Pineapple Flower Cakes - dehydrated pineapple flowers make a bright summery presentation on sweet cupcakes - an impressive and easy decoration!
The first time I saw them was when Annie shared them (she says they are from Martha Stewart), and I have wanted to make them ever since. My lovely friend Sarena just made some too - hers are gorgeous as well!
I have made these flowers three times now, once as cupcake toppers for Jeni's going away party, which called for some over the top desserts.
The way I made them was very simple - I sliced very thin rounds of fresh pineapple (which was by far the most difficult part), peeling some of the slices and leaving some slices with peel intact - resulting in different looks for the flowers. I placed them over the backside of a muffin tin and dried them in my dehydrator (I am sure this would also work in an oven, lowest temperature, door open) for several hours.
I checked on them every so often, moving them around as they softened. Moving them is an important part - as they soften they become sticky and moving them helps keep them from ripping or sticking to the pan. After several hours (like 6 or 7) they are pliable and chewy, and crunchy around the edges.
After frosting the (cooled) cupcakes with green frosting and darker green "leaves", I placed a pineapple "flower" atop each cake. Then I filled a raspberry with icing, which became the middle for each flower.
I made two flavors of cakes for Jeni and her party - chocolate and vanilla.
For the chocolate, I used this cake mix. Not only is it gluten free, it appears to be naturally vegan as well! I used the same recipe method that I used with these cupcakes, without the orange flavor. The vanilla cupcakes were a recipe I am making for a project off this website, if I can share it later I will.
Summer is here, and my dehydrator is working overtime, for sure. More goodies coming soon.
Kirsten says
Kristina,
Thanks for giving me the link to include in my upcoming Band Fruit Fundraiser Recipe Round Up! It will be published on 12/4/2013!
Richa@HobbyandMore says
super pretty cupcakes! awesome idea
spabettie says
thank you Richa - they were a big hit at the party I took them to. 🙂
Kath (My Funny Little Life) says
Aww, this is such a lovely idea! 😀
j3nn says
!!! So pretty! I love the green frosting too. I like your idea for using a cupcake pan upside down. Smart! 😀
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
These are so original and pretty...love them!
Shirley @ gfe says
I totally agree with Janetha! You'd win hands down. These are the coolest, Kristina. Now I really want a dehydrator. Thinking I'll steal Son's since he's not using his currently. 😉
xo,
Shirley
janetha [meals & moves] says
If I had to pick a blogger who creates the coolest looking food, you'd win. Yep.
Allie says
Oh my gosh, these are too cool and funky, love it! I feel like some sort of pineapple upside down cake/cupcake would be awesome with these as decoration.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I used the vanilla version of that mix too! I'm posting on it on Monday! Yours looks beautiful and delicious!
Abby says
I don't have a dehydrator and I'm not into fruit mixed with chocolate (don't ask,) but I just wanted to tell you that those are so freaking cute!