This pineapple dump cake is buttery, golden, and loaded with sweet pineapple. A few pantry staples and one pan get you a dessert that tastes like way more effort than it took.
It’s has the flavor of a classic pineapple upside down cake but is an easy dump cake recipe with a boxed cake mix, canned pineapple, and melted butter.
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Key Takeaways: Pineapple Dump Cake
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: About 45 to 50 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Cook Method: Baked in a 9×13-inch pan
- Flavor & Texture: Sweet pineapple filling with a buttery golden cake topping, juicy pineapple rings, cherries, and a caramel-like brown sugar finish
- Difficulty: Easy. This dump cake is made with cake mix, canned pineapple, melted butter, and simple toppings with no mixing bowl needed.
Easy Pineapple Dump Cake with Cake Mix
This recipe gives you that nostalgic pineapple upside down cake look with the ease of a shortcut dessert. The pineapple rings and bright cherries make it feel pretty enough for a holiday table, but it’s simple enough for a last minute treat.
It’s the kind of dessert I love for potlucks, holidays, or Sunday dinner because it serves a crowd and tastes even better warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If My peach dump cake is another fruity favorite or make my chocolate dump cake to satisfy a chocolate craving.
Ingredients Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Crushed pineapple: Use the pineapple with its juice; don’t drain it. The juice keeps the bottom of the cake moist and helps it caramelize as it bakes.
- Yellow cake mix: Any standard 15.25-ounce box works. This is what makes it a pineapple dump cake recipe with cake mix. You sprinkle it dry, straight from the box!
- Butter: Melted butter drizzled over the dry cake mix soaks as it bakes, creating a golden, slightly crisp topping over a soft, gooey layer underneath.
- Pineapple rings and maraschino cherries: For a classic pineapple upside-down look and a little extra sweetness in every bite.
- Brown sugar: Adds a hint of caramel flavor and helps the top brown.
How to Make Pineapple Dump Cake
Pour the crushed pineapple (juice and all) evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking pan. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the top. Resist the urge to stir! The layers are what make this cake work.
Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top of the cake mix, covering as much surface as you can. Then arrange the pineapple rings on top and place a cherry in the middle of each. Sprinkle brown sugar over everything.
Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 40-45 minutes until the top is golden brown and the edges bubble. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream! Whipped cream is another good choice.
Pineapple Dump Cake Recipe Tips
- Don’t stir the layers. The butter melts down through the dry cake mix on its own to create that classic texture.
- Look for bubbling around the edges, not just color, to know it’s fully baked.
- Let it rest a few minutes before serving for cleaner scoops.
- Variations. Swap in a butter or coconut cake mix, and add chopped nuts or shredded coconut on top. You can also use a different canned fruit, like in my easy cherry dump cake with cake mix, for example.
- Use canned pineapple, not fresh. The juice is key to the texture. If using fresh, add about 1½ cups of pineapple juice.
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More dump and bake cake recipes include strawberry cheesecake dump cake, peach dump cake and blueberry dump cake.
More Dump Cake Recipes
Pineapple Dump Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 30 ounces crushed pineapple , 2 cans
- 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix
- 12 Tablespoons butter , melted
- 20 ounce pineapple rings , 1 can drained
- 6 ounce can maraschino cherries , drained
- ¼ cup brown sugar
Optional: Chopped nuts, vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease the bottom of a 9×13" pan.
- Pour the crushed pineapple into the bottom of the pan. Dump the cake mix evenly over the fruit. Drizzle the top evenly with melted butter. Place pineapple rings over top. Then place a cherry in the center. Sprinkle brown sugar over the top.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
FAQs
No, do not stir the ingredients together. This is one of the biggest mistakes to avoid when making a dump cake. Layer the fruit, dry cake mix, melted butter, pineapple rings, cherries, and brown sugar in the pan so the topping bakes up golden instead of turning into a thick batter.
Do not drain the crushed pineapple, since the juice helps create the sweet fruit filling. You should drain the pineapple rings and maraschino cherries before adding them on top so the cake does not become too wet.
Yellow cake mix is the classic choice and gives the topping a buttery, vanilla flavor. White cake mix will also work, but yellow cake mix pairs best with the pineapple and brown sugar.
Yes, for this recipe I recommend melting the butter. Drizzling melted butter over the dry cake mix helps cover the topping more evenly so it bakes up golden with fewer dry spots.
Alisha
I always love how easy dump cakes are and they always turn out delicious. Perfect when needing a quick, last minute dessert and this pineapple version did not disappoint.
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Agreed! So glad you loved this pineapple dump cake recipe!