-ounce can equivalent to 2 cups
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda make sure is fresh
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans

For the frosting

  • 1 package cream cheese an 8-ounce package soften and at room temperature
  • 1 stick butter plus one tablespoon. The butter needs to be at room temperature and sliced
  • 2 tablespoons pineapple puree
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups confectioner's sugar sifted Dixie Crystals brand

Decorating

  • 12 Mexican wedding cookies
  • 1 tablespoon edible sparkles
  • 12 pieces candied pineapple

Instructions
 

Decorating

  • With a piping bag and a flower tip create swirls of frosting with circular hand movements.
  • Sprinkle with the edible sparkles.
  • And garnish each cupcake with a Mexican wedding cookie and a piece of candied pineapple.

Video

Notes

Grab the recipe method at DixieCrystals.com
Recommendations for the cake:
  • Measure the ingredients using measuring cups and spoons.
  • Sift the all-purpose flour before mixing.
  • Check the expiration date on your baking soda. Use fresh baking powder.
  • Use room temperature eggs.
  • Use a food processor to finely chop the pecans.
  • Whip the cake batter with an electric mixer at medium speed to achieve a smoother texture. Do not over mix.
  • Spray the muffin pan with baking spray for easy release.
  • Preheat the oven at 350F before baking. These cupcakes are oven-baked at medium heat for 30 to 45 minutes.
  • There’s no need to use cupcake liners for baking the pineapple pecan cupcakes.
  • Mix the dry ingredients first and, secondly, the wet ingredients. Add the sifted flour in stages too.
  • Use this same recipe to make a pineapple pecan cake. Use a round cake pan and follow the exact instructions.
Tips for the homemade cream cheese frosting:
  • Use Dixie Crystals confectioner’s sugar and sift it before use. Please keep it in a small bowl.
  • The butter and the cream cheese must be at room temperature. Cut the butter into small pieces for a creamier texture.
  • Add two tablespoons of pineapple puree made of crushed pineapple and combine with vanilla extract for a delectable taste.
  • Whip the cream cheese and the butter first and add the sifted confectioner’s sugar in stages.
  • If using a piping bag, refrigerate the frosting for at least thirty minutes. And keep the frosting cold before use.
  • Cool the cupcakes in a wire rack before frosting.
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 599kcalCarbohydrates: 99gProtein: 5gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 326mgPotassium: 163mgFiber: 2gSugar: 81gVitamin A: 558IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cream cheese, cupcakes, pineapple
Tried this recipe?Mention @adrianasbestrecipes or tag #abrecipes on Instagram

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Chef Adriana Martin
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