Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (Printable)

Buttery vanilla cake with caramelized pineapple rings and maraschino cherries, inverted for a beautiful presentation.

# What You Need:

→ Topping

01 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
02 - 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
03 - 8-10 canned pineapple rings, drained
04 - 8-10 maraschino cherries

→ Cake Batter

05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
10 - 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
12 - 1/2 cup whole milk

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan thoroughly.
02 - Melt 1/4 cup butter and pour into the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the melted butter.
03 - Arrange pineapple rings over the sugar mixture. Place a maraschino cherry in the center of each ring.
04 - In a mixing bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
05 - Beat in eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Add vanilla extract and mix until combined.
06 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended.
07 - Add the flour mixture to the batter in three additions, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
08 - Spoon the batter evenly over the pineapple rings and smooth the top. Bake for 38-42 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
09 - Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto a serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The combination of buttery caramel and sweet pineapple creates a flavor that feels nostalgic but never gets old
  • It looks stunning straight from the pan but requires almost no decorating skills whatsoever
02 -
  • Waiting those 10 minutes before flipping is non negotiable, or the caramel will not set properly and your fruit will slide off
  • Invert the cake onto your final serving plate because you cannot move it again once that caramel hardens
03 -
  • Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of pineapple juice to the batter for an extra punch of flavor
  • Use the back of a spoon to gently press down on the fruit before adding the batter so nothing shifts
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