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pineapple upside down cake

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

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This pineapple upside down cake is a total classic! It’s soft, buttery, and topped with caramelized pineapple and cherries that get all gooey and golden in the oven. Super easy to make and always a hit, it’s the perfect mix of tropical, sweet, and nostalgic goodness!
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Author: Cakes by MK

IMPORTANT: For accuracy, I would recommend using the gram measurements provided, as those are the exact quantities I use. Cup measurements are given as estimates (based on US cup measurements) to make it easier for those who do not have a scale.

Ingredients
 

Topping (goes on the bottom of the cake pan)

  • 3 tbsps (42 g) unsalted butter - melted
  • cup (80 g) soft brown sugar
  • 6 round pineapple slices from a can - Also called pineapple rings. 1 left whole and the rest cut in half. Reserve pineapple juice from the can for cake batter.
  • 11 maraschino or glacé cherries

Cake Batter

  • cups (150 g) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
  • ¾ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt - omit if using salted butter
  • ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter - room temperature
  • ¼ cup (52 g) unflavoured vegetable oil - I use canola oil
  • ¾ cup (150 g) white granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg - room temperature
  • ¼ cup (57 g) Greek yoghurt - full fat, room temperature
  • ¼ cup (57 g) pineapple juice (from the can) - reserved from the can of sliced pineapples used for topping
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract/essence

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) conventional (see note 1 if using a convection oven with a fan)

Topping

  • Blot the canned pineapple slices dry with a paper towel to remove excess liquid and set aside the juice for later. Leave one slice whole and cut the rest in half.
  • Pour melted butter into an 8x3-inch cake pan and swirl it around to coat the base and sides (I like to use a pastry brush for the sides of the pan). Evenly sprinkle brown sugar over the butter.
  • Arrange the pineapple slices on the bottom of the pan, placing the full slice in the center and the half slices around it. Add cherries in the gaps, then set the pan aside.

Cake Batter

  • In a bowl, sift together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and oil with a hand or stand mixer for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  • Add egg and mix on low speed until well combined.
  • Mix in the pineapple juice, vanilla, and Greek yogurt on a low speed until well combined. Remove any batter from the attachments, as the rest of the mixing will be done by hand.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently fold with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  • Pour the batter into the cake pan over the pineapple and cherry layer. Smooth the top and tap the pan lightly on the counter once to remove air bubbles.
  • Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, then cover loosely with foil and bake for another 35 minutes, or until a skewer or thin knife comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then run a thin knife around the edges to release it from the pan. Place your serving plate upside down on top of the cake pan and carefully flip the cake over. Lift off the pan to reveal that beautiful pineapple layer on top. If any slices stick to the pan, just lift them out and place them back where they belong—no one will ever know! :)
  • Allow the cake to cool to room temperature before slicing and serving.

Video

Notes

Note 1. If using a convection oven that has a fan function, bake at 160°C (320°F) as the fan function bakes food faster.

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 104mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information are estimates only as they are automatically calculated by a third party application. Actual values may differ based on brands and types of products used.

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