Perfect Pineapple Upside-Down Cake - The Recipe Critic (2024)

Perfect Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is a moist and fruity pineapple cake topped with caramelized pineapple rings and sweet maraschino cherries. It’s no wonder this classic dessert has been a tried and true favorite for years!

We love pineapple at our house, especially in desserts! Make this pudding salad or my homemade version of pineapple dole whip next. And for a sweet pineapple side dish, try our favorite brown sugar grilled pineapple!

Perfect Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Family favorite pineapple upside-down cake is a soft and moist cake with a sticky-sweet fruit layer. It is a great recipe for bakers who are looking for an easy but unique cake to make from scratch at home.The colorful fruit topping is simple but impressive to serve, and it is a classic dessert that you will not be able to get enough of!

The cake layer is moist and rich and the pineapple flavor explodes in every bite! Once flipped over, the brown sugar and butter topping drips down and coats the fruit.Then, the caramelized fruit soaks into the cake and creates the most moist cake ever! It is a great recipe that you will make again and again because it is not only easy but also delicious in every way! For more upside-down cakes, try my blueberry, apple, and peach versions.

Ingredients Needed

Canned pineapple and maraschino cherries are some of the no-fuss ingredients to make this impressive, decadent dessert. These and a short list of other basic ingredients come together effortlessly to make a delicious cake your family and friends will go crazy over!

Topping

• Brown Sugar: Combine with melted butter and spread on the bottom of the baking dish.
• Butter: Melted to easily spread along the bottom of the pan.

Cake

• Pineapple: Sliced canned pineapple rings work great!
• Maraschino Cherries: The bright red color adds more sweetness and great color!
• All-Purpose Flour: Part of the cake batter that will give it a good structure that will hold up to the fruit layer.
• Baking Powder: Helps the batter rise.
• Salt: Added to cake batter to balance all of the sweetness.
• Butter: Softened to mix into the cake batter.
• Sugar: Part of any great dessert!
• Brown Sugar: Measure it packed to get a rich sweet molasses flavor in the cake.
• Egg: Adds moisture and stability to the batter.
• Sour Cream: Even more moisture!
• Milk: Adding milk to the batter makes the cake moist and soft.
• Pineapple Juice: Great pineapple flavor throughout every bite.

Let’s Make Pineapple Upside-Down Cake!

This buttery-rich homemade cake is topped with a baked fruit layer. It is incredibly delicious and easier than you think to make! The pineapple flavor is bursting throughout every single bite. A made-from-scratch cake has never been so easy!!

Topping

1. Preheat/ Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9-inch cake pan with pan spray.
2. Make the Topping: Mix the brown sugar and the butter then spread evenly in the bottom of the cake pan.
3. Arrange Pineapple and Cherries: Press the pineapple slices between a few layers of paper towels to remove any excess moisture from them. Arrange the pineapple slices in the bottom of the cake pan and along the sides. Place the cherries in the center of the pineapples and between them.

Cake

1. Make the Cake Batter: Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a small bowl. In a large bowl, beat the butter with both sugars for 2-3 minutes, until well combined. Add the egg, sour cream, milk, and pineapple juice and beat until just combined. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
2. Pour the Batter on the Fruit and Bake: Spread the cake batter evenly on top of the pineapple slices. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
3. Cool and Invert: Let the cake cool for 10-15 minutes before inverting it on a plate or cake stand.

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