Impress your family and friends with this super simple and delicious Pineapple Upside Down Cake! The sweetness of the fruit pairs amazingly with the buttery cake and sweet glaze- you will have everyone begging for this recipe!
At the time of this recipe we are currently in the thick of a worldwide pandemic and practicing social distancing.
So what better way to pass the time then by perfecting the art of the Pineapple Upside Down Cake?
That’s exactly what I did.
Right now I’m working from home- so my commute is pretty good- leaving me more time to bake and come up with recipes. I had a craving for this sweet fruit cake and my middle daughter (who also loves to bake) was more than eager to jump in and help me. Let me tell you- it was great having a little sous chef by my side.
Now when you think of this cake it might seem intimidating to make. But it’s really simple and not hard at all. When making this recipe up I thought of all the flavors that were important to me and decided to make sure I included all of them- and I think it came out just right. The cake is buttery and soft while the sugar glaze on the bottom is the perfect texture and flavor.
This is one of those desserts that you’ll want to make any time of year- whether there’s a pandemic going on or not!
What is a pineapple upside down cake?
A pineapple upside down cake goes back hundreds of years when people would cook on cast-iron skillets over open fires.
It is a cake where you line fruit on the bottom of the pan and then pour batter on top of it. Once the cake is cooked you simply flip the pan over and revel in the beautiful pattern of caramelized fruit on top.
Can you store pineapple upside down cake in the fridge?
Yes, you can place the pineapple upside down cake in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cover with saran wrap or place leftovers in an airtight container
How do you warm up pineapple upside down cake?
You can warm it slowly in the microwave or place in the oven on warm until warmed through.
Do you have to put cherries in pineapple upside down cake?
You can leave the cherries out if you would like, but a classic upside down cake does include the cherries.
Can you use fresh pineapple slices?
Yes, just slice them accordingly.
Ingredients
1 C Brown Sugar (packed)
1/2 C Melted Butter
1 Can Sliced Pineapple (20 oz.)
6 oz jar Maraschino Cherries
1 C Toasted Coconut
1 Yellow Cake Mix
Instructions
Preheat oven or smoker to 350° F.
Mix yellow cake mix as directed in the box
Line bottom of pan with brown sugar
Pour half of the butter on the brown sugar and the other half around the side walls of the pan
Place pineapple slices in pan
Place cherries in each pineapple and any other spot you like
Pour yellow cake mix over ingredients in pan.
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Remove from oven or smoker and immediately run a knife around edges of cake, flip pan onto heat resistant tray and let sit for 5 minutes.
Remove pan and enjoy warm or let cool. Use toasted coconut to liking.
How to Make the Best Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
- 1 C Brown Sugar packed
- 1/2 C Melted Butter
- 1 Can Sliced Pineapple 20 oz.
- 6 oz jar Maraschino Cherries
- 1 C Toasted Coconut
- 1 Yellow Cake Mix
Instructions
-
Preheat oven or smoker to 350° F.
-
Mix yellow cake mix as directed in the box
-
Line bottom of pan with brown sugar
-
Pour half of the butter on the brown sugar and the other half around the side walls of the pan
-
Place pineapple slices in pan
-
Place cherries in each pineapple and any other spot you like
-
Pour yellow cake mix over ingredients in pan.
-
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
-
Remove from oven or smoker (or oven) and immediately run a knife around edges of cake, flip pan onto heat resistant tray and let sit for 5 minutes.
-
Remove pan and enjoy warm or let cool. Use toasted coconut to liking.
Do you have to use a cast iron skillet to make pineapple upside down cake?
No, if you don’t have a skillet you can use a glass baking dish. Just flip it over the same way.
Can I use a white cake mix for pineapple upside down cake?
You can definitely experiment. I have only used yellow so I can’t vouch for how it will taste.
Do I have to put the toasted coconut on top?
Nope!
What can I serve with pineapple upside down cake?
This would be amazing served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You could also try a dollop of whipped cream if you so desire. It is also equally delicious served on its own.
Do I need to grease my cast iron skillet?
Nope, the butter will the job.
Your family and friends will love this delicious Pineapple Upside Down Cake! The buttery cake is so sweet and pairs deliciously well with the fruit and sweet glaze!
We loved this so much! My boys raved about it for days.
Glad you and the boys enjoyed. It’s quick and easy. Both to make and to eat 🙂
What size cast iron pan did you use? Also, I love to replace the water in the cake mix with the juice from the canned pineapple.
Hi Shannon! I used a 12 inch cast iron pan for this cake. I’ve also used the juice as the liquid and I agree. It’s delicious! Thanks for checking this out.