Dump cake recipes are some of the easiest recipes to follow. Gather a few ingredients, layer them in a 13×9-inch pan, bake and voila! You’ve got a cake that doesn’t even need to be frosted. This pineapple dump cake recipe isn’t any different. Pineapple lovers will devour every bite of this juicy treat.
Ingredients for Pineapple Dump Cake
- Crushed pineapple: Purchase two 20-ounce cans crushed pineapple, and do not drain them! We need all that juice to hydrate the pineapple dump cake with cake mix.
- Brown sugar: We love brown sugar’s caramel and molasses flavors mixed with the sweetness from the pineapple. These two ingredients are what make a pineapple upside-down cake so irresistible! You can use granulated sugar in place of the brown if that’s all you have on hand.
- Crystallized ginger: While optional, we highly recommend using crystallized ginger in this dump cake recipe with pineapple. We love the ginger’s bright zippiness with pineapple’s sugary sweetness.
- Yellow cake mix: Save yourself the trouble of blindly trying any cake mix brand from the store shelf. Our Test Kitchen pros made a list of their go-to yellow cake mix brands from the grocery store.
- Butter: Toss a stick of butter in the freezer the night before making this dump cake recipe with pineapple so the butter is frozen solid and easier to shred on a box grater.
- Vanilla ice cream: Make sure your ice cream is every bit as delicious as the dump cake and buy one of the best vanilla ice cream brands from the store.
Directions
Step 1: Pour in the pineapple
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Gather the ingredients and grease your 13×9-inch baking dish. Pour the canned pineapple, with the juice, into the greased baking dish and spread it out.
Step 2: Add the brown sugar
Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar on top of the pineapple. If you want to include the crystallized ginger, now would be the time to add it.
Step 3: Sprinkle the cake mix
Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the pineapple and brown sugar.
Step 4: Toss the butter on top
Scatter the frozen, shredded butter evenly over the cake mix.
Step 5: Bake the pineapple dump cake
Bake until the top of the dump cake is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Slightly cool the cake at room temperature on a wire rack.
Step 6: Serve the pineapple dump cake
Serve the pineapple dump cake warm, with ice cream if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Make it tropical: Give this pineapple dump cake recipe a little pina colada flavor by using a coconut cake mix instead of the yellow, then dolloping a coconut extract-infused whipped cream on top and garnishing each piece with a cherry.
- Use brown butter: Add extra richness to the recipe by using brown butter instead of regular. If you go this route, make the brown butter ahead of time and keep it in the freezer so it’s ready to grate when you start the recipe.
- Swap the cake mix: Feel free to use your choice of cake mix. White, French vanilla or spice cake would pair beautifully with the pineapple.
- Go with a different fruit filling: Change the flavor by swapping in your favorite fruity pie filling, like cherry, strawberry or blueberry, for the pineapple.
How to Store Pineapple Dump Cake
Since this easy pineapple dump cake recipe is a bit juicy in places, you should try to serve and eat it the day you make it. The texture is best when served right out of the oven. If you still want to store leftovers for later, let the dump cake cool to room temperature, then cover the pan with storage wrap. If there’s only a little bit of dump cake left, transfer it to an airtight container to save space in your fridge. A dump cake can last for up to three days in the fridge.
Can you freeze pineapple dump cake?
Yes, you can freeze a baked pineapple dump cake. Once it’s out of the oven, let it cool to room temperature, then cover the pan with a layer of storage wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. The pineapple dump cake can be kept in your freezer for up to two months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge or reheat the dump cake from frozen in a 350° oven until warmed through, about 15 minutes.
Pineapple Dump Cake Tips
What can you serve with pineapple dump cake?
Pineapple dump cake fresh from the oven pairs perfectly with a scoop of cold homemade vanilla ice cream (or store-bought) and a dollop of homemade whipped cream.
Can you bake this pineapple dump cake in a different pan?
Yes, if you don’t have a 13×9-inch pan, you can bake this easy pineapple dump cake with cake mix in a 12-inch skillet, two 9-inch round pans or two 8-inch square pans instead.
