The Best Pineapple Upside Down Cake (2024)

Desserts | Family Favorites | Recipes

PostedJuly 31, 2013July 21, 2022UpdatedJuly 21, 2022

I’ve tried quite a few Upside Down Pineapple Cake recipes. This recipe is hands down the best. The cake itself is heaven and the topping is rich and delicious. It is divine when served with whipped cream.

this recipe

All Purpose flour vs. the almond flour blend

A few notes: There is an option of using either all purpose flour or using a mix of all purpose / cake flour / ground almond. I have always used just the regular all purpose flour and the cake turns out incredible.

Preparing the topping

In the original recipe, the brown sugar mixture for the topping is prepared on the stove and brought up in heat until it is bubbling. I usually just melt the butter and brown sugar, stir well, and call it good, either in the microwave or on the stove top. I just note this now if you were wondering if you could save a few minutes to skip that step. I do and it turns out great anyways.

Two 1 1/2-inch cakes vs. One 2-inch cake

The rest of my notes are regarding to how I prepare the cake. The original recipe uses a 2 inch deep cake dish. I prefer a thinner cake so I split the batter in two and use two slightly smaller cake plates (1 1/2 inch deep plates). Since I split the cake in two, I double the topping and divide it between the two plates.

My cook time is less than the original recipe because my cakes are thinner. If you prefer to only make one large, extra deep cake, check the notes section for directions.

Overall I just like making two cakes instead of one because I feel like the cake to topping ratio is perfect that way, and you also have one cake to keep for yourself and one to give away to a friend. Enjoy!

Recommended Pineapple Recipes

Fluffy Pineapple Cookies with Orange Glaze

Ina’s Carrot Pineapple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pineapple Coffeecake with Streusel Topping

Rhubarb Pineapple Pie

The Best Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Flavorful and tender yellow cake is topped with pineapple, cherries and a delicious brown sugar sauce. You can serve it as is, but It is divine when served with whipped cream.

4.75 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16 slices (2 round 9-inch cakes)

Calories 526 kcal

Equipment

Two 9-inch round baking pans at least 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches deep

Ingredients

For the topping for 2 cakes (Cut ingredients in half if only making one two inch deep cake)

2 cups brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter
14 sliced pineapple rings which is 1 1/2 20 oz. cans
14 maraschino cherries

For the cake:

2 cups flour Or 1 1/2 cups flour + 6 Tbsp. cake flour + 6 Tbsp. ground almond
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 cup unsalted butter
4 large eggs
3/4 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup sour cream

Instructions

Prepare the topping: Melt the butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan over medium heat and stir until completely dissolved. Place the pineapple rings into the two prepared 9″ cake pans. Add a cherry inside of each pineapple ring. Divide the topping mixture in two. Pour topping over pineapple slices.
Prepare the cake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the sugar and butter together until light. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with sour cream in 2 additions each, beating well after each addition. Divide batter in half. Pour cake batter over caramel and pineapple in pans.
Bake cake until tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes. (See notes if you used a 2″ cake pan – It will take longer to bake if so). Cool cake in pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Turn cake out onto a platter. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Note: I used 1 1/2″ tall cake pans, which makes two cakes. If you use a 2″ tall cake pan you should be able to fit all the batter into one dish, but it will take longer to bake, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 4gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 121mgPotassium: 158mgFiber: 1gSugar: 58gVitamin A: 864IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 1mg

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