Allow me to introduce you to my Spring shoes. Every year I take them out and this signals the beginning of Spring. It’s like a yearly ritual. I think they’re perfect for picnics, shopping and pretty frocks. Except of course the cone shaped wooden heels mean that you end up sinking in the grass. Let’s not spoil that moment with reality shall we?
Spring shoes
I was thinking about what I should do with pineapple, actually eight pineapples. I mean it’s not every day that a courier knocks on your door and delivers you eight lovely specimens of pineappledom. These Queensland pineapples are called “The King of Fruit” Pineapples and they are a particularly sweet breed of pineapple that doesn’t give you that awful reaction in your throat and mouth that others can. I tweeted about it and shortly after the lovely Bronnie from Nowhere like Queensland blog suggested that I make a pineapple meringue pie.
I thought that there was no better way to usher in Spring than with this gloriously golden concoction. She was kind enough to furnish me with her mum’s recipe. I expanded on it a bit and added vanilla as I think that pineapple and vanilla go together better than my shoes and Spring. I decided to use the buttery almond pastry recipe from the Italian Ricotta cheesecake.
The result? Heaven. Quite honestly it was probably one of the best pies I have ever tasted. The pineapple filling was just the right amount of sweetness and it was lightened with the fluffy, sweet meringue on top. The pastry was soft and yielding and the whole thing was like tasting a golden sunshine day.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your favourite part of Spring? What are you looking forward to doing during Spring the most?
Pineapple Meringue Pie
Makes 4 individual 11cms pies or 1 large pie
For base:
- 1 egg (55g) (The pastry can be made without egg)
- 75g/2.7 ozs castor sugar
- 150g unsalted butter
- 225g plain flour
For filling:
- 1/2 cup-1 cup caster sugar (I used 1/2 a cup as the pineapples I used were very sweet)
- a pinch of salt
- 250grams/8 ozs pineapple, blended (or you can use a tin of crushed pineapple, undrained)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup cornflour mixed with 1/4 cup cold water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or paste
For meringue topping
- 3 egg whites
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/3 cup sugar
For presentation (optional)
- Gold lustre dust
- Edible gold leaf
Buyer’s tip for pineapple: Choose fruit that is free of soft spots, bruises and darkened “eyes”, all of which may indicate a pineapple is damaged or past its prime. Look for skin colour that is right for the season. In winter look for more coloured fruit, while in summer, look for greener fruit with a ring of colour at the base.
1. For pastry, cream the butter and sugar in an electric mixer with a beater attachment until light and pale. Add the egg, and continue creaming until absorbed. Stop mixer and add the flour, mix only until combined. The dough will be very sticky, wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes. Roll out or press into 4 x 11cm individual tins with springform sides or loose bottomed tart tins. Preheat oven to 200c/400F and bake for 15 minutes until golden. Don’t worry if the pastry falls down the side slightly. Cool. Or you can always buy a pie base or use pre-rolled shortcrust pastry, just ensure that you bake it through completely. I just prefer this buttery, eggy pastry.
When first stirring, it will start to thicken…
To become this!
2. In a small saucepan, place the sugar, salt, pineapple, lemon juice and lemon zest and heat until simmering. Remove from heat and add egg yolks and cornflour water mix and stir thoroughly. Place back on a very low heat and allow to thicken, stirring to ensure that it doesn’t catch on the bottom of the saucepan. Add vanilla.
3. Remove the sides from the base and fill with the pineapple meringue filling.
4. Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Ensure that your electric mixer and whisk attachment is very clean and free of any grease. Whip egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form and then gradually add the caster sugar until it becomes glossy. Spread a layer of meringue on top of the pineapple filling and smooth it flat covering up any gaps or holes.
Spread a layer of meringue to smooth the surface for the piping
Then pipe away remembering to keep the piping bag vertical for this effect
5. Place meringue in piping bag and snip a small hole at the top. Pipe meringue as you like, I was inspired by the Zumbo cloud dessert from a few years back. Place in the oven and bake for 5-8 minutes watching it so that it doesn’t burn. Remove from oven and sift lustre dust on top and a bit of gold leaf is desired.
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80 Comments | Add your own
Lorraine, this looks so heavenly! I am usually not a fan of pineapple desserts (often they are too sweet for me), but I could happily have this! Believe it or not my favourite part of Spring and the warmer weather is that I can get rid of the heavy doonas!
Mm this reminds me of the pineapple curd I made a while back except I bet even better with the fresh pineapple. Your meringue peaks are just so darn perfect and cute!
Lorraine…these are fabulous…enough to think they came out of a Pastry shop display…that’s truly how beautiful they are!
I love pineapple…so, I’ll have to be trying these myself some day soon.
It’s funny to read about Spring…when, here in Canada we’re heading for Autumn.
So, what do I hate about Spring…finding out that squirrels ravaged my Tulip bulbs!
Thanks for sharing such a decadent recipe.
Claudia
Utterly interesting! The pineapples look so prized and this dish reminds me of a cooler and more sophisticated version of our Chinese New Year treat, Pinapple Tart!
The best parts of Spring? Apart from the promise of summer, it has to be the bloom of jacaranda trees. It’s short but glorious and when I drive along jacaranda-lined streets, I burst into smiles. Even at the end of the flowering period, when it forms a lilac carpet on the footpaths, it’s just magical.
I think my favourite part of spring would be the flowers
That. Looks. Amazing.
Your spring shoes are adorable, Lorraine! Change of seasons is always such an exciting time. The pie is gorgeous!
Thanks for this recipie, my dad is a queenslander and is always bringing pineapples over! I’m going to try this one for fathers day
Many years ago, I read an article in Punch by a writer who visited the USA for some months. One of my favourite parts was when he went to Kentucky and interviewed a backwoods-type, who said that Spring was the time he chased his female cousins over the rocks (whatever that means???!!!). Never forgotten it.
Wow! That is possibly my dream dessert! Fantastic. Spring for me is short sleeves and the air full of honeyed flower smell. Plus it means summer is on it’s way – my favourite!
This looks delicious,Lorraine. I love meringue pies, but seldom think to make them and I don’t often use pineapple, although the kids love it. Might give this one a go!
I dream of the day somebody delivers me a box of beautiful pineapples!
I’m leaving spring on 5th Sept for European autumn. I will be in Italy for chestnets and porcini mushrooms – yum!
Lovely little tarts, Lorraine. I love your creative spin on dishes.
I love watching the new plant growth bloom around me during spring…..and look forward to the stone fruit of summer.
So pretty! L, you do wickedly gorgeous things with meringue…this and the log cabin bombe alaska are both so elegant!
Oh yum. I’m making mini lemon meringue tarts for Fathers Day this weekend due to my mum’s prolific lemon tree, but I’ll definately file this recipe idea for another day.
I know its spring when I see fields suddenly erupt with daffodills. I drive past one almost every day and it just makes my heart sing! Oh, and beautiful asparagus!!!!!
that cake looks so pretty! and so professional!
Love the shoes as well
lovely silver shoes, pretty pineapple dessert…inspiration enough for me! Jasmine and honey suckle…defineately the best parts of spring for me!
Here in the USA we are looking for fall. But the heat is still lingering. I love the pineapple recipe and I will make a pineapple pie for my husband.
One of the best pies you’ve ever had? If that isn’t a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is. I’m sold. I’m saving this pie recipe in a good, secure place.
My favourite part spring is the wisteria and jacaranda blossom, but it is also the worst part as I get hayfever from the minute the wisteria blooms until the end of the jacaranda. I also look forward to fruits that are not citrus, apples or pears.
Yum! That looks like a great Father’s Day treat for my husband.
These are gorgeous and the recipe sounds heavenly! What a nice package to have delivered to your door!
i definitely need a piping bag.
Spring – means asparagus and strawberries!!! Can’t wait for the asparagus rolled in pancetta and sprinkled with parmesan and baked until just so!!!
Also means we can kiss the cold goodbye!!!
Oh gosh, the tangy acidity of the pineapple would be so perfect against the sweetness of meringue! I want I want!
(I also want your shoes. And they’d last longer than the pie, too…)
OMG! Cake and shoe porn on the one day . . .I’m in heaven
oh my – what a wonderful way to use pineapple!!!
Those shoes look pretty good for ones you bring out every year. I noticed when grocery shopping this morning that there were little seedling punnets for sale, sure sign that spring is sprung. Those sweet pineapples are great, can’t even eat the others now, lucky I live in Queensland.
Pineapple is my favourite fruit!! oh my and in a meringue pie, what creativity! Looks beautiful!
Mmmm, I do love the addition of vanilla. In fact the whole dish promises that summer is on the way. Love the shoes too! My favourite ‘spring thing’ to do is eat alfresco & soak in some sunshine.
I love pineapple anything.. great idea to do a pie.. I can’t wait to make this, Lorraine… especially with the sweet meringue kisses on top!
I’ve got quite a while to wait for spring, but it’s my favorite season. I love the mild temperatures and the new green leaves popping out on the trees. Those pineapples sound so good- your little pastries look luscious!
Yummy! Us banana benders call this a frangipane pie, and it is a favourite of mine
Coming from a family of Sunshine Coast (Qld) pineapple farmers, I can’t wait to try this!
In Spring….. walking in the sunshine, the scent of frangipani in the air, having the house wide open to warm breezes and looking forward to mangoes are a few of my favourite things. And yes, the sight of jacarandas in bloom!
I have never had a pineapple meringue before. It looks amazing. Can’t say what I like about spring cause we don’t have this season but I would imagine that I would look forward to warmth and regrowth of plants.
super delish and the shoes are divine!
Ooh, this looks incredible Lorraine! I love anothing-meringue pie, so I’m going to try this VERY soon!
Ooooh, yuuuum… I adore pineapple, my favourite fruit! Will look out for one when I am out shopping later
xxx
Your pies look too cute to eat!
I love the scent of flowers in spring especially on a warm night.
Oh my god this looks AMAZING! I would love to eat this right nowww! I’m so excited by it!
So beautiful – and I love the pineapple flavor!
What a wonderful and incredible pie. Pineapple and meringue is always a winner combo!
The photos are very tempting
All the best,
Gera
What gorgeous pies! They must taste so heavenly!
Cheers,
Rosa
I tred something like this eons ago, and haven’t seen it since. I love pineapples and will make this soon.
I love that our trees get leaves back in spring. We have 22 silverbirch in our yard, and I feel strangely ‘naked’ all winter.
Not sure whether the shoes or the cake are prettier…it is a tough call. I may have to choose the cake, just because you made it with your own hands! ;o)
Here all we have to look forward to is the autumn, but hey, it has its good sides too.
Jasmine sings spring to me.
Lovely pies Lorraine, I am a massive pineapple fan.
ohhhh…. pineapples = summer for me. This post was a great antidote to the horrid grey Melbourne weather!
oh my, so pretty! I thought for a second you must have bought them from a patisserie! to die for!
I’ve never tried pineapple meringue before and I know mine won’t look so pretty but oh yum! You could have made a dozen and sold them in blogland that day!
Corrie:)
oh, they look so perfect!
I love those silvery springtime shoes and the cloudy appearance of those unbaked pies.
count me among the lovers of pineapple in all its applications. bravo.
now, just hush about spring coming your way. i’m upset about the end of summer here enough as it is.
Wow, what a fine twist to the classic lemon meringue! And those are seriously the most fabulous pair of shoes I’ve ever seen. Love the color, and the exquisite feminine touches.
oooo, that looks so good..and I’m not a pineapple fan..but I really want to try that. Hope you managed to use all 8 pineapples!
Can’t wait to ride my bicycle and harvest vegetables in spring!
Very elegant! I have made lemon pie, apple pie, it is time to bake this tempting pineapple pie. Thanks for sharing
Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris
this is awesome, just melt me right away!
I absolutely LOVE sweet ripe pineapple, I am very disappointed when I bite into a really tart one. I think that lemon meringue is pretty cool already but pineapple meringue sounds even better!
Too beautiful to eat, do you have any leftover pies?
I love the longer days and extra sunshine that Spring heralds.
Well its going into fall here for me but the spring for me is all of the desert wildflowers blooming and the amazing fresh cherries that start showing up in the stores. Im kinda a cherry fanatic and its quite possible that I spend a large portion of my grocery budget in the spring on them. I love pineapple as well and this recipe looks absolutely delicious. I cant wait to try it out myself.
Make pineapple tarts! My favourite Chinese New Year cookie =) Yours pies look amazing esp with the little meringues!
What a cute dessert. Love the blobs of meringue. I passed up the opportunity to make a Baked Alaska with the Daring Bakers, but this (with the fruit) would totally be up my alley…
This is beautiful, I love the meringue top! I think the idea is inspired.
Delicious and then there is pineapple margaritas. Do you drink those is Sydney? If not, be the first, Lorraine.
Hi Lorraine,
Thanks so much … Mum will be thrilled to see that you’ve used her recipe for the inspiration for this pie. It was always one of my favourite spring/summer pies. Mum would make it if the pineapples were ripening too quickly, or if they were a bit sour to eat (nothing a bit of sugar won’t fix). She never piped the meringue though (who would have time with four kids, a dog, two cats, cow, chickens, budgies, and a hubby to take care of?) This looks gorgeous.
Thanks also for linking to my blog (although the link seems to be broken…)
That is absolutely beautiful! Love the little meringues!
Oh yum! I never would have thought to use pineapple like this. How interesting!
Beautiful! Love what you have done with the pineapples and I think there will be a lot of pineapple recipes popping all over blogsphere! Bring on spring and summer and pineapples
Wow, I have never heard of pineapple meringue pie, but that looks fantastic.
Oh yum, this sounds like an awesome variation!
I couldn’t not add your post to my sweet saturday sharing list – have a look
http://ksayerphotography.blogspot.com/2010/09/sweet-saturday-sharing-time.html
This is so beautiful Lorraine. Go the King of Fruit!
Awesome recipe! The saucepan picture reminds me of awesome pineapple tarts we have during chinese new year in singapore.
A pineaplle meringue pie! How come I never thought of that? Yumm!
I love your spring shoes and do the same thing – every year out come my Marc Jacobs petal pink bow heels – is there a man who knows girly shoe happiness better than him?
And i’ve never thought of a pineapple meringue, but what a brilliant idea! Is it still fairly tart like a lemon version, or sweeter? Definitely trying this – thanks!
Briony xx
I love your spring ritual, even if the shoes don’t fit spring quite as well as pineapple goes with vanilla!
I never liked my mum’s lemon meringue pie but I suspect this one would be more up my street – love pineapple even when it is sharp flavoured – would like this with some coconut in the meringue – could you have pineapple macaroon pie?????
Every time I think “Hrm, I wonder if there’s a recipe for…” and type my query into Google, a NQN link pops up and I gasp in excitement, thinking “What delicious recipe does she have in store for me today?”. You never let me down! Usually I love to share awesome food blogs with my friends, but when it comes to NQN I feel quite selfish and am still holding off on sharing (sorry!). Your recipes are a treasure trove for all things tasty and delicious and indulgent!
Hi Rachel-aww that’s very sweet! I’m so glad that you’re liking the recipes!
x
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[...] lucky. I must have been blessed by the gods of pastry because the two things that I made today the pineapple meringue pie and these Gundel pancakes actually worked out exactly how I wanted to. I had no time to do another [...]
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