Mexican Pineapple Empanadas (Empanadas de Piña Mexicanas) are soft, flaky, and sweet. The dough is like a pie crust and the pineapple is sweet but not overly sweet like a handheld pie.
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These empanadas de pina mexicanas or Mexican pineapple empanadas are made with a cream cheese dough (empanadas hechas con queso philadelphia o cream cheese) that is nice and flaky like a pie crust.
Are empanadas savory or sweet?
Empanadas come in both sweet and savory. These pineapple empanadas are like an apple pie only pineapple. Ground beef wrapped in a flaky pastry is a very popular savory version. Sweet or savory, they can be made up of just about anything.
How to store
These can be stored in an airtight container for about a week at room temperature. I have not tried freezing these yet, but if and when I do, I will update you with how that works out.
Step by step process how to make pineapple empanadas
Here is the step by step process on how to make easy pineapple empanadas made from scratch at home.
Get the filling going first. It will have a longer cooking time and then will need to cool.
Start by combining the pineapple (including juice) and sugar in a pot.
Mix cornstarch and, set aside.
Once the pineapple mix pulls away from the bottom of the pan, add your cornstarch and water mixture. Continue cooking on low for another 2-3 minutes and turn off the heat and set aside to cool.
For the dough, start by creaming the butter and cream cheese together.
Add the flour to the butter and cream cheese mixture until well combined.
Let the dough rest about 30 minutes.
Once your dough has rested and the filling has cooled, it’s to begin rolling out the dough.
Start by making dough balls about the size of your palm.
Use a tortilla press or a rolling pin.
Add filling to your do but do not over fill because it might spill out during baking. Add some eggwash on the edges.
Fold the dough over itself crimp the edges. Place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Brush the tops with an eggwash or leave as is if you are rolling in cinnamon sugar.
Bake until golden brown.
If you are rolling them in cinnamon sugar, make sure it’s done as soon as they come out of the oven. To a bowl big enough, add the sugar and cinnamon, mix well. Add an empanada to the sugar mixture and toss. Remove and leave them to cool on a cooling rack.
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Pineapple Empanadas Recipe
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours
Description
Pineapple Empanadas (Empanadas de Piña) are soft, flaky, and sweet. The dough is like a pie crust and the pineapple is sweet but not overly sweet. It’s like a handheld pie.
Ingredients
Filling:
- 1 – 20 oz cans of crushed pineapple in pineapple juice
- ½ cups of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of water
Dough:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 sticks (1 cup) of softened butter
- 8 oz cream cheese – softened
Egg wash:
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon milk or cream
Cinnamon sugar coating:
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine the pineapple (including juice) and sugar in a pot on medium to medium-low heat. Once it comes to a boil, take down and simmer for about 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water and set aside.
- After about 1.5 hours, once the pineapple mix pulls away from the bottom of the pan, but still has some liquid, add your cornstarch and water mixture.
- Continue cooking on low for another 2-3 minutes. You will know it’s ready when you drag a spoon and it pulls apart but does not come back together or has pooling liquid at the bottom.
- It will still be just a tiny bit loose, not totally set. It will set once it has cooled. You will notice it is thicker, sweeter, and jam-like.
- For the empanada dough, start by creaming the butter and cream cheese together with a hand mixer or stand mixer.
- Add the flour to the butter and cream cheese mixture and mix with a spoon and then by hand until well combined.
- Set the dough aside for about 30 minutes to rest at room temperature.
- Once your dough has rested and the filling has cooled, we need to form the empanadas.
- Start by making 1.5-ounce dough balls, or about the size of your palm.
- For the next step, use a tortilla press or a rolling pin and flatten the dough ball until it is approximately 4-5 inches in diameter
- Take about 1 to 1 ½ a teaspoons of filling and place it slightly off-center. Do not overfill because it might spill out during baking.
- Using a little bit of egg wash, moisten the edges of the flat dough.
- Fold the dough over itself and press together with a fork to crimp the edges. Place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart from each other. Continue until you run out of dough.
- At this point, you can either brush the tops of the empanadas with an egg wash or leave as is and you can roll in cinnamon sugar after baking.
- Bake in a 350-degree oven for approximately 25-30 or until a light golden brown
- If you are rolling them in cinnamon sugar, make sure it’s done as soon as they come out of the oven. In a bowl big enough, add the sugar and cinnamon, mix well. Add an empanada to the sugar mixture and toss to coat. Remove and leave them cool on a cooling rack.
- Once it has cooled enough not to burn your mouth you may enjoy!
Notes
- Stores for 7 days at room temperature.
- Option – do half with cinnamon sugar and half without only using the eggwash.
Keywords: empanadas de pina, empanadas de queso crema, cream cheese empanadas
Can I use more flour to make more dough or do I have to double the recipe?
These are by far my favorite empanadas! Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Thank you!
Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?
Yes, it might need more time because of the higher water content, but should work 🙂 sorry for the late reply!
These are so good! Loved the flaky crusty outside and sweet pineapple middle!
★★★★★
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it!
Have you tried making the the empanada dough, forming with the tortilla press and at that point freezing the dough discs to use another time? My concern is how freezing would affect the texture of the raw dough?
Hi! I haven’t, but now I’m curious to try! I will try it and let you know! Thank you for asking!