The Dreamy Sweet Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe You’ll Adore

Dessert magic happens when a classic pineapple upside down cake bursts with tropical warmth and golden caramelized sweetness.

Rich butter and brown sugar create a luscious glaze that hugs each tender slice of cake.

Generations of bakers have cherished this nostalgic treat that brings comfort and joy to the table.

The recipe weaves together simple ingredients into a stunning dessert that looks as incredible as it tastes.

Ripe pineapple rings nestled in a buttery caramel base promise a delightful balance of flavors and textures.

Each forkful delivers a perfect blend of moist cake and luxurious fruit topping.

Bake this crowd-pleasing dessert and watch smiles spread across the faces of everyone you serve.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 180 kcal

Servings: 8

Essentials for Pineapple Upside Down Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Foundation of the cake, choose unbleached for richer flavor and better texture.
• Baking Powder: Creates light, airy structure, ensuring soft cake crumb.
• Baking Soda: Helps activate other leavening agents and enhances golden color.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies overall flavor profile.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy base, select high-quality unsalted for best results.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create tender cake texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and add structure, use room temperature for smooth mixing.
• Sour Cream: Delivers moisture and tangy depth to cake's flavor.
• Milk: Enhances cake's softness and helps blend ingredients smoothly.
• Pineapple Juice: Infuses tropical essence and keeps cake moist.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, complex undertone to cake's flavor.

• Pineapple Slices: Creates classic upside-down cake design, choose ripe, firm fruit.
• Maraschino Cherries: Adds vibrant color and sweet accent to presentation.
• Brown Sugar: Caramelizes beautifully, creating rich, golden topping.
• Melted Butter: Helps create glossy, sticky caramel layer.

Bakeware and Tools to Flip It Right

• 9-inch round cake pan: Essential for creating the perfect upside down cake shape and layering.
• Whisk: Helps mix dry ingredients smoothly and break up any lumps.
• Medium mixing bowl: Perfect for combining dry ingredients.
• Large mixing bowl: Ideal for creaming butter and sugar, and mixing wet ingredients.
• Electric mixer or hand mixer: Makes beating butter and sugar quick and effortless.
• Toothpick: Crucial for checking cake doneness by testing the center.
• Spatula: Helps spread batter evenly and scrape bowls clean.
• Cooling plate: Necessary for inverting and serving the cake after baking.

Serving Pineapple Cake Like a Classic Pro

• Tropical Vacation Plate: Serve the cake on a bright, colorful platter that mimics the sunny Hawaiian vibes of the dessert, creating a festive presentation.
• Creamy Companion: Pair each slice with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream to enhance the cake's rich, caramelized flavors.
• Breakfast Bliss: Transform leftovers into a delightful morning treat by warming a slice and serving alongside a hot cup of coffee or tropical fruit smoothie for a sweet start to the day.
• Cocktail Hour Twist: Elevate the dessert by adding a small glass of rum or coconut liqueur on the side, complementing the cake's pineapple and caramel notes for an adult-friendly indulgence.

Cooling and Keeping Pineapple Cake Fresh

• Store leftover cake in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent moisture loss and maintain delicious texture.
• Enjoy the cake at room temperature for optimal flavor and softness. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to enhance taste and prevent chilly, dense texture.
• Wrap individual cake slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator for best results and minimal texture changes.
• Keep cherries and pineapple topping intact by storing cake right-side up. This prevents decorative elements from shifting or becoming mushy during refrigeration.

How to Make a Pineapple Upside Down Cake

• Prepare the Pan

Brush melted butter across the bottom and sides of a round cake pan. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly, creating a sweet foundation for your tropical dessert.

• Create the Fruity Base

Carefully arrange pineapple slices over the sugary layer. Nestle bright red cherries in the center of each slice and fill any empty spaces.

• Mix the Dry Components

Whisk together flour, rising agents, and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl, creating a smooth powder base.

• Blend the Wet Ingredients

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Crack eggs one by one, then fold in sour cream, milk, pineapple juice, and vanilla extract. Stir until the mixture looks silky and consistent.

• Combine and Pour

Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Pour the batter over the pineapple arrangement, spreading it evenly across the pan.

• Bake to Perfection

Slide the pan into a preheated oven at 350°F. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and the top turns golden brown.

• Flip and Serve

Let the cake rest for 20 minutes. Place a serving plate on top and quickly invert the pan, revealing the gorgeous caramelized pineapple topping. Serve warm and enjoy your tropical treat.

Pro Tips for a Perfect Pineapple Flip

• Use light or dark brown sugar for deeper flavor, ensuring the caramel coating becomes rich and glossy when the cake is inverted.
• Prepare the cake a day ahead and store at room temperature, wrapped loosely in plastic wrap to maintain moisture and enhance flavor development.
• Swap regular flour with a 1: 1 gluten-free baking blend, keeping the same measurements to create a celiac-friendly version without compromising texture.
• Experiment with different fruits like mango or peaches instead of pineapple, maintaining the same arrangement technique for a unique flavor profile.
• Replace butter with coconut oil, use non-dairy milk, and substitute sour cream with coconut yogurt to create a completely dairy-free dessert that still maintains incredible moisture and richness.

Sweet Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Tropical sweetness meets classic comfort in this Pineapple Upside Down Cake, a golden dessert that combines caramelized fruit with moist, buttery cake. Served warm with vanilla ice cream, this nostalgic treat brings Caribbean charm to any gathering you’ll want to savor.

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Ingredients

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• ¼ cup (4 tbsps) unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
• 7–8 pineapple slices, canned (drained, juice reserved)
• maraschino cherries
• 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ⅓ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
• ¼ cup milk
• ¼ cup reserved pineapple juice
• 2 tsps pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350°F (177°C) and meticulously coat a 9-inch round cake pan with a thin layer of grease.
2. Craft the Caramelized Base: Cascade melted butter across the pan’s surface, generously dust with brown sugar, then artfully position pineapple rings and strategically place cherries within each slice and surrounding spaces.
3. Develop Cake Foundation: Whisk together flour, leavening agents, and salt in a medium mixing vessel, creating a uniform dry mixture.
4. Create Wet Mixture: Vigorously cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, incorporate eggs individually, then gently fold in sour cream, milk, pineapple juice, and vanilla extract until achieving a silky, homogeneous consistency.
5. Combine Mixtures: Delicately integrate dry ingredients into wet components, stirring until just incorporated – avoid excessive mixing to maintain cake’s tender texture.
6. Layer and Bake: Gently pour batter over the pineapple arrangement, ensuring even distribution, then transfer to preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes until a clean toothpick emerges from the center.
7. Final Presentation: Allow cake to rest in pan for 20 minutes, then confidently invert onto a serving plate, revealing the glistening caramelized pineapple topping.

Notes

• Liberally grease the pan with butter or non-stick spray and consider lining the bottom with parchment paper for effortless removal.
• Ensure butter, eggs, and sour cream are at room temperature to create a smoother, more uniform cake batter that blends perfectly.
• Place pineapple slices and cherries carefully to create an attractive pattern, ensuring even coverage and visual appeal when the cake is flipped.
• Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined to maintain a tender, light cake texture and prevent dense, tough results.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg