This easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake is the perfect recipe that will impress your family and friends! This classic dessert is the perfect combination of buttery, gooey and tender cake with chunks of sweet fruit, and a wonderful brown sugar sauce. It’s super easy to make, and is sure to be a hit! Plus, it doubles up as a gorgeous centerpiece for any party.
How to Make Pineapple Upside Down Cake
With graduation parties and wedding/baby showers in season, it’s always good to have a few fancy dessert recipes up your sleeve. This Pineapple Upside Down Cake will not disappoint!
I love how sweet cherries add not only sweetness, but also bright pops of color to this classic, decadent cake.
This Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe:
- serves 6
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Ingredients – Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Upper Layer:
- ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple slices in juice, reserving juice for cake
- 1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries, seedless
Cake:
- 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
Instructions – Pineapple Upside Down Cake
step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
step 2
After this, grease a round 9 inch cake pan.
step 3
For the topping: Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl and stir in brown sugar until smooth.
step 4
Then, melt the butter mixture in the prepared pan.
step 5
Next, place pineapple rings in the brown sugar mixture and place a cherry in the center of each pineapple ring.
step 6
For the Batter: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
step 7
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
step 8
Then, beat in the eggs and vanilla until well combined.
step 9
Add sour cream until well combined.
step 10
Gradually add flour mixture, alternating with pineapple juice, and mix until combined.
step 11
Next, pour the cake batter over the pineapple rings and spread evenly.
step 12
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
step 13
Remove from oven to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
step 14
Place a plate or serving platter on top of the cake and invert.
step 15
Wait patiently 30-60 seconds for the cake to loosen and then carefully lift out the pan.
step 16
Let cool completely and serve with whipped cream, if you like.
How to Store Pineapple Upside Down Cake
To keep your cake fresh, store your cake in an airtight container in the fridge!
notes:
You can use fresh pineapple if you prefer, but you’ll still need fresh pineapple. You can also use yellow cake mix if you don’t want to make the batter yourself. Duncan Hines also has a pineapple upside-down cake mix.
To serve this cake upside down, make sure you let it cool before inverting it. If any fruit falls off the top of the cake, you can put it back. No one will know!
Make sure you use brown sugar, white sugar won’t taste as good. It won’t have that caramel note. Light brown sugar is fine, but I like dark brown sugar best.
This impressive dessert is so easy to make.
Can You Freeze Pineapple Upside Down Cake?
Yes!
Make sure it has reached room temperature, and is properly sealed to keep air out, and then it can be frozen for up to three months.
How long does Pineapple Upside Down Cake last?
in my house? One day, ha!
Store your pineapple cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
How to Make Gluten Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake
The only change you need to make from the above recipe is to replace the all purpose flour with gluten free all purpose flour!
If you’re cooking for someone with a gluten allergy or sensitivity, always double-check the label of any pre-packaged ingredients to make sure they’re free of wheat and gluten.
prep time
15 minutes
Cooking Time
35 minutes 30 second
total time
50 minutes 30 second
Component
-
Upper Layer:
-
¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted
-
½ cup brown sugar, packed
-
1 can (20 oz) pineapple rings in juice, reserving juice for cake
-
1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries, seedless
-
Cake:
-
1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
-
1 tsp baking powder
-
½ tsp salt
-
¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
-
1 cup granulated sugar
-
1 large egg, room temperature
-
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-
¼ cup sour cream
-
¼ cup pineapple juice
Instruction
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a round 9-inch cake pan.
- For the topping: Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl and stir in brown sugar until smooth.
- Pour into prepared pan.
- Arrange pineapple rings in brown sugar mixture and place a cherry in the center of each pineapple ring.
- For the Batter: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined.
- Add sour cream until well combined.
- Gradually add flour mixture, alternating with pineapple juice, and mix until combined.
- Spoon the batter over the pineapple rings and spread evenly.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
- Place a plate or serving platter on top of the cake and invert.
- Wait patiently 30-60 seconds for the cake to loosen and then carefully lift out the pan.
- Let cool completely and serve with whipped cream, if you like.
Easy Cake Recipe from Kids Activities Blog
If this easy pineapple upside down cake recipe leaves your sweet tooth craving more, we have tons of delicious cake recipes that are easy to make!
What do you think of this easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe?
