Kesari is a popular South Indian sweet dish but when you add pineapple to it the result is an irresistible treat. Rava, which is also called sooji or semolina in India is the main ingredient of this pineapple kesari.
The traditional kesari is simple yet delicious, but adding pineapple to it creates a refreshing, fruity twist. The sweet, tangy pineapple perfectly complements the soft, rich texture of rava, which makes Pineapple kesari a standout dessert.

Pineapple Kesari Recipe
One of the easiest sweets which you can make in no time is kesari. It just needs few ingredients and we make it often too. You can check out the rawa kesari and semiya kesari recipe from this blog.
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Normal kesari taste divine. Then think about adding pineapples in them, YUM right. Yes pineapple kesari is totally addictive. The smell just waft from the kadai and fills the entire house with the aroma, nobody can turn back. Making kesari is not at all difficult, it is quite easy if you follow few steps. One of the main this is roasting rava and water level. If you follow this then making kesari is a breeze.
About Pineapple Kesari
Pineapple Kesari is a tasteful dessert that brings together the rich taste of ghee, tropical sweetness of pineapple and the soft texture of rava. It’s a variation of the classic Kesari Bhath with the addition of pineapple giving it a delightful, fruity flavor.
This dessert is perfect for celebrating special occasions like Diwali, Onam or any other festive gathering. It’s also great to enjoy during family get-togethers or whenever you’re in the mood for a comforting sweet treat.
Why I love My Pineapple Kesari Recipe - Every time I make Pineapple Kesari, it takes me back to my childhood and those cozy family gatherings. I can still remember celebrating my birthday during childhood with simple yet delightful treats like this. The familiar smell of ghee and pineapple wafting through the house brings a sense of warmth and nostalgia. Pineapple chunks in this dish give it a unique, refreshing twist that sets it apart from other desserts. The juicy pineapple pieces provide a burst of flavor in every bite and the contrast of the fruit with the warm, buttery semolina makes it feel like a mini vacation with each spoonful. It’s a great way to enjoy a little bit of summer, no matter the season.
The flavors of pineapple elevate the dish, making it a popular choice alongside other variations like fruit Kesari. Once you try it, you’ll find that Pineapple Kesari is a dish that’s both satisfying and addictive. This Pineapple Rava Kesari or Pineapple Sheera recipe is known for its vibrant yellow color, aromatic fragrance and smooth texture. This sweet dish fills your home with its mouthwatering aroma and it’s impossible to resist once you smell it cooking.
Pineapple Kesari have the balance between the sweetness of the sugar and the tangy, natural sweetness of the pineapple. The pineapple adds just enough zing to make it interesting, while the semolina creates a smooth, rich base that holds everything together beautifully. It’s the perfect level of sweetness for any time of day.
Similar Recipes
Rava Kesari
Semiya Kesari
Poha Kesari
Milk Kesari
Fruit Kesari

Why this recipe works?
Quick and Simple to Prepare: Pineapple kesari requires minimal preparation and cooking time, making it an ideal choice for busy days or last-minute celebrations. Ingredients used in this recipe are easy to find in any Indian kitchen. Within a few steps, we can have a dessert that looks and tastes like it took hours to prepare. The easy-to-follow steps make this recipe perfect for anyone, even for the beginners.
Perfect for All Occasions: Pineapple Kesari is one of those desserts that works for just about any occasion. Whether it’s a big celebration like Diwali, Onam or just a sweet treat to enjoy on a regular day, it’s always a hit. No matter when or where you have it, Pineapple Kesari brings joy to the moment.
Versatility: Pineapple Kesari is delicious on its own, it also gives you the freedom to get creative. You can easily experiment with other fruits like mango, banana or even apple to make your own versions of fruit Kesari. You can adjust the sweetness to suit your taste or add spices like cardamom or cinnamon for an extra kick.
Soul-Satisfying Dish: The rich warmth of Pineapple Kesari makes it the perfect comfort food, offering a sweet escape from daily routines. The soft texture of the rava combined with the juicy pineapple chunks adds a delightful burst of flavor in every bite. Pineapple chunks bring a refreshing contrast to the rich, smooth base. Enjoying Pineapple Kesari after a long day or on a cozy evening, it brings a sense of contentment, making it a comforting choice for any occasion.
Pineapple Kesari Ingredients

Rawa / Sooji / Semolina: Rawa, also known as Sooji or Semolina, is the main base of this dish. It absorbs the flavors while cooking and creates a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Sugar: It adds the sweetness that balances the tangy pineapple, making the dessert delightfully sweet. The sugar also helps in giving Pineapple Kesari its smooth consistency as it melts and combines with the semolina and ghee.
Water: Water is essential to cook the rava. It hydrates the Rava and helps it soften, turning it into a fluffy, light texture that pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the dish.
Pineapple: Pineapple is the star of this dish, adding a tropical flavor that complements the richness of the ghee and rava. The pineapple chunks provide a burst of freshness and tanginess, making Pineapple Kesari stand out from the traditional version.
Ghee: Ghee adds richness and depth of flavor to the dish. It gives Pineapple Kesari its smooth texture and makes it aromatic, enhancing the overall indulgence of the dessert.
Yellow Food Colouring: Yellow food coloring is often used in Pineapple Kesari to give the dessert its vibrant golden colour. It not only makes the dish visually appealing but also adds to the festive and celebratory feel of the dessert.
Cardamom Powder / Yelakai: Cardamom powder (or Yelakai in Tamil) is a fragrant spice that adds a warm, aromatic flavor to the dessert. Just a pinch of cardamom can transform the dish to exotic fragrance which is the characteristic of many traditional Indian sweets.
Cashews: Cashews are roasted in ghee and added to garnish Pineapple Kesari. Their crunchy texture provides a pleasant contrast to the soft rava, and their nutty flavor complements the sweetness of the dish.
Sultanas / Kishmish: Sultanas or Kishmish (raisins) add a natural sweetness and chewy texture to the dessert.

How to Make Pineapple Kesari (Stepwise Pictures)
Hacks
1. Use Fresh Pineapple for Extra Flavor: Fresh pineapple adds a burst of natural sweetness and tanginess compared to canned pineapple. Make sure to chop the fruit into small pieces to blend seamlessly with the rava.
2. Toast the Rava: To bring out the nice flavor of the rava, lightly toast it in ghee before adding any liquids. This will add an extra depth to your Pineapple Kesari, making it taste even more delicious.
3. Add a Pinch of Saffron: Adding few strands of saffron in warm milk and adding it to the mixture gives the dish a beautiful color and an aromatic, luxurious flavor. It elevates the dish, especially for festive occasions.
4. Add a Little Lemon Juice: Few drops of lemon juice can brighten up the flavor of the pineapple and balance out the sweetness of the dish.
Expert tips
- Use seasonal pineapple, or it will make the Pineapple kesari sourer and you will need to add more sugar.
- Always use a heavy bottom pan or non-stick pan for making kesari.
- Roast rava well for better taste.
- Use ghee as mentioned for soft kesari.
- Don’t cook till kesari gets dry. Let it be runny when you take it off the heat. As it rests it will get thicker.
- If you are planning to make the kesari ahead of time then you can increase the water quantity to 2 cups.
Variations
Wheat rava kesari: It is made using a wheat based sooji called as samba rava. Usually, it is cooked in pressure cooker. Since wheat rava takes more time to cook. Also, it is a healthy option comparing to regular rava.
Milk Kesari: Rava kesari is made entirely with milk instead of water creates much more soft texture.
Fruit Kesari: Different types of fruits like mangoes, apples, grapes, pineapple are added.
Semiya Kesari: This is made using vermicelli or semiya which has a chewy texture to it. It is similar to meethi seviyan recipe.
Aval Kesari: It is made using poha which is a healthy option
Mango Kesari: It has an addition of chopped and pureed mangoes and mango extract.
Apple sheera: This recipe is very similar to kesari made using apples and sooji.
FAQ
1. Milk has to be added? when?
No need to add milk in this recipe.
2. Does the rava get cooked well in this procedure?
Yes, it will be cooked.
3. Came out very nice. Was a bit more sweet for me... Can reduce the sugar content next time?
Yes, you can adjust sugar as per your taste.
4. Please suggest me what can i use instead of Ghee?
You can use butter, but try to add some ghee, because it only gives nice flavour.
5. Can i do without food color? does it affect the taste of kesari?
No it don’t affect any taste. You can skip the food colour.
More Kesari Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe Card
Pineapple Kesari Recipe (Pineapple Sheera)
Equipment
- Cooking Kadai
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rava | Sooji | Semolina
- 1¼ cup Sugar + more if your pineapple is not so sweet
- 3 cups Water
- 1½ cup Fresh Pineapples peeled & chopped into small pieces
- ½ cup Ghee
- ⅛ tsp Yellow Food Colouring optional
- 1 tsp Ground Cardamom
- 3 tbsp Cashews
- 3 tbsp Sultanas | Kishmish | Golden Raisins
Instructions
- Take water in a sauce pan and bring that to a boil. Add in pineapple pieces and your food colouring into that and mix well. Let it simmer while you continue with the next process.
- Heat half of the ghee in a kadai. Add in cashews and kishmish and fry till golden brown. Now add in the rawa and roast it in the ghee for a good couple of mins.
- Now add in the pineapple water and mix well. Cover this with a lid and simmer till the rawa is cooked. It will take around 5 to 8 mins.
- Now add in sugar and mix well. Cook this for a good 10 mins or so till it gets thick.
- Now Add in cardamom powder and the remaining ghee and mix well.
- Once the mixture leaves the sides of pan without sticking, then the kesari is ready.
- Serve warm or at room temp.
Notes
- Use seasonal pineapple, or it will make the Pineapple kesari sourer and you will need to add more sugar.
- Always use a heavy bottom pan or non-stick pan for making kesari.
- Roast rava well for better taste.
- Use ghee as mentioned for soft kesari.
- Don’t cook till kesari gets dry. Let it be runny when you take it off the heat. As it rests it will get thicker.
- If you are planning to make the kesari ahead of time then you can increase the water quantity to 2 cups.
Nutrition
If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @[email protected] and I’ll help as soon as I can.
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Happys Cook
Yummy kesari...
Cynthia
This is amazing...mamm can u do diet series plsss
pria
Looks yum and truly loved the colour,
the step wise pictures does a lotof help....thanks for sharing the recipe.
Hasna Hamza Layin
so delicious it luks...yumm
Hamaree Rasoi
Excellent and colorful looking kesari.
Deepa
Anonymous
superb!!!can we use tin pineapples for this recepie?
Aarthi
@Anonymousyes u could
Panjamy
Oh...this looks so yummyyyyyyyyy
Anonymous
hi i am purnimaa from Bangalore have been following your blog you are truly doing a great job thanks have tried many of your recipes it's coming out ss inviting as yours 🙂 thanks alot
I
Anonymous
can we add brown sugar or jaggery instead of sugar ??
Aarthi
@Anonymousyes u can use brown sugar