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Home > Recipes > Cakes

By Natasha Minocha | Updated on September 27, 2024 5 Comments

Upside-Down Pineapple Cake

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The classic pineapple upside-down cake is my momโ€™s favorite. For years, Iโ€™ve been baking the moist, spongy cake topped with gooey, juicy pineapple for her birthday.

Iโ€™ve just never gotten around to blogging the recipe, until now. The light fruity cake with hints of the tropics is a perfect and easy everyday cake!

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake on a plate.

You simply cannot go wrong with it. It comes out like a work of art every single time. Unless youโ€™re like me and too impatient to let it cool. Then you have to pray to the gods of twine to not let the cake crack completely before youโ€™re done taking all the pictures.

So, if you see a twine peeking out in the photos, please just ignore it. I consider it a testament to a truly homemade cake. One that turned out lovely, and delicious. Ultimately, thatโ€™s what matters. 

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake | Easy vegan pineapple cake recipe

How to make pineapple upside-down cake?

The recipe stands the test of time and is rather easy to make. And even though itโ€™s vegan, the cake rises incredibly well. 

  • Start by sifting whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add in sugar and zest of one whole lemon and then mix all the dry ingredients. 
  • In a separate bowl, combine almond milk and vinegar and let it sit for five minutes. 
  • Add in coconut oil and homemade vanilla extract and whisk everything together.
  • Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix till you have a thick batter with a soft dropping consistency. 
Steps for making Pineapple Upside-Down Cake | Easy vegan pineapple cake recipe

Baking the upside-down pineapple cake

The key to getting the glistening, golden top in an upside-down cake is sugar. As the cake bakes, the sugar caramelizes, bubbles up around the edges, and gives the top a glazed look. 

  • Grease the baking pan very well and dust a layer of sugar on the bottom. 
  • Then arrange the pineapple slices on top of the sugar. 
  • You can position the slices any way you want - circles, overlapping, half-moons, side by side, or even interlocking.
  • Pour the batter on top of the slices and bake for 40 minutes.

As ever, I advise keeping an eye out because all ovens are different and temperatures vary, which will affect your baking time.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake | Easy vegan pineapple cake recipe

Garnish the pineapple upside-down cake

Once the cake is baked, donโ€™t be in a rush to flip it. Let it cool completely and give the sugar and fruit juices time to trickle down the cake crumb. 

Turn the cake before it cools, and you get cracks like mine. But even if it does split, donโ€™t worry. It would taste just as good. 

After youโ€™ve carefully flipped the cake and taken it out of the pan, you can crown it with maraschino cherries. Thatโ€™s the traditional way to garnish an upside-down pineapple cake โ€“ a cherry sitting at the center of each pineapple ring. 

Iโ€™m not a fan of these cherries. So, I topped it with a handful of pomegranate arils and chopped pistachios, giving the cake a pop of color. 

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake | Easy vegan pineapple cake recipe

Variations of pineapple upside-down cake recipe

I had no qualms using canned pineapples. They save time and enable me to bake the cake any time of the year. I would advise looking for pineapples immersed in water or fruit juices instead of sugar syrup. 

Of course, you can use fresh pineapples and make the extra effort to remove the core and cut them in the required shape and size. 

How to avoid a soggy pineapple upside-down cake?

Rinse the tinned pineapple slices thoroughly. Drain them and then pat them dry before placing them on the baking pan bottom. 

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake | Easy vegan pineapple cake recipe

What sugar to use for the cake?

Iโ€™ve still not been able to get my hands on raw sugar, which is the healthier option. So, my recipe relied on regular white sugar. You can use any or for a more caramelly flavor; try coconut sugar. Even cane sugar is a good choice. 

What is a good substitute for coconut oil in the cake?

For my orange upside-down cake, the recipe I adapted for this cake, I used olive oil. So, thatโ€™s one option. But any neutral vegetable oil will work like a charm here. 

What fruit I can use for upside-down cake?

Upside-down cakes are not restricted to tropical fruit. You can try them with any fruit from oranges to plums. 

As with all my bakes, the pineapple upside-down cake is not overly sweet. The tartness of lemon zest balances the sweet-tanginess of the caramelized, gooey fruit. And you can always up the amount of zest and make the taste sharper.

Although my family wolfed down the spongy, luscious cake as-is, I recommend serving it with a scoop of ice cream to make the most of its tangy flavor!

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake | Easy vegan pineapple cake recipe

Iโ€™d love to hear from you! Please tag me on Instagram @tashasartisanfoods, using the hashtag #tashasartisanfoods. You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST for more fabulous recipes! Do subscribe to Tashaโ€™s Artisan Foods so youโ€™ll never miss a recipe!

๐Ÿ“– Recipe

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake on a plate.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Natasha Minocha
Pineapple upside-down cake - soft, spongy and fruity, this retro cake is a delight to the eyes and the palate!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Course Cakes, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 263 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 tbsp Sugar
  • 5-6 Pineapple slices
  • 1 3/4 cup Wholewheat flour
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup Sugar
  • 1 1/4 cup Almond milk You can use any milk you prefer
  • 1 tbsp White Vinegar
  • 1/3 cup Coconut oil You can use any oil you prefer
  • 2 tsp Vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180C. Grease a loose bottom 8" pan very well.
  • Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar at the bottom of the pan. Arrange the pineapple slices on top of the sugar.
  • Sift the wholewheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix in the sugar and lemon zest.
  • In another bowl, combine almond milk and vinegar. Set aside for 5 minutes.
  • Whisk in the coconut oil and vanilla extract.
  • Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Mix well until you get a thick batter with soft dropping consistency.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan, on top of the pineapple slices, carefully.
  • Bake at 180C for 40-45 minutes, until the cake is golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Let the cake rest for 20-25 minutes, before turning it out on a cooling rack. Sprinkle with pistachio slivers and pomegranate arils and serve. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 ServingCalories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 247mgPotassium: 78mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 18IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 88mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake | Easy vegan pineapple cake recipe

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32 shares

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ashok says

    September 02, 2021 at 2:37 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.

    Reply
  2. Nidhi says

    May 06, 2021 at 2:28 pm

    When i added vinegar to tge milk, it separated. Is that supposed to happen?

    Reply
    • Natasha Minocha says

      May 08, 2021 at 3:19 pm

      Hi Nidhi, yes that's correct. This curdled milk will help your cake come out soft and moist. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  3. Easyfoodsmith says

    April 21, 2021 at 6:19 pm

    Pineapple cake and also pineapple pastries are a childhood favourite. Yours looks so pretty!

    Reply
    • Natasha Minocha says

      April 26, 2021 at 11:17 am

      Right?! We all grew up eating those so much xx

      Reply
5 from 1 vote

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Iโ€™m Natasha! Iโ€™m a self-taught baker and cook, sharing easy, fuss-free recipes that anyone can make with confidence. From breads and cookies to decadent desserts to simple meals, I hope youโ€™ll find your next favorite recipe here.

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