Classic pineapple upside-down cake is one of our family’s favorites—deliciously moist, fruity pineapple and cherries cake. 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 could not be any more delicious.
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 Brussels sprouts.
I have made this birthday cake and served it with whipped cream, ice cream, and a cherry on top. It has fruit instead of sugary icing.
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Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe
Whenever I serve my pineapple upside cake, I get recipe requests. So, I wanted to share the best pineapple upside-down recipe made with a 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 of 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; it is finished baking if it comes out clean.
- Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before turning the cake out of the pan.
Tools:
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cake pan
- Parchment paper
- Yellowcake mix
- Cake stand
- Saucepan
- Pastry brush
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.
- Mixing bowl
- Cake pans
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Mixing spoon
- Large Saucepan
- Silicone pastry brush
- 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
-
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.
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 the pans.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
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.
Notes
Pineapple upside-down cake
- 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
You might also enjoy these quick recipes:
Classic Deviled Eggs is a comfort food favorite.
Easy Irish Soda Bread is a buttery, quick bread recipe.
Spring and Easter Pretzel Bite only take minutes to make.
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.
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I hope you have a safe and healthy spring,
Kippi
Carrie
Sunday 18th of October 2026
I wish you had specified the temp and size of pan. I am new to baking and put it all in one 9" pan. Now the cake is ruined and my oven is a disaster.
Sunday 21st of June 2026
Why is there no temp for the oven a d no instructions on how long.
Cindy
Saturday 12th of September 2026
I believe you go by the directions on your cake mix box.
Sierra
Monday 18th of September 2023
Is all of the butter mixture used for this recipe?? It seems like a lot
Marie
Monday 20th of February 2023
Does this recipe use 2 cake pans? Thank you
Saturday 7th of October 2023
@Marie,
MT
Tuesday 22nd of February 2022
What in the world is printed in your comment section. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH LANGUAGE ON ANY SITE THAT HAS A FAMILY REPUTATION LIKE Pinterest! I am shocked and appalled and will be deleting this recipe from my folder! How was this smut even get published in a baking site!! DISGUSTING ND SHAMEFUL!!!
Friday 5th of January 2024
@MT, SC I agree I have never seen anything like this before and this is really bad!