Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (2024)

Classic pineapple upside-down cake is one of our family’s favorites—deliciously moist, fruity pineapple and cherries cake. Just a few simple ingredients and a yellow cake mix make this a quick and easy cake. Topped with ooey gooey brown sugared caramel pineapple goodness, it just could not be any more delicious.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (1)

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Pineapple cake is always a delicious treat, especially for spring dinners. I like to serve it on Easter after a meal of ham, deviled eggs, Irish Soda Bread, and roasted Brussel sprouts.

I have made this cake for birthdays and served it with whipped cream and ice cream and a cherry on top. It has fruit instead of sugary icing.

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Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (2)

pineapple cake with whipped cream

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe

Whenever I serve my pineapple upside cake, I get recipe requests. So I wanted to share with you the best pineapple upside-down recipe using a yellow cake mix.

Before you begin the recipe, I would like to share some helpful tips.

Baking tips

  • Preheat the oven while preparing the cake batter.
  • When baking upside-down cakes. Cut a parchment liner to fit your pan to ensure your cake turns out of the pan neatly.
  • Use the pineapple juices from the canned pineapple to replace the water in the cake mix.
  • Squeeze out the moisture from 1/8 cup canned crushed pineapple to fill in around the pineapple rings and maraschino cherries.
  • Bake according to your baking dish size.
  • Use a toothpick inserted in the center; if it comes out clean, it is finished baking.
  • Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before turning the cake out of the pan.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (3)

Pineapple cake ingredients

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Heat butter and brown sugar in a saucepan

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (5)

Pineapple slices and cherries arrange in a pan over the butter and brown sugar mixture

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Easy Pineapple Upside-down cake

Tools:

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Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This super moist quick pineapple upside-down cake will be a fast favorite since it is easy and delicious. They will be begging for more.

4.67 from 15 votes

Print Recipe Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pineapple upside-down cake, Pineapple upside-down cake recipe, upside-down cake

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 28 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 slices

Calories: 374kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 box Yellow cake mix
  • 1 Large can of pineapple rings
  • 1 can crushed pineapple
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 jar maraschino cherries pitted

Instructions

  • Drain a can of pineapple rings, conserving the liquid.

  • Drain a can of crushed pineapple.

  • Prepare the cake mix according to the directions, except use the conserved pineapple liquid instead of water.

  • Heat butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan until the butter is melted and the mixture is well combined.

  • Using a pastry brush, spread the butter and brown sugar mixture in the bottom of the pans.

  • Arrange pineapple rings on top of the brown sugar mixture.

    Use drained crushed pineapple to fill in around the pineapple rings.

  • Decorate the pineapple rings with cherries.

  • Pour the cake batter gently over the pineapple and cherries.

Equipment

Mixing bowl

Cake pans

Mixing spoon

Silicone pastry brush

Notes

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (14)

Pineapple upside-down cake

This quick pineapple upside-down cake is one of your favorite go-to recipes.

Please note:

  • I added a little crushed pineapple to the areas between the pineapple rings.
  • I like to place 1/8 cup of crushed pineapple into the cake batter after squeezing out all the moisture.
  • To ensure the pineapple upside-down cake toppings stay on when you turn it out of the pan I cut a circle of parchment paper to line the bottom of as my first step.

Nutrition

Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 381mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 55g | Vitamin A: 288IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 1mg

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Tried this recipe?Mention @kippiathome or tag #kippiathome!

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Classic Deviled Eggs is a comfort food favorite.

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Easy Irish Soda Bread is a buttery quick bread recipe.

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Spring and Easter Pretzel Bite only take minutes to make.

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Want More?

Sometimes we all need a little inspiration for easy meals and recipes. I put together some recipes. I think you will like it.

If you like easy everyday recipes, you might enjoy my favorite recipes delivered straight to your inbox click HERE.

I hope you have a safe and healthy spring,

Kippi

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (2024)

FAQs

Can I substitute pineapple juice for water in a cake mix? ›

I also like using the pineapple juice from the canned pineapple in place of water (or with water) in the cake mix. Once the cake comes from the oven you're done. No icing or decorating needed.

When should I flip my pineapple upside-down cake? ›

Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately place heatproof serving plate upside down over pan; turn plate and pan over. Leave pan over cake a few minutes so brown sugar mixture can drizzle over cake; remove pan. Serve warm.

Should you use parchment paper when baking a pineapple upside-down cake? ›

To get the goo to stay where you want it and not impede the release of the cake, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper or a silicone cake-pan liner after you grease the pan. That should allow easy removal, and then you can peel the paper off of the cake.

Why is the top of my pineapple upside-down cake soggy? ›

My #1 Tip for the Topping: Blot the wet pineapples and maraschino cherries before using. The more liquid in the fruit, the more liquid that won't “set.” Excess liquid creates an unpleasantly wet cake.

What happens if you use milk instead of water in a cake mix? ›

Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.

What does adding sour cream to cake mix do? ›

How Is Sour Cream Used in Baking? Sour cream is one of the fattiest dairy products; the extra fat content (for example, adding sour cream to a cake instead of milk) will make the cake moister and richer, says Wilk. "Fat, in any form (butter, lard, cream, etc.)

What does pineapple mean in girl code? ›

The word “pineapple” is often used as a stand-in for sex—so, if you're texting your partner and things get a little NSFW, use the 🍍 emoji to get your message across. “Any plans for tonight? 🍍🍍” “Can't wait for later babe 🍍😍”

Should you refrigerate pineapple upside-down cake after baking? ›

You have to refrigerate it, especially after you bake it. Though, cool it first. And make sure to do that before putting it in the fridge. Consequently, if you did not store it in the fridge, it will indeed spoil quickly.

Why did my pineapple upside-down cake fall apart? ›

There are two culprits to watch for that could cause your cake to turn out this way: 1) Over-mixing the dry ingredients (just stir until the wet and dry ingredients are combined, don't overdo it!) and 2) over-baking the cake.

What is a substitute for maraschino cherries in pineapple upside down cake? ›

If you're looking for a substitute for maraschino cherries in a pineapple upside-down cake, fresh cherries or other preserved cherries can work well. Even raspberries, blackberries, or small halved strawberries could work.

How do you get pineapple upside down cake to not stick to the pan? ›

In order to keep the fruit in place and protect the caramel from sticking, line the bottom of the pan with parchment. A smooth stovetop caramel is also key to the perfect upside-down cake. This recipe uses reserved pineapple juice and cornstarch to ensure the caramel stays nice and velvety.

Which side of parchment paper do you bake on? ›

Since parchment paper doesn't have a helpful “this end up” sign with an arrow, it takes a little detective work. Just hold the paper up to the light and look for the side that's slightly glossier or shinier. It is the shiny or glossy side of the parchment paper that should be face up on your baking sheet or cake pan.

What is the best pan for an upside-down cake? ›

A well-buttered pan and the naturally seasoned cast iron surface will prevent the topping layer of the cake from sticking—more on that later. For mini upside-down cakes, the mini cake pan is just the right size. For a traditionally sized cake, reach for a 10.25 inch skillet or 12 inch skillet.

Do you let pineapple upside-down cake cool before flipping? ›

Cool the cake slightly before removing from the pan.

The hardest part of making pineapple upside-down cake is the maneuver which turns the bottom of the cake pan into the top of the cake. Cooling the baked cake slightly before flipping it allows the topping to cool and stick to the cake before turning out.

Is pineapple upside-down cake bad for dogs? ›

Can Dogs Eat Pineapple Cake? You shouldn't share pineapple cake with your dog. Although pineapple itself is healthy, pineapple cake has too much sugar for your dog and could make them sick. There's also the risk of additional ingredients that are toxic to dogs, like nutmeg or xylitol.

What do you replace water with in cake mix? ›

Baking tip #2: adding milk to your box cake mix in place of water adds a dense texture to your dessert leaving it moist and flavorful like a homemade cake. Or, if you prefer, you can add buttermilk, giving your cake a tangy flavor to balance out the sweetness.

When baking a cake What can I substitute for water? ›

Instead of using water, substitute whole milk or your favorite non-dairy milk (almond, oat, and coconut milk work especially well). The milk adds fat, which results in a better flavor and density in your cake. If you want to make your cake extra rich, swap out the milk for buttermilk.

How can I substitute pineapple juice? ›

Apple Juice

Apple juice is a fantastic pineapple juice substitute that I've used countless times in my recipes, and is readily available in grocery stores. Its mild sweetness and fruity flavor make it a suitable replacement, especially in baked goods and smoothies.

What does fruit juice do in baking? ›

Juice may be used as the liquid in a recipe, but do not substitute milk with juice and vice versa. Because fruit juices are acidic, they are probably best used in baked products that have baking soda as an ingredient.

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