Pineapple upside down cake is an iconic American dessert. This well-known traditional dish, which is loved by many, typically consists of a yellow or golden sponge cake with pineapple chunks and cherries on the bottom that are cooked in butter and sugar then flipped over to make a delicious treat for your taste buds. The pineapple upside down recipe can be altered however you want; it’s all up to what you like!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe
We all have our go-to dessert recipes. It’s the one recipe that we can whip up in a pinch and know it will be delicious every time. For me, this is my pineapple upside down cake. I’ve been making this for years and never get tired of it!
The recipe is pretty simple: just butter, brown sugar, pineapple juice (or canned), flour, baking powder, salt, eggs and vanilla extract. The most important part is to make sure you flip the pan over after cooking so everyone gets to see the caramelized top of the cake – but don’t worry if your friends are not as into visual aesthetics as you are because they’ll still love how amazing it tastes!
Do You Eat Pineapple Upside Down Cake Warm?
Pineapple upside down cake is an iconic dessert that can be served warm or cold. A lot of people like to add vanilla ice cream on top the hot, melt-y goodness because it creates a combination so decadent and creamy you’ll want more immediately! The cake also tastes great when it has cooled off and been left at room temperature for hours. The pineapple glaze and cherries make a perfect topping for some of my favorite flavors in one bite!
Can you freeze pineapple upside-down cake?
Yes, you can freeze it! You can either wrap individual slices or the whole cake tightly with plastic wrap, store it in a freezer bag or container and then place that inside another larger Ziploc bag before freezing for up to 3 months. I recommend thawing it overnight in the refrigerator and letting come to room temperature on your countertop before serving.
Can I use fresh pineapple?
Fresh pineapple can be used in place of the canned pineapple, if you choose. You will be missing the juice that comes from using the canned pineapple. You can juice some of the fresh pineapple to get the pineapple juice or can replace it with ¼ cup of milk. Either one will work.
Can I Make This Into Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes?
You can certainly make this into pineapple upside down cupcakes. It takes more patience than making the cake, but it is worth it if you prefer cupcakes. You will need to separate the ingredients for the caramel sauce into each cupcake space. You will also place the pineapple ring into the bottom of the cups. These cupcakes will bake up like regular cupcakes. To get the classic look of the pineapple upside down cake, you will need to remove the cupcake from the tin and flip it over, similar to how you remove the cake from the pan.
Ingredients Needed to Make Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Sliced pineapple
- Maraschino cherries
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Yellow cake mix
- Egg
- 3-4 pineapple rings and ¼ cup pineapple juice
How to Make Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Preheat oven to 350° and spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with non stick spray. Set aside.
- Melt butter and pour into the bottom of prepared baking dish, covering the bottom
- Sprinkle brown sugar over butter
- Add pineapple rings over brown sugar
- Put cherries in the center of each pineapple ring and in the other sections between pineapple slices
- Blend 3-4 slices of pineapple and ¼ cup of juice together
- In a large bowl, beat cake mix, egg, and blended pineapple juice until smooth
- Pour cake batter into baking dish over pineapple and cherries
- Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
- Let cake cool for approximately 20 minutes.
- Place baking sheet, or plate, over the top of baking dish and invert cake. Let baking dish sit on top of the baking sheet/plate for a few minutes before removing.
- Slice and enjoy!
Try This Delicious Favorite Classic Cake Today
And here are a few more dessert recipes you might enjoy from our blog:
Here’s a delicious Caramel Bread Pudding from Great Grub, Delicious Treats you might enjoy as well.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
- 20 oz sliced pineapple
- 16 oz maraschino cherries
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup pineapple juice and 3-4 pineapple rings
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with non stick spray. Set aside.
- Melt butter and pour into the bottom of prepared baking dish, covering the bottom.
- Sprinkle brown sugar over butter.
- Add pineapple rings over brown sugar.
- Put cherries in the center of each pineapple ring and in the other sections between pineapple slices.
- Blend 3-4 slices of pineapple and ¼ cup of juice together.
- In a large bowl, beat cake mix, egg, and blended pineapple juice until smooth.
- Pour cake mix into baking dish over pineapple and cherries.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
- Let cake cool for approximately 20 minutes in pan.
- Place baking sheet or plate over the top of baking dish and invert cake. Let baking dish sit on top of baking sheet/plate for a few minutes before removing.
- Slice and enjoy!
Notes
Here are a few pics that are the perfect size for pinning to Pinterest.
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