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Easy Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes (Made with Cake Mix)

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These Easy Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes have all the nostalgic flavor of the classic dessert in perfectly portioned individual servings. Made with a doctored yellow cake mix, buttery brown sugar, sweet pineapple, and a cherry on top, they’re simple enough for a weeknight and special enough for your next summer BBQ or potluck.

The last time I made pineapple upside-down cake was years ago while creating desserts inspired by Tori Spelling’s party book. I hadn’t made it again until my brother-in-law mentioned it was one of his favorite desserts, and that sent me back to the kitchen to recreate it.

This time, I wanted something easy to serve and even easier to make. Instead of baking one large cake, I turned it into mini cakes using a silicone muffin pan, and I may never go back. They popped out perfectly and looked so cute on a serving platter.

The best part? You can absolutely make these from scratch, but a doctored cake mix keeps things simple while still tasting delicious.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Made with a simple boxed cake mix
  • Perfect for BBQs, potlucks, birthdays, and summer parties
  • Individual servings mean no slicing or messy serving
  • Easy to make ahead
  • Kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing
  • Bakes beautifully in a silicone muffin pan

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Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes

Made with a doctored yellow cake mix, buttery brown sugar, sweet pineapple, and a cherry on top, they're simple enough for a weeknight and special enough for your next summer BBQ or potluck.
Keyword: pineapple upside down cakes, pineapple upside-down mini cakes, summer bbq dessert
Servings: 24 cakes

Equipment

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Ingredients

For the Topping:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 20-ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained well (reserve the juice)
  • Maraschino cherries halved

For the Cake:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
  • 1 cup pineapple juice use the reserved juice from the can and add water if needed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 325°F.
  • Lightly grease a silicone muffin pan.
  • In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar until evenly mixed.
  • Spoon a generous layer of the butter and brown sugar mixture into the bottom of each muffin cavity.
  • Top with several pineapple tidbits and half of a maraschino cherry.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, melted butter, pineapple juice, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
  • Fill each muffin cavity about two-thirds full with batter.
  • Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cakes are lightly golden and spring back when touched.
  • Allow the cakes to cool for about 5 minutes before carefully inverting them onto a cooling rack or serving platter.

Tips for Success

  • Pat the pineapple tidbits dry before using to help the topping caramelize.
  • Don’t overfill the muffin cups or the batter may spill over.
  • Flip the cakes while they’re still warm for the easiest release.
  • If you don’t have enough pineapple juice from the can, simply top it off with water.
  • A silicone muffin pan made these incredibly easy to remove and gave the best results in my testing.

Build the Perfect Summer Dessert Table

Serve these alongside:

Read more about exactly how I create a dessert table here!

Serving Ideas

These mini pineapple upside-down cakes are perfect for:

  • Summer BBQs
  • Family dinners
  • Potlucks
  • Baby showers
  • Bridal showers
  • Graduation parties
  • Backyard cookouts

Serve them as-is or with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

FAQ

Yes! Bake them a day in advance and store them in an airtight container. They’re delicious at room temperature or lightly warmed before serving.

Absolutely. If you have a favorite homemade yellow cake recipe, feel free to use it. I love the convenience of a doctored cake mix because it comes together quickly and still delivers great flavor. (we could pop one in here, i can’t remember if we have one)

Definitely! You just want to bake it for longer. I’d start with 30 minutes and check it from there.

save this for later!

Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes

Happy baking! If you make these Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes, I’d love to hear what you think.

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