Pineapple Upside Down Dump Cake bakes into gooey, tropical bliss. Juicy, caramelized crushed pineapple, brown sugar, pecans and maraschino cherries top moist, fluffy pineapple flavored cake.
This easy-to-make dump cake is a one-pan wonder that delivers a burst of warm a moist, fluffy cake layer nestled beneath the caramelized topping.
Why You'll Love This Dump Cake
This quick and easy-to-make dump cake uses just a few ingredients, including canned pineapple, maraschino cherries, brown sugar, and a cake mix. You might even have the ingredients in your pantry right now!
The cake is baked in a single dish, making it a quick and easy dessert to prepare, and clean up!
- Easy to make. Even beginners can make this dessert with ease.
- It's inexpensive. The ingredients are all readily available and relatively inexpensive.
- Easy clean up. It's a one-dish dessert, which means there is less cleanup.
- Delicious! The combination of sweet pineapple, tart cherries, and caramelized brown sugar is simply irresistible. It's also a popular dessert for potlucks, picnics, and other family gatherings.
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Pineapple Dump Cake Ingredients
The combination of crushed pineapple, pineapple cake mix, butter and pecans creates an irresistibly delicious dessert your family will ask you to put on repeat.
- Butter - Melted
- Brown sugar - Light or dark, packed.
- Pecans - Chopped.
- Cherries - Fresh, Maraschino, Glace, or even canned.
- Pineapple - Crushed, drained with juice reserved.
- Cake Mix - Pineapple flavored, or a yellow or white cake mix.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Pineapple Upside Down Dump Cake
You won't believe how simple it is to whip up this delectable pineapple dump cake! It doesn't matter if you're an experienced chef or just starting out in the kitchen; anyone can make this show stopper dessert!
Mix Butter and Brown Sugar
- Preheat your oven to 350 F, and spray a 9x13" baking dish with non stick cooking spray.
- Mix ¼ cup of the butter with all of the brown sugar and pour into the bottom of the casserole dish.
Add Nuts and Cherries
- Scatter the chopped pecans on top of the melted butter and brown sugar mixture, then scatter the cherries in any pattern you like.
Scatter The Crushed Pineapple
- Spoon the crushed pineapple evenly over the chopped pecans and cherries.
Add Melted Butter and Pineapple Juice
- Sprinkle the pineapple cake mix evenly over the crushed pineapple, smoothing it out so the top is level.
- Drizzle the remaining portion of melted butter over the top of the dry cake mix, then very last, gently pour the reserved pineapple juice (from the canned crushed pineapple) over the top also.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, where the edges are browned and pulling away from the casserole dish.
- When done, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Use a spatula to lift out the squares, flipping them onto the plate so the bottom of the cake square is facing up.
Tips for Success
Here are a few great tips for making this dump cake:
- Be sure to drain the pineapple before adding it to the baking dish. This will help to prevent the cake from becoming soggy. Don't discard the juice though, you'll pour it on top of the cake mix very last.
- If you don't like maraschino cherries, you can substitute another type of fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
- To make sure the cake is cooked through, insert a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.
- This is not a pineapple upside down cake that you invert. You use a spatula to flip a square of the pineapple upside down dump cake onto a plate so the pineapple shows.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations when making this recipe.
- You can also add other fruits to the cake, such as sliced peaches, apples, or berries.
- You can use sliced pineapple rings instead of crushed pineapple also!
- For a more decadent pineapple upside down cake, top it with a layer of whipped cream frosting and an extra cherry
- Even though more expensive, use real butter instead of margarine for a richer flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Pineapple upside down dump cake can be served warm or at room temperature, and it can be topped with ice cream, whipped cream, or additional crushed pineapple.
If you love making 'dump' cakes for their ease of preparations, see these additional recipes:
- Blueberry Lemon Dump Cake Bars
- Crockpot Black Forest Dump Cake
- Peach Dump Cake with Fresh Peaches
- Rhubarb Dump Cake
- Blueberry Cobbler with Cake Mix
Storage and Reheating
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To freeze the cake, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- To rewarm this cake, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Related Recipes
- Blueberry Lemon Dump Cake Bars
- Crockpot Black Forest Dump Cake
- Peach Dump Cake with Fresh Peaches
- Rhubarb Dump Cake
- Blueberry Cobbler with Cake Mix
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this recipe.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I prefer a pineapple flavored cake mix, but you can also use a yellow or white cake mix.
Yes, you can use fresh pineapple instead of canned pineapple. Be sure to dice the pineapple finely before using.
You can omit them, or use fresh or canned cherries.
More Delish Ideas
Pineapple Upside Down Dump Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Butter melted
- ¾ cup Brown sugar light or dark, packed
- ½ cup Pecans chopped
- ½ cup Cherries maraschino, canned, or fresh
- 1 Pineapple canned, crushed, drained juice reserved
- 1 Cake mix pineapple, yellow, or white
- ½ cup butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 F, and spray a 9x13" baking dish with non stick cooking spray.
- Mix ¼ cup of the butter with all of the brown sugar and pour into the bottom of the casserole dish.¼ cup Butter, ¾ cup Brown sugar
- Scatter the chopped pecans on top of the melted butter and brown sugar mixture, then scatter the cherries in any pattern you like.½ cup Pecans, ½ cup Cherries
- Spoon the crushed pineapple evenly over the chopped pecans and cherries.1 Pineapple
- Sprinkle the pineapple cake mix evenly over the crushed pineapple, smoothing it out so the top is level.1 Cake mix
- Drizzle the remaining melted butter over the top of the dry cake mix, then very last, gently pour the reserved pineapple juice (from the canned crushed pineapple) over the top also.½ cup butter
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, where the edges are browned and pulling away from the casserole dish.
- When done, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Use a spatula to lift out the squares, flipping them onto the plate so the bottom of the cake square is facing up.
Notes
- Be sure to drain the pineapple before adding it to the baking dish. This will help to prevent the cake from becoming soggy. Don't discard the juice though, you'll pour it on top of the cake mix very last.
- If you don't like maraschino cherries, you can substitute another type of fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
- To make sure the cake is cooked through, insert a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.
- This is not a pineapple upside down cake that you invert. You use a spatula to flip a square of the pineapple upside down dump cake onto a plate so the pineapple shows.
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