Pineapple upside down cake is one of the most popular cake that is simple to make but looks absolutely spectacular. This easy recipe for upside down pineapple cake is made with butter, sugar, flour, eggs, yogurt, pineapples, cherries gives you perfect caramel coated glistening pineapple topping with tender and moist vanilla cake.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Many of you think that this is so hard or tricky to make( I was thinking like that until I made them), but it is so easy to make, trust me on this guys. This is one of the easiest cake, you will ever bake yet it looks stunning.
These are my version of upside down cake. Not only it is cute to make and look at, but it is such a wonderful and easy treat to make. Perfect for big get togethers. I am pretty confident with this recipe because I have baked so many upside down cakes before like this banana upside down cake, upside down apple cake and orange upside down cake.
What is an Upside Down Cake?
But first what is an upside-down cake? It is one that is baked upside-down in a single pan, with the toppings at the bottom. When the finished upside-down cake is removed from the oven, it is flipped over and de-panned onto a serving plate. It looks stunning and taste absolutely delicious.
Upside-down cakes were once known as skillet cakes because they were baked on stovetops. Fruits like apples, cherries, peaches is used and sugar is usually sprinkled on the bottom of the pan before layering the fruits. Pineapple upside down cake can be served as it with extra caramel sauce, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Even though the look is complicated and exotic. It is actually quite easy to make. I have covered most of the problems and issues you might face when making an upside down cake in this blog post.
One of the most popular cake are pineapple upside down cakes. I love to bake upside down cakes since it has real fruit studded on the top rather than just adding fruit puree or extracts in some cake. You can taste the real fruitiness in the cake this way.
Similar Recipes
About Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Pineapple upside down cake has a buttery caramel layer in the base, topped with sliced pineapples and cherries. Butter cake batter is poured over the pineapples and baked till golden. Once you turn them upside down, it looks stunning.
Pineapple upside-down cake has a lovely little history behind it. The idea of baking fruit at the bottom of a cake and flipping it over before serving is much older, but the pineapple version became popular in America in the early 1900s. Canned pineapple, most popular brand Dole made it much easier for home cooks to use pineapple, which was otherwise quite expensive and difficult to find.
By the 1920s, this cake had become hugely popular, especially with the classic combination of pineapple rings, sugar, butter and those little red maraschino cherries.
I have baked pineapple upside down cake so many times and I know where you can go wrong. Here are few tips for the perfect no fail upside down cake. First use a rectangle or square pan instead of a round pan. Square or rectangle pan is more practical than a round cake pan. Because it is easy to slice and serve.
I made my own caramel sauce, you can use store bought or just sprinkle the base with melted butter and brown sugar. This creates an instant caramel layer, like my apple upside down cake.
Once the cake is baked, let it cool for just 2 minutes. Invert it immediately so the caramel doesn't harden. This is one of the key step for a perfect upside down cake.
The cake batter which I used is a simple butter cake batter, it is easy and holds the heavy fruits better than a sponge cake. For eggless cake batter, use this eggless vanilla cake recipe.
Similar Recipes
Ingredients
- Pineapple Slices : one can of canned pineapple slices is used. I used canned pineapple in syrup. But you can use fresh pineapple slices as well. make sure to slice and remove the core.
- Cherries - You can use candied cherries or fresh cherries.
- For Caramel sauce - you need sugar and butter to make the caramel sauce.
- Plain Flour - I used plain flour for making the cake batter. You can use half wheat flour or half refined flour.
- Butter - Make sure to use unsalted butter for the batter. The butter has to be softened so it creams better.
- Oil - I used 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil in the cake batter to make soft crumbs.
- Sugar - I used White granulated sugar in the cake batter. You can use brown sugar in the caramel sauce, if you don't want to use white sugar.
- Vanilla - use good quality vanilla extract for flavouring. If you want intense pineapple flavour use pineapple extract too.
- Eggs - egg is one of the main ingredient in getting the texture of the cake right.
- Yogurt - unflavoured unsweetened yogurt makes the cake more soft, tender and moist.
- Milk - milk is used to make the cake batter at the correct consistency.
Step by Step Pictures
Dry Ingredients
1)Preheat oven to 180 degree C (360 degree F). Line a 7x11 inch rectangle cake pan with parchment paper and set aside. Strain the canned pineapple through sieve and set aside.
Mix flour with baking powder, baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
2)This is your dry ingredients.
Caramel Sauce
3)Start by making the caramel sauce. Take sugar in a frying pan and place on high heat.
4)Let the pan heat up until the sugar around the sides of the pan starts to melt. Swirl the pan gently so the sugar melts more evenly. Don't stir the pan, gently swirl it around.
5)Once all the sugar is melted, reduce the heat and add in butter and mix well.
6)Let the butter mix into the sugar and get into a caramel sauce.
Making Pineapple Layer
7)Pour this caramel sauce into the prepared baking pan on the parchment paper. Spread evenly to coat the base.
8)Now place the pineapple slices on the caramel. I placed around 8 slices of pineapple in the pan. Arrange cherries as per your liking. Set this aside.
Cake Batter
8)Now make the batter. Take softened butter, sugar, vanilla, oil in a mixing bowl.
9)cream it for 2 to 3 minutes until it gets fluffy using an electric beater.
10)Add in egg one at a time and cream again till evenly mixed.
11)Let it get creamy and fluffy.
12)Add in yogurt and cream again.
13)Now add in half of the dry ingredients into the egg butter mixture, pour in the milk and mix gently using an electric beater.
14)Now add in the remaining dry ingredients.
15)mix again till it forms into a smooth batter.
Baking Pineapple Upside Down Cake
16)Spoon this batter over the pineapples and spread evenly.
17)Place this into the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
18)Remove the baked cake from oven and allow to cool for 3 minutes, flip over and gently peel off the parchment paper. Don't let the cake cool longer, else the caramel may harden.
19)Let it cool completely for few hours before slicing and serving.
Expert Tips
Choosing Pineapples - I used one can (439 grams) of pineapple slices in syrup. I used the brand Delmonte. For my baking pan, one can was perfect, it had around 8 slices of pineapples. If you don't want to use canned pineapples, you can use fresh pineapple, make sure to slice them and remove the core.
Caramel - if you don't want to make caramel sauce, you can just pour some melted butter on the base and sprinkle some brown sugar. Readymade caramel sauce can be used too.
Cherries - it is totally for presentation, you can use fresh cherries, canned cherries or even skip them if you don't have it.
Don't over bake - Don't over bake the cake. Bake until the cake is cooked just perfect. You can insert a tooth pick to check whether the cake is baked or not.
Don't let it cool longer - Once the cake is baked, don't let it cool longer before inverting. The caramel gets hard as it cools, so invert the cake within 3 minutes after removing from oven.
Serving - pineapple upside down cake can be served as it with extra caramel sauce, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Storage - pineapple upside down cake can be stored at room temperature for one day. Store in fridge upto a week.
FAQ
Q: Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?
Yes of course, you can use fresh pineapples. you can use fresh pineapple, make sure to slice them and remove the core.
Q: Can I make pineapple upside down cake in advance?
Make pineapple upside down cake fresh on the same day you are planning to serve. Since there is caramel topping, it tends to get hard when made in advance.
📖 Get Recipe
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe (Step by Step)
Equipment
Ingredients
For Caramel Pineapple Base
- ¾ cup Granulated Sugar 150 grams
- 1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
- 1 can Canned Pineapple Slices 439 grams
- ½ cup Candied Cherries
For Dry Ingredients
- 1½ cup Plain Flour (Maida | All Purpose Flour) 180 grams
- 1½ teaspoon Baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon Baking soda
For Cake Batter
- 100 grams Unsalted Butter
- 1 tablespoon Sunflower Oil
- ¾ cup Granulated Sugar 150 grams
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ cup Yogurt 60 ml
- ½ cup Milk 120 ml
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C (360 degree F). Line a 7x11 inch rectangle cake pan with parchment paper and set aside. Strain the canned pineapple through sieve and set aside.
- Mix flour with baking powder, baking soda in a bowl and set aside. This is your dry ingredients.
- Start by making the caramel layer. Take sugar in a saute pan and place on high heat. Let the pan heat up until the sugar around the sides of the pan starts to melt. Swirl the pan gently so the sugar melts more evenly. Don't stir the pan, gently swirl it around. Once all the sugar is melted, reduce the heat and add in butter and mix well. Let the butter mix into the sugar and get into a caramel sauce.
- Pour this caramel sauce into the prepared baking pan on the parchment paper. Spread evenly to coat the base. Now place the pineapple slices on the caramel. I placed around 8 slices of pineapple in the pan. Arrange cherries as per your liking. Set this aside.
- Now make the batter. Take softened butter, sugar, vanilla, oil in a mixing bowl and cream it for 2 to 3 minutes until it gets fluffy using an electric beater. Add in egg one at a time and cream again till evenly mixed. Add in yogurt and cream together.
- Now add in half of the dry ingredients into the egg butter mixture, pour in the milk and mix gently using an electric beater. Now add in the remaining dry ingredients and mix again till it forms into a smooth batter.
- Spoon this batter over the pineapples and spread evenly. Place this into the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
- Remove the baked cake from oven and allow to cool for 3 to 4 minutes, flip over and gently peel off the parchment paper. Let it cool completely for few hours before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
Tried this Recipe
Mention @yummytummyaarthi or tag #yummytummyaarthi!If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @aarthi198689@gmail.com and I'll help as soon as I can.
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook,Pinterest ,Youtube for more Yummy Tummy inspiration.
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE OR ANYTHING FROM YUMMY TUMMY, MAKE SURE TO POST IT AND TAG ME SO I CAN SEE ALL OF YOUR CREATIONS!! #YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI AND @YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI ON INSTAGRAM!
Raksha
hi,
this looks yummy.nice cake.
Regards,
Raksha
Arathy Gopi
Tried your pineapple upside down cake followed your measurements to the t in gms but the it was excessively sweet I think some changes are required 😉
The Yogi Vegetarian
I posted a mango upside-down cake about ten days ago, only without the jaggery/ brown sugar sauce. Why don't you try it and see what it's like with the jaggery?
The Yogi Vegetarian
btw you pics are lovely; looks so yummy 🙂
Champa
Nice.
Vineetha
I love this cake !yummy !
maha
yummy yummy just yumm.....dats it...
Suja Manoj
Drool worthy cake,love pineapple in cakes..looks irresistible..
Angela
Looks great. My mom made this a lot when I was growing up; it was always one of my favorites.
Priya
Super gorgeous cake,wish to have a slice..
Nalini's Kitchen
Cake looks fabulous and tempting.....
Shabitha Karthikeyan
Lovely Cake Aarthi. Never made this !!
Harini-Jaya Rupanagudi
We loved it. I had made this last eggless and it was just so gorgeous to look at that I felt bad to even eat it 🙂
jeyashrisuresh
This sounds yum
Preeti Garg
pineapple cake look so awesome
faseela
awesome bake,.....
Chef Mireille
Although I like pineaaple upside down cake, I actually prefer banana which I have made several times...I'll post a recipe soon
Srivalli
Looks very nice!
rajani
I just had my breakfast, but this post is really making me hungry :)). Lovely cake, and lovely step by step pics, as always 🙂
PJ
Nice cake Aarthi...
Sreya
I have brown sugar. Should i use 1/4 cup of it?
Aarthi
@SreyaYES YOU CAN USE
nazazama
Ol ur recipes r very ez n yummy...its so wonderful to even jst go thru ur recipes....yet tried many of dem..:-)thanx lot...keep posting our favourite yummmies..
nazazama
Ol ur recipes r ez n yummy...its so wonderful even to jst go thru ur recipes.....yet tried many of dem...keep posting our favourite yummies...ol d very best...
Gauri Khanna
Hi Aarthi.. The cake looks yummy.. can't wait to try it.. I have a few questions.. can I use tinned pineapples? And if I want to increase the quantity to make a bigger cake would I need to increase the microwave time for the cake? Thank you..
Aarthi
@Gauri Khannayes u can use canned pineapples, yes u have to increae the cooking time as well
Anonymous
I have always made chocolate cakes. But dis pineapple cake of urs made me think DAT I should try something diffrnt n I guess dis is DAT cake I need to bake soon...thanks Aarti.
Hamaree Rasoi
Awesome and delicious looking pineapple cake.
Deepa
Anonymous
All ur recipes r awesome. . Very simple n clear...ur r doing a awesome job.. I am trying a lot of recipes. . N winning everyone's heart as well ..thankyou n keep up ur good work!!
Anonymous
Looking forward from you .. traditional south indian sweets ..which all of us buy n eat ..totally forgot how to make.. pls post few of them..
Gauri Khanna
Thank you Aarthi!! I tried out the cake and it was just so yum!! I love your posts.. instructions are so easy to follow.. Thank you!!
Anonymous
Hi, cake looks yumm. Just wanted to know if I can replace curd with something else. Pls give quantity also. Thanks!
Aarthi
@AnonymousU can use egg instead of curd. Add 1/2 a beaten egg.
Ananta
Hi aarti..can I make the pineapple juice at home that needs to be added to the cake or we need the market sugary one juice?..if I make the juice at home without putting sugar just adding little water is it ok?
Aarthi
@AnantaYes u can use homemade ones
umamahi
akka..search blog option is not working properly..not showing any relevant recipes when it s searched..it was easy fr us to search any recipes in yur blog as we r regular visitors..bt fr the past 10days it s nt at all working properly akka..it really sucks:( pls rectify tat asap akka 🙂
Aarthi
@umamahiwill surely look into it
Fermie Praisid
Hi Aarthi,
Can we use any other fruits in this recipe?? Can mangoes or apples be used with the same measurements??
Aarthi
Yes u cn use apples, mangoes, bananas
Nisha
Can we use oil instead of butter. Can you specify the quantity
Aarthi
Use 1/2 cup of oil
durga jayachandran
can we use pineapple puree instead of canned juice ? or just a few drops of pineapple essence will enhance the taste instead of vanilla essence ?
Aarthi
yes u can
megha
Hi any chance i can use something else instead of the cake. Have been wanting to make this cake for so long but eggless. please suggest .
Aarthi
not sure about the egg sub
pooja
can i use ghee or oil instead of butter please?
Yeleena Thomas
Loved it aarthi....everyone liked it very much. I baked it in pressure cooker. Successful. Thank You.
Here's how my turned out:
https://workingmomsrecipes.wordpress.com/2016/12/23/pineapple-upside-down-pressure-cooker-cake/
Vibitha Abhilash
Dear Aarthi, thanks a ton for this recipe. As the name of your blog suggests this cake is very "yummy �� in the tummy"!!! I can't believe that something made in theicrowave could be so soft and spongy.I followed your recipe verbatim and the result is foodgasm!!!Only one little difference, I used kiwi instead of Pineapple �� but it is indeed tasty
Deepa
Akka your posts are awesome, I have started baking after seeing your wonderful cake recipe
Aparna
Hi aarthi, ur recipes are lovely , its a great pleasure going thru them..Thanks a lot.
1 query on this pine apple up side down cake.I have 0.5cup dark chocolate chips & white chocolate chips -tovether.also pecans 0.5 cup .can I add them in this ,or some other ingredientes modifications needed ?
Aarthi
you can add the chocolate chips into the batter, just coat them in some flour before adding. You can add the nuts to the caramel and pour the batter on top and bake.
sowmiya N
Hi Arthi ur cake receipes are super doper .....but I don't have oven can u tell me how to cook cakes without oven that will very useful for me and others dr
neha
hi aarthi, love ur recipes. going to try this one and will let u know after completion. I hv a doubt...for all your baked recipes u use a microwave oven or OTG? kindly reply cos the temp and time differ in both. i have an OTG. thank u
Nadia
yummy yummy! good cake texture! i used frozen pineapples and some orange juice since that was all i had, and it turned out really good, very sweet.
Sharon
Hello
I had leftover crushed pineapple, so I made your cake in a mug, with vanilla Greek yogurt instead of curd and used orange juice instead of pineapple juice (what I had on hand)
It turned out pretty tasty, for a quick treat!