This easy pineapple upside down cake with yellow cake mix can be prepped and baked in an hour. A cheap boxed cake mix recipe dessert with canned fruit we love. Use Duncan Hines, Betty Crocker or other brand for this easy dump cake style treat.

cake mix pineapple upside down cake
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Cake mix pineapple upside down cake is the best! Such an easy dessert you can make when guests show up unexpectedly! Semi homemade but you may be able to even pull it off from scratch with the kiddos. 😉 Give it a whirl and let us know what you think! (affiliate links present)

Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake

We have made something similar as an Instant Pot pineapple upside down cake recipe. You may not have that machine at home, or want to make the whole box instead of half so this is how it is done in the oven. We are going to use a round cake pan for this one. You could use a bundt pan if you wanted too but the timing for round is below.

For a third version my kids love making pineapple upside down cupcakes too. I mean anything made in a hand held grab it and go kinda’ size is just so fun right? You can make all 3 versions with these same ingredients. We are going to start with the basic ingredients you might imagine, you can see them below.

How to Make a Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Duncan Hines Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Of course you could use any flavored mix you wanted. I have in fact found pineapple cake mix from time to time but it isn’t always offered. If you can find that I’d grab a few. If not go ahead and either use yellow cake mix or white works just the same, but a different color scheme.

Ingredients

  • box cake mix 15.25 oz, I like Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines Moist variety
  • 1 c brown sugar
  • 20 oz pineapple slices in juice and cherries jarred, stems removed
    • I use fruit slices, canned, drained but reserve pineapple juice
    • could use thin slices of fresh pineapple
  • Vegetable oil and eggs
  • 1/2 c butter
  • 1 9″ springform pan with parchment paper liners or 9×9″ square pan sprayed well
  • Bowl to make the cake batter

Occasionally if I am visiting the Dollar Store I can find all of these ingredients too, seriously. In that case it is less than 5 bucks for everything which I love. I will say that in general name brand mixes are more moist, I would say that Duncan Hines is my favorite if it is on sale.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Duncan Hines

How to Make Cake Mix Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Don’t worry, you will use this pan again and again if you choose to buy this style. It is a great way to flip over all the contents and not have it all fall apart. (I used a round 9 inch pan for easier removal, but this recipe can be made in any 9×9 baking pan.

How to Make a Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Cake Mix

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray preferred pan with nonstick spray.
  • **If you use a springform pan, make SURE it is locked in place so it doesn’t leak and place it on a baking sheet, in case you have any drips + use the liners linked below).
  • Place butter in your pan and set in the preheating oven. (You can also melt the butter in the microwave then pour in your pan).
  • Open the can of pineapples and reserve the liquid into a measuring cup. 
  • Add enough water to that pineapple juice to create 1 full cup of liquid. Set aside for now.
    • In a mixing bowl, prepare the cake mix by combining boxed mix, with 2 eggs, oil and the 1 cup of pineapple/water.
  • Once the butter has melted in your pan, remove it from the oven.  Sprinkle the brown sugar with butter evenly on to the bottom.
  • Then arrange the pineapple slices and maraschino cherries over the brown sugar. (Use as many as you can fit.)
    • I usually place the cherry in the center of the pineapple slices.
  • Carefully pour batter over everything.
  • Bake for approximately 45-50 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out mostly clean with moist crumbs attached.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

What is the pineapple upside down trick?

You’ll need to let it cool for 10 minutes. Release clasp on outside of springform pan and remove. For square use a knife to release from all 4 sides by sliding it down. Place moist cake round with a plate on the top and carefully flip upside down quickly so the bottom of the cake with the fruit is now on the top of the cake. Serve with whipped cream and enjoy!

Grandmas Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Grandmas Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Ok so your mama probably didn’t use a ready made box of mix, but maybe she would have if given the choice. 😉 I mean sometimes we are in a hurry and need a bit of a cheater method to get it done right?? This will make one large sized round cake. If you know you will have leftovers only slice what you will eat then and there.

Should you refrigerate pineapple upside-down cake after baking?

Allow the whole thing to cool completely and you want to keep it moist after that. To do it best cover with plastic wrap so it is touching the top and sides, wrapped around the plate. Eliminate as much air as you can around the outside so it doesn’t dry out. Keep in the fridge since it does contain fruit.

The next day take a slice off, on to a plate, add a drizzle of frosting and warm in the microwave. The glaze will add moisture back into it and the heat will make it taste fresh again. 45 seconds usually does the trick to take the edge off. And that is it my friends. Kitchen hack for a quick pineapple cake at home. Everyone will love this one!

Cake Mix Pineapple Upside Down Cake

You can do something similar with other fruits after you try this one. If you have ripe nanners you should try our banana upside down cake too. Homemade or with boxed mix it comes out great and super sweet. We used fresh fruit to make this upside down peach cake which is amazing too.

Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake
4.77 from 13 votes

Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Yellow Cake Mix

By The Typical Mom
This easy pineapple upside down cake with yellow cake mix can be prepped and baked in an hour. A cheap dessert with canned fruit we love.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Servings: 12
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 box cake mix, 15.25 oz
  • 1 c brown sugar
  • 20 oz pineapple slices, canned, drained but save juice
  • 1/3 c vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 c butter
  • 1 jar maraschino cherries

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray preferred pan with nonstick spray, I line the springform with the cut round parchment paper liner. (I used a round 9 inch springform pan for easier removal, but this recipe can be made in any 9×9 baking pan. **If you use a springform pan, place it on a baking sheet, to catch a few drips).
  • Melt the butter in the microwave then pour in your pan. Open the can of pineapples and reserve the liquid into a measuring cup. 
  • Add enough water to that pineapple juice to create 1 full cup of liquid. Set aside for now. In a mixing bowl, prepare the cake mix by combining boxed mix, with 2 eggs, oil and the 1 cup of pineapple/water.
  • Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly on to the bottom. Then place the drained pineapple slices over the brown sugar. (Use as many as you can fit.)
  • Place the cherries (stems removed) in the center and in between the pineapple slices. Carefully pour the prepared cake mix batter over everything.
  • Bake for approximately 45-50 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out mostly clean with moist crumbs attached.
  • Remove from the oven and let the cake sit on a cooling rack for 5 minutes.  Release clasp on outside of springform pan and remove. Place a plate on the top and carefully flip upside down so the bottom of the cake with the fruit is now on the top.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1oz, Calories: 356kcal, Carbohydrates: 66g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 391mg, Potassium: 118mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 48g, Vitamin A: 305IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 127mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!
Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake

About The Typical Mom

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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17 Comments

  1. Cake was amazing – but spring form pan… didn’t work for me. I even threw one pan away, thinking it was the pan. My cookie sheet is a mess 😩 maybe I missed a step 🤷🏼‍♀️

    1. Those are finicky and if you do not completely lock them or they have warped in the dishwasher over the years it won’t lock completely in place and will leak, that is why I link the high sided 9 inch round

  2. This was everything a gourmet dessert should be, and then some! Easy, tangy and delicious; exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth!

  3. I do love pineapple upside down cake and this one looks gorgeous. Such a retro dessert.

  4. This easy pineapple upside-down cake made with yellow cake mix is always a hit! Will definitely try!

  5. This was a winner! I had a taste for pineapple upside-down cake after tasting one at a recent event (it wasn’t bad, I just knew my version was better ;-)). When the store I went to did not have the pineapple flavor, I searched for recipes using yellow cake mix. Duncan Hines was used with a couple of tweaks. Thank you!

    1. @Cathy, you’re going to need to add the pineapple juice to the cake mix and such directions aren’t normally going to be on a yellow or white cake box.

    1. I would probably double everything if you wanted it thick or you could use as is but it would be thin in the larger pan. I haven’t done that yet though so can’t give you exact info.

    2. Don’t double the thing it turns out fine in the 9×13 pan if your sides of your round 9 inch pan aren’t high such as a springform