Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
This Homemade Pineapple Upside-Down Cake features a caramelized pineapple topping and an incredibly buttery, moist cake.
It’s been one of my goals this year to update and re-share some classic recipes for you to have on hand for when you need them. Today’s recipe is one I’ve always loved and I think you’ll love too – this easy pineapple upside-down cake.
One of the things that I love about this recipe is that it’s made completely from scratch. But don’t worry, it’s still incredibly easy to make! You can make the topping in the microwave and use canned pineapple slices and maraschino cherries.
The cake batter is also incredibly simple to throw together and uses everyday basic ingredients. It’s so incredibly buttery and moist, it beats anything you can make using a box mix. I think this cake could even convert someone who thinks they don’t like pineapple upside-down cake into loving it.
How To Make Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
There are two components to making this pineapple upside-down cake, the topping and the cake batter. Let’s discuss how to prepare each one!
How To Make The Topping
To make the topping for this cake you’ll melt some butter, then stir in some brown sugar, and spread it around into a 9-inch cake pan. If you want to make this step a bit easier, feel free to use the microwave to melt your butter.
Since I prefer to keep this recipe simple I use canned pineapple slices and a small jar of maraschino cherries. Just be sure to reserve the pineapple juice from the can because you’ll be using some of it in the cake, which I will explain later.
You can arrange the pineapple slices and maraschino cherries however you like in the pan. A 20-ounce can of sliced pineapple will usually have 10 slices, so I like to arrange seven on the bottom of the pan and slice the other 3 in half and place them along the sides. Then, place the cherries where ever they will fit. Once the topping is ready, set it aside and prepare the cake batter.
How To Make The Cake
To make the cake, you will start out by whisking together your dry ingredients – some all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. When measuring your flour it’s important to use the spoon and level method, otherwise, you can end up with a dense cake. Once the dry ingredients are well combined, set them aside and mix up the wet ingredients.
For the wet ingredients, you’ll start by creaming together some unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar for 4 to 5 minutes or until the mixture is light in color and fluffy. This step is crucial because it incorporates more air into your cake batter which results in a lighter, fluffier cake.
Next, mix in your eggs one at a time until they’re fully incorporated into the creamed butter and sugar. Then, mix in the pure vanilla extract and sour cream. At this point your batter may look a little bit curdled, but this is okay!
Once the wet ingredients are well combined, whisk together the remaining milk and pineapple juice. You can just use 1/2 cup of milk in this step, but I found incorporating a little bit of pineapple juice will infuse the cake with more pineapple flavor. Then, just alternate mixing in the dry ingredients with the milk + pineapple mixture.
Carefully pour the batter over the topping in your cake pan and spread it around into one even layer. The cake will take about 45 to 55 minutes in the oven, you will know it’s done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. I recommend letting it cool slightly, then flipping the cake out of the pan.
FAQ’s
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 freeze for up to 3 months. I recommend thawing it overnight in the refrigerator and letting it come to room temperature before serving.
How do you store it?
You may store this cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. While it’s not necessary to refrigerate this cake, I do recommend storing it in the refrigerator if you need to store it 1 to 2 days longer.
Can I use fresh pineapple?
Yes, it’s fine to use fresh pineapple in this cake. You can juice the pineapple as well to get 1/4 cup of pineapple juice or simply replace the pineapple juice with 1/4 cup of milk.
When do you flip the cake?
Once the cake comes out of the oven, let it cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then flip it and remove it from the pan.
Baking Tips
- Make sure all of your ingredients, including the butter, eggs, sour cream, and milk, are all at room temperature before getting started. This will help ensure that they mix together properly.
- When measuring your flour, make sure to spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with the back of a knife.
- If the cake begins to brown too much in the oven before it’s done baking, loosely cover it with aluminum foil until it’s fully baked.
- Want to make a mini version? Try my mini pineapple-upside down cakes.
More Cake Recipes To Try!
- Hummingbird Cake
- Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
- Red Velvet Cake
- White Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake
Video Tutorial
![A whole pineapple upside down cake on a plate with a jar of cherries in the background.](https://i0.wp.com/www.livewellbakeoften.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Pineapple-Upside-Down-Cake-6.jpg?fit=200%2C200&ssl=1)
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Ingredients
For the topping:
- ¼ cup (60 grams) unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup (100 grams) light brown sugar packed
- 1 20-ounce can pineapple slices reserve juice for the cake
- 20 maraschino cherries
For the cake:
- 1 and ½ cups 190 grams all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) brown sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (60 grams) sour cream at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) whole milk at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) pineapple juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray a 9-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
To make the topping:
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until fully combined. Pour into the prepared cake pan and spread it around into one even layer. Arrange the pineapple slices on top, cut any extra slices in half and place along the sides of the pan, then place the maraschino cherries in and around the pineapple slices. Set aside.
To make the cake:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy (about 4-5 minutes). Mix in the eggs, one at a time, until fully combined. Then, mix in the vanilla extract and sour cream until well combined, making sure to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Whisk together the pineapple juice and milk.
- With the mixer on low speed, mix in the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the milk and pineapple juice.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan on top of the pineapple slices and cherries and spread it around into one even layer.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. If needed, tent with aluminum foil for the last 10 to 15 minutes of baking to prevent excess browning.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a wire rack and remove from the pan to finish cooling.
Notes
The cake turns out wonderful. How can I make this eggless?
I haven’t tried it, but you may be able to use flax eggs.
I made this cake for my husband’s birthday and we all loved it! I will use this recipe again.
So funny – my husband has a Jan 1st bday – made this cake and it was a hit!
Hi Danielle,
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!! For so long I have been searching for a great pineapple upside down cake recipe without any luck and finally I found yours!! It is unbelievable. Also thank you for sharing metric measurements (I’m in Australia). Wonderful recipe and now looking forward to trying many more from your website ? From Jules
Thank you, Jules! So glad you loved the cake!
Hi! This recipe sounds delicious! Do you think it would work as a layer cake for a birthday with whipped cream inbetween or is it too tender? Thanks!
I think it would work for a layered cake, but the layers may be a bit too heavy to have whipped cream in the center.
Won’t a springform pan leak if I use one? Really want to make this cake, but I have had some bad experiences with a leaking springform haha.
It may leak, depending on the type of springform pan that you use. I have this pan and really like it because it catches anything that may leak out.
I have made this cake twice now and have been thinking about it since 5:30 this morning. It is also my go to batter for birthday cakes because it’s something a little different. I use a good stiff frosting, chill till it’s set and then put the second layer on. It also makes a great breakfast. Ha! I have had great success baking in a deep pie dish, when you flip it, you can see your beautiful Pineapple,cherry pattern, and second….serves as a cover. I’ve also switched over to stonewall farm Bada bing cherries for this cake because if I’m eating, a cherry, I want to taste the cherry. Save this recipe, write it down or memorize it. It’s wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing this.
Can you use fresh pineapple?
Yes, that would be fine!
So good! I used pineapple chunks instead of rings and non-dairy coconut yogurt instead of sour cream. Amazing! Very moist and flavorful, everyone is gobbling it up!
What can I use instead of sour cream?
You can use a thicker yogurt, like plain Greek yogurt, in place of the sour cream.
Is it possible to prep the cake a few hours earlier so that it bakes while we’re eating dinner and then is still ward for dessert?
Do you mean prep the cake batter ahead of time, then bake it later? If so, I wouldn’t recommend doing that. You could bake it before you start dinner and it should still be a little warm. Or you can fully bake it and just rewarm it slightly in the oven for a few minutes at 300°F.
Can I use crushed pineapple?
Yes, you can replace the pineapple slices with crushed pineapple.
Can I use a bundt pan?
Yes, that would be fine. It’s not quite enough batter to fill a bundt pan though, so it will probably be smaller.
Absolutely delighted with your update of this classic pineapple upside-down cake recipe! The fact that it’s made entirely from scratch, with the convenience of a microwave for the topping, is genius. It’s a true testament to simplicity meeting deliciousness. Well done!