Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake

This easy pineapple upside down cake recipe starts with a box of yellow cake mix, making it the perfect quick and simple dessert for any occasion!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword easy pineapple upside down cake, pineapple upside down cake, recipe for pineapple upside down cake, upside down pineapple cake

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Cooling Time 30

Total Time 1 20

Servings slices

Calories 408kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the butter in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Transfer the baking dish to the oven until the butter melts, about 4 minutes. Spray the sides of the pan with nonstick spray.
Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the melted butter. Arrange the pineapple slices on top of the brown sugar. Place a cherry in the center of each pineapple slice, and around the edges of the pan.
Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions; except replace the water with the reserved pineapple juice. If you don’t have enough pineapple juice to total the required amount of water, just add a little bit of water to reach the correct amount.
Pour the cake batter over the pineapples.
Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cake in the pan for about 5 minutes.
Run a knife along the edge of the pan. Turn the cake upside down onto a tray. Leave the pan on top of the cake for about 1-2 minutes. Carefully lift off the pan.
Let cool for at least 30 minutes. Slice and serve warm, or cool completely. Top with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, and/or caramel sauce and extra cherries if desired.

- In order to prevent the cake from sticking to the pan when you invert it onto a serving tray, it's best to spritz the sides of the pan with a nonstick spray. This is the brand that I prefer.
- Avoid a soggy pineapple upside down cake by patting the pineapple rings and cherries dry with paper towels before arranging them in the pan.

- To invert the cake successfully, it's easiest if you place the cutting board or serving tray on top of the cake pan. Hold the sides together tightly, and then flip quickly!

- Let the pan sit on top of the inverted cake for a few minutes before lifting it off. This gives the syrup topping a chance to soak down into the cake.

- Wait about 30 minutes before slicing the cake. It will still be slightly warm, but it won't fall apart as easily when you cut into it.