The taste of Taiwanese pineapple paste (jam) is quite different from the Malaysian/Singaporean version as it is mainly made of winter melon and flavored with pineapple essence instead of the real pineapple fruit.**Pineapple Paste is adapted from http://www.zesterdaily.com/baking/378-taiwanese-pineapple-cakes
Cream butter, shortening and icing sugar till light and fluffy for around 8 minutes.
Add in egg and essence if using.
Fold in all purpose flour, cornflour and milk powder. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Divide dough into 30 pcs and wrap with the pineapple filling.
Press it onto the square mould and bake it at 170°C (338°F) for 15 - 20 minutes and turn it around to bake for another 15 minutes or till brown.
Pineapple Paste
Place the pineapple in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until pureed, stopping and scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally, 18 to 20 pulses. Pour into a Dutch oven.
Place the winter melon in the food processor and pulse until very finely shredded, 20 to 22 pulses. Transfer to the Dutch oven.
Cook the combined mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the winter melon begins turning translucent, about 20 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium, add the sugar, and cook until the mixture has thickened, about 8 minutes.
Stir in the maltose syrup and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is very thick, sticky, and uniformly light amber in color, 10 to 12 minutes.
Transfer mixture to a shallow bowl and refrigerate until cool. Divide into 1 Tsp each.
Notes
You can also buy the ready made paste from baking supply shop around Taiwan.