Looking for the perfect dessert to impress your friends and family? Follow these simple steps to make a delicious and visually stunning pineapple upside down cake.
A beautiful pineapple infused vanilla cake, dressed with caramelized pineapple rings and maraschino cherries on top, glazed with brown sugar and melted butter. It's heavenly.
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Why My Recipe
After much testing, this recipe has been perfected to give the most fluffy cake, a crumb with the perfect density and pineapple flavors. You can trust that this cake will work.
Groceries you'll need: Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter
- Light Brown Sugar
- Canned Pineapple Slices and pineapple juice
- Maraschino Cherries
- Eggs
- Granulated Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- All Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
Recipe walkthrough: Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Step 1: Melt butter and mix with the brown sugar.
- Step 2: Arrange pineapple slices and cherries on top of the sugar mixture.
- Step 3: In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the egg yolks.
- Step 4: Pour the sugar into the egg yolks as you're beating.
- Step 5: Add the vanilla and mix, then add the pineapple juice.
- Step 6: Add some chopped pineapple and mix.
- Step 7: In another bowl, add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix with a whisk.
- Step 8: Slowly add this to the batter, as it's mixing, scraping the sides and bottom before you finish.
- Step 9: Add the egg whites to another bowl and beat until stiff peaks form.
- Step 10: Add this fluffy egg white mixture to the cake batter and gently fold in until totally incorporated.
- Step 11: Pour this cake batter on top of the pineapple rings in brown sugar. Smooth over with a spatula.
- Step 12: Bake in the oven until golden brown, remove and let sit for 15 minutes before turning out upside down onto a plate.
Hint: Make sure to run that butter all up the sides of the dish so that the cake doesn't stick during baking. It may still stick a little, so run a knife along the underside of the lip, just enough to release from the cake pan.
Recipe variations and substitute ideas
- Fresh Pineapple - you could use fresh pineapple instead, just remember you'll need some pineapple juice too.
- Yellow Cake Mix - If you're short on time, you could use a yellow cake mix instead.
Recipe Troubleshooting
- The cake sinks in the middle - this happened to me a few times while I was testing this recipe. What I discovered is that this particular kind of cake is very sensitive to temperature changes. For best results do not open the oven during cooking time. Also, having the cake in the center of the oven helps too.
It can also be the result of too much fluid in the batter. Make sure to press that juice out of the chopped pineapple before adding. - The cake sticks to the pan - Make sure to run the melted butter around all of the pie dish before adding the batter. You could also give a quick spray with the pam (with the flour in it) just before adding the batter.
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Necessary gear: Equipment
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
I like to use my stand mixer for this recipe, it makes it easier to add ingredients. Using a hand mixer is fine too, although you'll need another when you have to beat the egg whites, or wash the beaters in between.
You'll need a 9" pie dish too. I have some affiliate links in the recipe card below. You could use a cake pan too, or even a square pan.
More cake recipes I think you'll love
How to store leftovers
Store the cooled pineapple upside down cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1-2 days. Storing in the refrigerator will give you a few more days.
Mel's kitchen notes
This cake will not rise too much. It already has a lot of air incorporated from the whipped egg whites, so don't worry about it pouring over the side of your dish during baking. It will stand firm.
If you’ve tried this Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!
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Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Topping
- ⅓ Cup Unsalted Butter
- ¾ Cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1 (15 Ounce) Can Pineapple Slices divided, juice reserved
- 7 Each Maraschino Cherries
Cake
- 3 Each Large Eggs separated
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F, and arrange rack in the middle of the oven.
- Melt the butter in a 9" pie dish then swirl around the dish and sides to coat all the surface. Add the brown sugar and mix together, then spread evenly on the bottom.⅓ Cup Unsalted Butter, ¾ Cup Light Brown Sugar
- Take 7 rings of the pineapple slices, arrange on top of the brown sugar.1 (15 Ounce) Can Pineapple Slices
- Take maraschino cherries and arrange in the center of the pineapple rings. Set aside.7 Each Maraschino Cherries
- Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Put the egg whites to the side and in the bowl of your stand mixer, (or using your hand mixer) beat the egg yolks until creamy.3 Each Large Eggs
- Add the sugar while beating the yolks.1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- Add the vanilla and beat.1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Add ⅓ cup of the reserved pineapple juice and beat.1 (15 Ounce) Can Pineapple Slices
- Take the remaining pineapple and chop into small chunks. Squeeze the fruit with some paper towel so no excess fluid is added then add that to the batter and mix.1 (15 Ounce) Can Pineapple Slices
- In a small mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix with a whisk.1 Cup All Purpose Flour, 1 teaspoon Baking Powder, ¼ teaspoon Salt
- Slowly add to the batter while beating until combined.
- In another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold this gently into the cake batter until no more white swirls are seen.
- Pour this batter on top of the pineapple sugar in the pie dish and even out with a spatula.
- Place in the oven, on a middle rack, and bake for 35-40 minutes. It is done when a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 15 minutes before turning out onto a plate upside down.
Notes
Nutrition
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