How to Carve a Pineapple Jack-o'-Lantern for Halloween

Put a tropical twist on a Halloween classic by carving pineapples instead of pumpkins this year.
By Emily VanSchmus Updated July 07, 2021
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Read step by step instructions after the video.

Carving jack-o’-lanterns is a classic Halloween tradition, but you don’t have to limit the silly faces or spooky designs to just pumpkins. This year, try carving a set of pineapples instead. We’ll show you how to core a pineapple so it’s easy to carve—you can even repurpose your favorite pumpkin carving stencils to create your tropical display.

And my favorite part: You can use your leftover pineapple for all kinds of sweet treats. Make a batch of candy corn-inspired pineapple-orange parfaits or mix up a pitcher of our mulled cider and pineapple cocktail. 

No matter how you carve them, these pineapple jack-o’-lanterns will make a big statement—we'll show you how to carve a pineapple in three easy steps in less than 30 minutes!

  • Working time 30 mins
  • Start to finish 30 mins
  • Difficulty Easy
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What you need

Tools
Materials
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How to do it

Step 1

Transfer Halloween Carving Stencil

The first step to creating a fun pineapple jack-o'-lantern is to choose a stencil. Pick one of our free Halloween carving stencils, or design a Halloween face of your own. You'll need to size down a stencil meant for large pumpkins; we recommend making the stencil about as wide as the base of the pineapple. When you've got the design ready, use a permanent marker, ($9 for six, Amazon) to draw around the template onto your pineapple. Avoid drawing too close to the top of the pineapple, since you'll remove some of it to core and carve the pineapple later.

Related: 30 Creative Carving Ideas for Halloween

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Step 2

Carve the Pineapple

Just like with a pumpkin, you'll need to remove the inside of the pineapple before you can start carving. Place a pie plate ($9, Amazon) under the pineapple while you carve to contain the mess—although we did find the pineapple coring process much easier than scooping out pumpkin guts! Use a kitchen knife or a pumpkin carving kit, ($13, Amazon) to carve out the shapes you traced earlier. Remove the top and use a pineapple corer to hollow out the pineapple. Gently poke the cut shapes into the pineapple to remove them.

Step 3

Display Your Pineapple Jack-o'-Lantern

When you've finished carving the pineapple, all you have to do is decide where to display it! To light the pineapple like a traditional jack-o'-lantern, place a battery-operated tea light ($8 for 12-Pack, Amazon) inside the pineapple. We recommend placing the light on a small dish or bowl to keep the batteries dry inside the fruit. Then, display your pineapple carving on a Halloween mantel or set it on the front porch for all trick-or-treaters to see.

To keep your carved pineapple fresh, store it in the refrigerator when not displaying. 

By Emily VanSchmus

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