Rian Handler is a food writer, editor, and recipe developer with a fierce love for sour gummies.
It may be retro, but this classic cake is a staple easy dessert for a reason. Sweet pineapple gets an irresistible rich boost from melted butter, brown sugar, and eye-catching maraschino cherries—one slice, and you'll feel transported to the tropical vacay of your dreams. The chewy, caramel-y topping is the perfect complement to the light and airy cake, making every bite a match made in heaven. If you're looking for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, you can't go wrong with this pineapple upside-down cake—it never goes out of style.
Tip: Flipping the cake may seem difficult, but as long as you do it while it's warm, you'll be golden. (Thanks to all that delicious melty butter!)
Want a fun seasonal twist on the original? Try subbing out apples for a delicious fall treat, or citrus in the winter.
Tried making this delicious cake? Let us know how it came out in the comments below!
- Yields:
- 8 - 10 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 15 mins
- Total Time:
- 1 hr 30 mins
Ingredients
For the Topping:
- 1/4 c.
butter, melted
- 1/2 c.
packed brown sugar
- 1
(20-oz.) can pineapple rings in juice
stemless maraschino cherries
For the Cake Batter:
- 1 1/3 c.
all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp.
baking powder
- 1/2 tsp.
kosher salt
- 1/4 c.
butter, softened
- 1/2 c.
granulated sugar
- 1/4 c.
packed brown sugar
- 1
large egg
- 1 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 c.
sour cream
- 1/4 c.
pineapple juice (from can used for topping)
Directions
- Step 1Preheat oven to 350° and grease a round 9” cake pan.
- Step 2Make topping: Mix butter with brown sugar and add to prepared cake pan. Let mixture spread to the edges, then add 7 pineapple rings. Place cherries inside and in between pineapple slices.
- Step 3Make batter: In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream butter with sugars. Beat in egg, vanilla, and sour cream, then slowly beat in flour mixture and pineapple juice until just combined.
- Step 4Spoon the batter over the pineapple, gently spreading out in an even layer.
- Step 5Bake until cake is golden and a toothpick comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
- Step 6Remove from oven, wait 5 minutes and flip cake upside-down onto serving platter. Wait 30 seconds more, then carefully lift pan off. Let cool completely before slicing and serving.