Pineapple Cookies (凤梨酥) for Chinese New Year

Name: Pineapple Cookies (凤梨酥) for Chinese New Year
Prep time: 75 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 105 min
Ingredients: 20 ounce can pineapple slices or chunks (packed in juice); 8 ounce can pineapple slices or chunks (packed in juice); ¼ cup granulated sugar; 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 4 tablespoons powdered sugar; ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature); 1 egg yolk; 1/2 teaspoon pineapple flavoring (optional); 1 egg yolk; ½ tablespoon condensed milk (regular milk can be substituted but will produce a less shiny coating)

By Wendy Sondov · Published: Jan 25, 2021 · Modified: Jan 12, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Pineapple Cookies (凤梨酥) are a Lunar New Year favorite. These bite sized balls of melt-in-your-mouth, buttery shortbread have a fruity pineapple jam center.

Ball shaped Pineapple Cookies on a red plate surrounded by red and gold New Years decorations.

About this recipe

Chinese New Year is an opportunity to discover and try traditional recipes. Last year, I enjoyed nibbling on Peanut Cookies(花生饼). This year, I am delighted I learned to make Pineapple Cookies (凤梨酥).

If the idea of making the homemade jam filling seems intimidating, you can relax. Making the filling is not only easy, but takes only about 30 minutes!

For ease and time saving, this recipe uses canned pineapple. The chunks are drained, then hand squeezed to remove as much moisture as possible.

The puree and some sugar is then stirred over medium heat until it thickens into jam. Easy.

The shortbread-like dough comes together quickly kneaded by hand, or even quicker with an electric mixer. The dough is smooth like playdough and easy to work with.

Recipe ingredients

Directions for jam

Step by step image collage making pineapple jam in food processor : drain, puree, cook until thickened.

Drain the canned pineapple, and then, using your hands squeeze out any additional juice.
In a blender or food processor, puree the pineapple for 10 seconds.
In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the puree and ¼ cup sugar.
Mix continually with a wooden spoon until thickened (approximately 30 minutes). Set aside to cool.

Directions for cookies

Step by step image collage forming Pineapple Cookies: add jam, pinch dough, roll ball, add lines.

In the bowl of an electric mixer (or in a food processor or by hand) combine the ingredients until a smooth dough forms.
To prepare balls of pineapple filling, scoop ¼ heaping teaspoons of filling and roll into 16 balls.
Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough and flatten into a disc shape. Place a filling ball in the center of the dough disc. Wrap the dough around the filling, and roll the dough into a ball.
Place the filled dough balls on a parchment lined baking sheet at least 2" apart.
Press the back of a butter knife into the dough ball to create a criss-cross pattern, then brush the top of each cookie with egg wash.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and the bottom edge begins to brown.

Cookie cut in half to show pineapple jam center.

FAQ's

Why are pineapple tarts used in Chinese New Year?

The word for pineapple in Hokkien, the Chinese dialect spoken in Southeast Asia, also means "luck is coming". People eat pineapple tarts for good luck. There are many additional Chinese New Year food traditions.

How long can you keep pineapple cookies?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they can be kept for up to one week. The cookies can be stored for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Tips

These cookies, like most Asian cookies are only mildly sweet. If a sweeter version is desired, add a sprinkling of decorating sugar or a drizzle of confectioners sugar glaze on top.
Traditionally, no flavoring is added to the buttery cookie, but an optional bit of pineapple flavoring boosts the fruity flavor.
When squeezing the pineapple before pureeing, it is important to remove as much juice as possible. The less moisture that remains, the less time it takes to cook down into jam.
To keep the jam from burning, keep the heat at medium-low and stir continually.

Close up of cookies decorated with cross hatched lines and shiny egg wash glaze.

More Chinese New Year recipes

Peanut Cookies are bite sized treats that will melt in your mouth!

Butter Cookie Dragons aren't traditional, but they are cute and tasty additions to a Lunar New Year celebration.

These traditional Chinese New Year Almond Cookies are crunchy butter cookies with wonderful almond flavor.

For more delicious recipe suggestions, take a look at this roundup of 10 Chinese New Year Treats.

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