Dreamy Southern Pineapple Cake Recipe for Sweet Summer Days

Sweet memories of childhood summers dance through my southern pineapple cake, a delightful dessert that whispers tales of warm gatherings.

Grandma’s cherished recipe brings tropical sunshine onto every plate with its moist, tender crumb.

Layers of golden cake embrace chunks of ripe pineapple, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.

Soft cream cheese frosting adds a luxurious touch that melts effortlessly against the fruity backdrop.

Delicate spices weave magic into each tender bite, promising comfort and joy.

Baking this cake feels like wrapping yourself in a warm, nostalgic embrace.

Southern Pineapple Cake Favorites

• Celebrate Southern Sweetness: Dive into a classic Southern dessert that captures the essence of homestyle baking with its rich, tropical flavors and creamy texture.
• Master a Crowd-Pleasing Showstopper: Create an impressive cake that looks professionally made but comes together with simple ingredients and straightforward baking techniques, perfect for impressing family and friends.
• Customize Your Tropical Delight: Personalize the cake with optional garnishes like fresh pineapple slices, maraschino cherries, or toasted coconut to add your own special touch and create a stunning presentation.
• Bring Sunshine to Any Gathering: Whether it's a summer barbecue, birthday celebration, or potluck, this Southern Pineapple Cake brings a burst of tropical joy that lights up any occasion with its bright, fruity flavor.

Ingredients For Southern Pineapple Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: A crucial foundation for creating a soft and tender cake texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps in achieving a tender cake crumb.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Essential leavening agents that help the cake rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor balance of the cake.

• Unsalted Butter, Vegetable Oil: Add moisture and richness to the cake's texture.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and provide structure to the cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, classic flavor that complements the pineapple.
• Crushed Pineapple: Brings natural sweetness and moisture to the cake.

• Cream Cheese, Unsalted Butter: Create a smooth, creamy base for the frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps achieve the right frosting consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth of flavor to the cream cheese frosting.
• Drained Crushed Pineapple: Introduces pineapple chunks and extra flavor to the frosting.

• Fresh Pineapple Slices, Maraschino Cherries, Toasted Coconut Flakes: Optional decorative elements that add tropical flair and visual appeal.

How To Bake Southern Pineapple Cake

Step 1: Prepare Baking Space

Warm up your oven to 350F. Coat three round cake pans with butter and flour, ensuring smooth cake removal. Line pans with parchment paper for extra insurance.

Step 2: Create Cake Base

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt

Toss in softened butter, vegetable oil, crushed pineapple with juice, eggs, and vanilla extract. Blend ingredients using a mixer until the batter looks silky and consistent. Scrape bowl sides to incorporate all ingredients perfectly.

Step 3: Bake Cake Layers

Distribute batter evenly across prepared pans. Slide pans into preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean. Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks.

Step 4: Whip Up Creamy Frosting

In a clean mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Gradually introduce powdered sugar, mixing until fluffy. Fold in vanilla extract and drained pineapple chunks, stirring until well combined.

Step 5: Build Delectable Layers

Position first cake layer on serving plate. Spread generous frosting layer across top. Stack remaining layers, adding frosting between each. Cover entire cake with remaining frosting, creating smooth, even surface.

Step 6: Add Gorgeous Finishing Touches

Decorate cake top with fresh pineapple slices, bright maraschino cherries, and toasted coconut flakes. These tropical accents will transform your cake into a stunning masterpiece.

Step 7: Serve and Celebrate

Slice this magnificent Southern treasure and watch friends and family swoon over each tropical, creamy bite. Enjoy the sweet taste of Southern hospitality!

Tips For Southern Pineapple Cake

• Manage Moisture Perfectly: Drain crushed pineapple thoroughly to prevent soggy cake layers and ensure a light, fluffy texture.
• Soften Ingredients Strategically: Allow butter, cream cheese, and eggs to reach room temperature for smoother mixing and better cake consistency.
• Prevent Cake Sticking: Use parchment paper or generously grease and flour cake pans to guarantee easy cake removal without breaking.
• Check Cake Doneness Carefully: Insert a toothpick into cake center – if it comes out clean with minimal crumbs, your cake is perfectly baked.
• Enhance Tropical Flavor: Toast coconut flakes briefly in a dry skillet to intensify their nutty aroma and add extra crunch to your cake garnish.

Variations For Southern Pineapple Cake

• Tropical Coconut Fusion: Replace half the flour with coconut flour for a more intense tropical flavor and gluten-free option.
• Citrus-Infused Variation: Add orange zest to the cake batter and replace pineapple juice with fresh orange juice for a bright, zesty profile.
• Nutty Hawaiian Remix: Fold chopped macadamia nuts into the batter and sprinkle toasted macadamia pieces between cake layers for extra crunch and Hawaiian-inspired texture.
• Vegan Pineapple Dream: Substitute eggs with mashed banana, use coconut oil instead of butter, and replace cream cheese with cashew-based vegan cream cheese for a plant-based version of the classic Southern cake.

Pairing Suggestions For Southern Pineapple Cake

• Pair Sweet Tropical Rum Cocktail: Blend a refreshing pineapple-coconut mojito that echoes the cake's tropical flavors, using white rum, fresh pineapple juice, mint leaves, and a splash of coconut cream.
• Complement Creamy Coffee Drink: Serve a Hawaiian-style vanilla latte with a hint of coconut syrup that balances the cake's sweetness and provides a smooth, rich accompaniment.
• Match Tropical Sorbet Side: Offer a zesty passion fruit or mango sorbet as a palate-cleansing dessert companion that enhances the pineapple cake's fruity profile and provides a light, refreshing contrast.

Storage Advice For Southern Pineapple Cake

• Store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover with plastic wrap or place in a cake carrier to prevent drying out.
• Wrap the entire frosted cake tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Wrap individual unfrosted cake layers in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and frost when ready to serve.
• Bring refrigerated cake to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. For a slightly warm slice, microwave individual portions for 10-15 seconds on low power.

FAQs About Southern Pineapple Cake

• What makes the Southern Pineapple Cake unique?

The cake uses crushed pineapple directly in the batter, which adds moisture and natural sweetness, creating a distinctly tropical flavor profile typical of Southern desserts.

• Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?

While canned crushed pineapple works best for consistent moisture and texture, you can use fresh pineapple if finely chopped and well-drained to prevent excess liquid in the batter.

• Is this cake considered a traditional Southern dessert?

Yes, Southern Pineapple Cake is a classic Southern recipe that reflects the region’s love for fruity, moist cakes with cream cheese frosting, often served at family gatherings and potlucks.

Southern Pineapple Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet Southern charm shines through this pineapple cake, blending tropical flavors with classic Southern hospitality. Moist layers of golden cake promise a delightful dessert that will transport you straight to a charming Southern kitchen.

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Ingredients

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Cake Ingredients:

• 1 cup canned crushed pineapple, undrained
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Dry Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Flavoring Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned crushed pineapple, drained

Garnish Ingredients:

• Fresh pineapple slices
• Maraschino cherries
• Toasted coconut flakes

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Instructions

1. Prepare cake pans by greasing and flouring three 9-inch round pans or lining with parchment paper. Set oven temperature to 350F (175C).
2. Combine dry ingredients including flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
3. Incorporate softened butter, vegetable oil, crushed pineapple with juice, eggs, and vanilla extract into dry mixture.
4. Mix ingredients using medium speed until batter becomes smooth and uniformly blended, scraping bowl sides periodically.
5. Evenly distribute cake batter across prepared pans, ensuring equal volume in each pan.
6. Bake cake layers for 25-30 minutes at 350F, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into cake center – it should emerge clean.
7. Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes after removing from oven, then transfer to wire cooling racks.
8. Cream butter and cream cheese together until achieving a smooth, consistent texture.
9. Gradually fold powdered sugar into butter-cream cheese mixture, beating until light and fluffy.
10. Gently fold vanilla extract and drained crushed pineapple into frosting, mixing thoroughly.
11. Position first cake layer on serving plate, spreading a generous layer of pineapple cream cheese frosting.
12. Stack remaining cake layers, applying frosting between each layer.
13. Cover entire cake with remaining frosting, using spatula to create an even, smooth finish.
14. Optional: Decorate cake top with fresh pineapple slices, maraschino cherries, and toasted coconut flakes.
15. Slice and serve, celebrating the delightful Southern tropical flavors.

Notes

• Ensure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature for smooth, lump-free frosting that spreads easily.
• Drain crushed pineapple thoroughly to prevent excess moisture from making the cake soggy or causing structural issues.
• Consider using fresh pineapple instead of canned for a more vibrant, natural tropical flavor profile if seasonal availability permits.
• Experiment with adding toasted coconut directly into the cake batter for extra texture and enhanced tropical essence.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 438 kcal
• Sugar: 44 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 23 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 58 g
• Fiber: 1.5 g
• Protein: 4.5 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg