Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with Brown Sugar
A butter cake baked over pineapple rings and brown sugar, then turned out warm.
Pineapple rings and brown sugar go into the pan before the batter, so they become the glossy top when the cake is inverted. The source uses one and a half cups of flour, two eggs and equal small measures of milk and pineapple juice. Cream the half cup of butter with the cup of sugar until airy, then fold in the flour and baking powder gently to avoid a dense crumb. Arrange the pineapple in one layer and spread batter evenly over it. Bake until the center tests clean, let the cake settle a few minutes and invert while the topping is still warm. Fresh pineapple or well-drained canned rings both work here.
Recipe card
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with Brown Sugar
Equipment: 23 cm cake pan, mixer, serving plate
Ingredients
Instructions
Prepare pan
Heat oven to 180°C; line or grease cake pan and spread brown sugar evenly under pineapple rings.
Mix batter
Cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs one at a time and add vanilla sugar.
Add dry and liquid
Fold in flour and baking powder, alternating with milk and pineapple juice.
Bake
Spread batter over fruit and bake 35–40 minutes until a skewer in center comes out clean.
Invert
Cool 10 minutes, loosen edges and carefully invert onto a plate.
How to tell when it is ready
Center tests clean and pineapple topping releases from warm pan.
Tips
- Drain canned pineapple well.
- Cream softened butter.
- Do not overmix flour.
- Turn out while still warm.
Troubleshooting
- If topping sticks, invert while the pan is still warm.
- If center seems wet, bake longer and test again.
Substitutions
- Replace canned pineapple with fresh.
- Use ordinary vanilla extract in place of vanilla sugar.
Variations
- Use fresh pineapple rings.
- Use drained canned rings.
Serving suggestions
- Serve with tea.
- Add plain yogurt.
- Offer with vanilla ice cream.
- Garnish with pineapple pieces.
Make ahead
Measure ingredients ahead; mix and cook or bake according to the method on serving day.
Storage
Refrigerate covered up to 3 days because of moist fruit.
Food safety
Use oven mitts when inverting the hot caramel and fruit.
Frequently asked questions
When should I invert the cake?
Let it settle about ten minutes, then turn out before the sugar topping hardens.
How should I store pineapple upside-down cake?
Refrigerate covered up to 3 days because of moist fruit.
Allow the inverted fruit topping to settle before cutting.
More recipes to try
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