What Is Pineapple Ice Cream?

Pineapple ice cream is a type of frozen dessert that has been flavored by the pineapple fruit in some form or another. This type of ice cream need not contain actual pieces of the fruit, but instead, it may include pineapple concentrate or pineapple juice. Pineapple ice cream may also include other fruits or flavors; popular varieties include combinations of pineapple and coconut, vanilla, and oranges.

Ice cream has been a popular dessert for quite some time, although its early development is unclear. Some attribute ice cream to the Roman emperor Nero, who may have concocted the first ice cream dessert around 4 B.C. by mixing snow with nectar and fruit. Others claim the dessert has been consumed in Asia for far longer. America's first ice cream parlor came in 1776, opened in New York City. Making the dessert became easier in 1843 after housewife/inventor Nancy Johnson patented the first hand-crank ice cream machine.

Pineapple is a tropical fruit predominantly grown in Thailand, Costa Rica, and the Philippines. It's unclear how long pineapple has been consumed by humans, although its first introduction to Europeans came in 1493 when Christopher Columbus made his second voyage to the Caribbean. Pineapple is well known for its unique appearance, which includes a hardened and spiny casing with an abundant flowered crown.

In addition to making ice cream with pineapple chunks or juice mixed in, pineapple topping, can also be drizzled over ice cream of any flavor. This, however, does not necessarily make the dessert pineapple ice cream. The inclusion of pineapple in some form or another is generally necessary at the time of manufacturing.

Homemade pineapple ice cream can be made easily thanks to modern technology. Ice cream makers make it easy to include additional ingredients such as pineapple or other fruits in their basic recipes. The basic ingredients of ice cream are milk or cream, sugar, eggs, and water or ice, although there are many classifications of ice cream desserts. Some alternatives to traditional ice cream include sherbet, gelato, sorbet, and frozen custard. Fruit, such as pineapple, may be added to these ice cream desserts as well.