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.

This post contains affiliate links. In other words, if you purchase from one of these links, I will make a small commission. However, you can rest assured you will not pay more for any products.

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

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (4)

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

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (6)

Easy Pineapple Upside-down cake

Tools:

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (7)

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

Pin Recipe

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

My Amazon Picks:


Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (15)

You might also enjoy these quick recipes:

Classic Deviled Eggs is a comfort food favorite.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (16)

Deviled Eggs

Easy Irish Soda Bread is a buttery quick bread recipe.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (17)

Soda Bread Buttered

Spring and Easter Pretzel Bite only take minutes to make.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe - Easy and Quick (18)

Spring Pretzel Hugs

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 use pineapple juice instead of 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 you flip an upside down cake? ›

Let the cake cool for just 10-15 minutes before inverting onto a serving platter (more on that below). Don't let the cake cool too long, or it may stick to the pie plate.

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

- Never add extra liquid or moisture to the base of an upside down cake. It will made the cake soggy. Drain your tin of pineapple before use, but keep the juice.

What is the best way to flip a 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.

What does using milk instead of water in cake mix do? ›

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 happens if you use milk instead of water in a 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.

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

Placing a round of parchment paper at the bottom of the pan can prevent this sticking and make the cake easier to release after baking. If you prefer not to use parchment paper, greasing the pan thoroughly can also help prevent sticking. What is a substitute for maraschino cherries in pineapple upside down cake?

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.

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

By substituting pecans (or other nuts) for the usual maraschino cherries, this twist on a classic upside-down cake is less sweet and crunchier than the usual recipe. Caramelizing the brown sugar in a skillet before adding the fruit gives you a particularly deep, complex flavor.

How do you get a pineapple upside-down cake out of the pan? ›

Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes. Run knife around edge of cake to loosen. Place heatproof serving plate upside down over skillet; turn plate and skillet over. Remove skillet.

Why is my pineapple cake bitter? ›

One of the most common misfortunes among bakers is that they are using too much baking soda or baking powder. Know that too much baking soda or baking powder in cakes will not just lead to a metallic and bitter taste, but it can also make a big mess in the oven as it will rise beyond expectations.

What's the difference between pineapple and upside down pineapple? ›

Fast forward to the present day, where the upside-down pineapple has taken on a more clandestine meaning. While the right-side-up pineapple still stands for hospitality and welcome, when flipped on its head, it has been said to be a subtle nod to a lifestyle not commonly spoken about in the open: swinging.

How do I make sure my upside down cake doesn't stick? ›

The trick with upside down cakes is keeping the caramel and fruit from sticking to the pan when you unmold it. The answer is parchment paper. Prep your pan by greasing the bottom, placing a circle of parchment cut to fit in the pan, and then greasing the parchment.

What are the effects of pineapple upside-down cake? ›

Pineapple Upside Down Cake strain helps with
  • Stress. 21% of people say it helps with Stress.
  • Anxiety. 18% of people say it helps with Anxiety.
  • Depression. 17% of people say it helps with Depression.

How do you keep an upside down cake from sticking? ›

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.

Can I use juice instead of water in a cake mix? ›

Because buttermilk is extra thick, use a few more tablespoons than the recipe calls for. You can also think 'outside of the box and use other non-dairy liquids: Try swapping out the water for soda, juice (orange juice is great with vanilla / yellow cake), or even a stout beer or coffee (for chocolate cake).

How does pineapple affect baking? ›

Have you ever noticed that adding pineapple to a cake or icing recipe is often cake suicide? It's true. Pineapple doesn't work well with other ingredients, especially if the ingredients include a protein of any kind or if you are trying to get your tasty creation to set-up firmly, such as a mousse or filling.

What can you substitute for water in Betty Crocker cake mix? ›

Yes, you can substitute milk for water when preparing SuperMoist cake mixes, however, the cake may be slightly drier than if prepared with water. Also keep in mind that milk will add calories and change the nutrition slightly.

Can you drink pineapple juice instead of water? ›

It helps immunity

“Besides being a refreshing and hydrating alternative to plain water, pineapple water may provide a sweet little immunity boost,” says Stefanow. “Pineapple is a great source of vitamin C and manganese, which both play an important part in immune function.”

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 6233

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.