Of course! “The Easiest Pineapple Bake” almost certainly refers to a classic, retro dessert often known as Pineapple Casserole or Pineapple Soufflé.
It’s a fascinating sweet-and-savory side dish or dessert that’s incredibly simple to make with just a few pantry staples. It’s a staple at potlucks and holiday meals in the Southern U.S. and is surprisingly delicious!
Here is the simplest version of this classic recipe.
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The Easiest Pineapple Bake
This recipe strikes the perfect balance between sweet, tangy, and cheesy, with a buttery, crunchy top. It’s famously easy to throw together in under 10 minutes.
Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30-35 mins Servings: 6-8
Ingredients:
· 2 cans (20 oz each) pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple juice, drained (reserve 3 tablespoons of the juice)
· ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
· 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
· 1 ½ cups (about 5 oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese (the classic choice) or Monterey Jack
· ⅔ cup Ritz crackers (or similar buttery round crackers), crushed (about 16 crackers)
· 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
· Optional: 1-2 tablespoons chopped maraschino cherries for color
Instructions:
1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 1.5-quart baking dish (an 8×8 inch square dish works perfectly).
2. Mix Filling: In a large bowl, combine the drained pineapple chunks, sugar, flour, and reserved pineapple juice. Stir until everything is well coated.
3. Add Cheese: Gently fold in the shredded cheese until it’s evenly distributed throughout the pineapple mixture.
4. Assemble: Pour the entire pineapple and cheese mixture into your prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
5. Add Topping: In a small bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter until the crumbs are all moistened. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the pineapple.
6. Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly around the edges.
7. Serve: Let it cool for about 5-10 minutes before serving. It can be served warm as a side dish with ham or pork, or as a warm dessert, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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Why This Recipe Works & Tips:
· The Cheese Question: Don’t knock it until you try it! The sharp cheddar cheese provides a savory, salty contrast that brilliantly highlights the sweetness of the pineapple. It doesn’t taste “cheesy”; it just tastes rich and amazing.
· Drain Well: Be sure to drain the pineapple well, but save those few tablespoons of juice. It adds just enough liquid and pineapple flavor to the filling without making it soupy.
· Cracker Alternatives: If you don’t have Ritz, you can use crushed saltines, club crackers, or even French fried onions for the topping.
· Make it a Dessert: For a sweeter, more dessert-like version, you can add a handful of mini marshmallows to the topping along with the crackers for the last 5 minutes of baking.
· Make Ahead: You can assemble the entire dish (without baking), cover it, and refrigerate it a few hours ahead of time. Let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking as directed.
This unique and easy dish is a true crowd-pleaser. Enjoy the sweet, tangy, and crunchy combination