Pineapple Upside Down Cake – gorgeous, delicious, and decadent! This festive cake bursts with tropical flavors and is made more special with a dash of spiced rum.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake is a good way to use up pineapple for most people, but… for me, I go out of my way to indulge in this delicious cake.

What is Pineapple Upside Down Cake?

The combination of juicy tart pineapple up against the sweet caramel and buttery cake is extremely enticing. Growing up, I preferred eating raw pineapples because they were extremely sweet. And disliked canned pineapple.

Now, wait….. my disappointment came when I moved to the United States and pineapples here tasted blah! Not so sweet or juicy like the ones I grew up eating.

Then came this delightful cake, with its sharp tropical flavor. Oh my! I knew things were about to change with canned pineapples. It makes this cake SO EASY to put together. And not so bad after all.

In fact, my brother and I always fight over this cake; he does not have a sweet tooth as I do. He hardly touches dessert. So the first time I made this, he went bananas over this.

Cake Recipe Ingredients

This recipe has been updated to make it even special. Yup, with a dash of spiced rum, vanilla extract, and nutmeg. You won’t believe how the flavors in this cake meld beautifully.

I listed below the other ingredients that you need to prepare for this wonderful cake recipe.

For the cake batter:

unsalted butter
granulated sugar
sour cream (makes our cake super moist, and boosts the pineapple flavor)
eggs
cake flour
nutmeg
baking powder
baking soda
salt
vanilla
spiced rum

For the toppings:

butter
brown sugar
pineapple rings
maraschino cherries

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Toppings

I looked over the internet to see if there are Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipes that use different toppings other than pineapple and maraschino cherries. And yeah, the internet never disappoints me.

I found a version of this cake that used toppings like pecans, whipped cream, and pineapples alone. You can also try to use other ingredients that you think will complement the tangy, caramel-y, and buttery flavor of this cake and share it with me in the comment section!

How to Flip a Pineapple Upside Down Cake?

Be careful not to flip your Pineapple Upside Down Cake right away after baking. Allow it to cool for 10 to 15 minutes. If you see that the edges tend to stick on the pan, gently loosen it using a knife. Put a serving dish upside-down on top of the baking pan, and quickly flip it unto the plate.

However, Pineapple Upside Down Cakes are traditionally prepared in a cast-iron skillet. The heavy pan prevents the butter from burning, and flipping the cake upside-down is actually quite easier.

Can You Freeze It?

Been thinking of making lots of Pineapple Upside Down Cake for easy access to snacks? Of course, you can! The freezer will be your friend to make it possible.

Let your cake cool completely after flipping. You can place it in the refrigerator overnight, and wrap the cake with a plastic wrap then again with a foil and place it in your freezer.

This will allow the cake to last for 2 to 3 long months in the freezer!

More Festive Cake Recipes

Since you were able to successfully remake my Pineapple Upside Down Cake, give these other festive cakes a try and share it with your family.

How To Make Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F. If needed, wrap a 10-inch springform pan in heavy foil paper to prevent leaking or use a 10-inch skillet or baking pan. Drain the pineapple slices and cherries. Place the pineapple and cherries on paper towels to absorb excess moisture. In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter. Or place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it for about 30-60 seconds until melted.

Pour the melted butter into the cake pan, followed by the brown sugar. Spread it evenly. Then arrange the pineapple slices with one in the center, 5 others around it, and put the cherries in between the pineapple rings. You will need around 10 whole pineapple rings as the rest of the pineapple rings are split in half. Place the half slices against the sides, facing down if desired. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add in the sour cream and mix until combined. Next, add in the eggs, sifted flour, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined. Then pour in the vanilla extract, and spiced rum. Mix everything until fully incorporated.

Scoop the batter into the assembled cake pan, and spread the batter evenly. Bake the cake in a preheated oven until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, or for about 45–50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Let the cake cool in a pan for 10 minutes. Then run a sharp knife around the sides of the pan to loosen the cake. Tap the bottom of the pan and flip the cake onto a large plate or just open the sides if using a springform pan.

Watch How To Make It

Name: Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 4-5 tablespoons (60 grams) unsalted butter (, melted); ½ cup (110 grams ) brown sugar; 20 ounces canned pineapple slices; 7-12 maraschino cherries; 6 ounces unsalted butter (, softened); ¾ cup (165 grams) granulated sugar; ½ cup sour cream; 3 large eggs; 1 ½ cup sifted cake flour; ½ teaspoon nutmeg; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1-2 tablespoons spiced rum