Ditch the Pumpkin and Carve a Spooky Pineapple Jack-o'-Lantern Instead — Get the DIY

POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

There is no Halloween activity more fun than carving out pumpkins. That is, until we carved out pineapples! My favorite fruit has been and always will be pineapple, so why not bring a taste of the tropics to the Fall season? Pumpkins make for great jack-o'-lanterns, but pineapples make for a great spin on the Halloween tradition. Impress your guests and surprise your trick-or-treaters with this spooky fruit. If you're looking to try something new, follow this step-by-step tutorial for carving out a pineapple. The best part is there are no seeds, so less mess, and the cored-out fruit also makes for a sweet, healthy snack.

Step 1: Gather your supplies.
POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

Step 1: Gather your supplies.

Here's what you will need:

  • Pineapple
  • Sharp knife
  • Carving saw
  • Scraper
  • Marker (optional)
  • Stencils (optional)
  • Candle
Step 2: Remove the head of the pineapple.
POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

Step 2: Remove the head of the pineapple.

Using a sharp knife, slice off the top of the fruit. Do not toss. Hold on to the head to put on top again at the end.

Step 3: Core out the center of the pineapple.
POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

Step 3: Core out the center of the pineapple.

Either with a sharp knife or a corer, remove the center of the pineapple from top to bottom as much as possible.

Step 4: Draw out the tracing.
POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

Step 4: Draw out the tracing.

This step is completely optional, but if you're not that good at eyeing out the cuts (like me), trace out your stencil with a marker. If you want your pineapple jack-o'-lantern to be perfectly symmetrical, don't skip this step. Also ,because the pineapple has darker spots, it can be hard to see where you already cut, so drawing out the shape with a dark marker really helps.

Step 5: Carve out the shapes.
POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

Step 5: Carve out the shapes.

Now you can carve out your pineapple using a carving saw. Take your time with this step because once the cut is made, you can't go back.

Step 6: Light your candle up inside the pineapple.
POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

Step 6: Light your candle up inside the pineapple.

Last but not least, light a small candle or turn on an LED flameless candle. Place in the center of the pineapple. Pop the top back on, and you have a spooky pineapple.