Pineapple upside down cake with crushed pineapple and pecans

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Southern Pineapple Cake is amazingly moist and delicious. It’s so easy to make and even easier to eat! A simple, moist from scratch pineapple cake studded with pecans and coconut. Topped with a scrumptious pecan coconut frosting.

We LOVE pineapple in a cake. Whether it is the Pineapple Bundt Poke Cake or a beautiful cake like the upside-down cupcakes, pineapple gives the cake such great flavor and a moist texture. Bars are so easy to make and delicious as well like these Tropical Pineapple Coconut Bars. Pineapple Pound Cake has a great texture and is fun to take to a potluck as well.

This recipe is from my co-host, Mary from Cooking with Mary and Friends.  She is also the food columnist at Camden Living Magazine, Contributor to Basil and Salt Magazine, and a South Carolina small family farms advocate. Mary cooks with pastured meats, farm-grown vegetables, and farm-fresh dairy ingredients.  You can also connect with her on Facebook,  Instagram, and Pinterest.

Thank you to Mary for sharing one of her favorite cake recipes! With pineapple, coconut, and nuts, this cake has a tropical flavor. This cake is a “pot luck” favorite, but also makes a great after-school snack cake, or anytime you want an easy dessert. Just a few simple ingredients and you’re done. You don’t need a mixer, just beat the batter in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon. 

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Why We Love this Recipe

This Pineapple Cake so easy to make, and even easier to serve! Perfect for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or showers, or any time!

It’s always a hit to take some pineapple cake to a party or potluck, or serve with chilled iced tea on the patio!

We love this pineapple cake because it is dense enough to hold up well on a buffet table while keeping all the tangy, citrus flavors!

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Tips for the Perfect Southern Pineapple Cake

• Add those juices from the can of crushed pineapple to get that moist, sweet flavor!
• Because this cake has fruit, it should be stored in the fridge. It will keep for 3-4 days!
• This cake is also easily frozen! Just cut into portions or freeze the entire cake by wrapping it in plastic wrap, then foil and label the outside with the date.
• Southern Pineapple cake should last about 6 weeks in the freezer.

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RECIPE
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 – 20 oz can Dole crushed pineapple (with juice)
For the Topping:
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup of sugar
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup coconut flakes

How to Make a Southern Pineapple Cake

If you’re nervous to make any kind of homemade cakes, this is one of the easiest cakes to start with. It’s a thick, rich, moist cake rather than a light fluffy one.

And I don’t know about you, but I often think those are THE BEST kind of cakes. 

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray with baking spray a 13 x 9 -inch baking dish. In a large bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, eggs, vanilla, and crushed pineapple (with juice) and beat until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.

While the cake is baking, heat butter, evaporated milk, vanilla, and sugar in a medium-sized saucepan until it begins to boil over medium-high heat. Stir in pecans or walnuts and coconut and continue cooking on medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture will thicken slightly.

Removed baked cake from oven and poke holes all over the top using a wooden chopstick or the tines of a large serving fork. Spread topping evenly over top of warm cake and let cool.

Slice and serve!

More Pineapple Dessert Recipes: 

PINEAPPLE BUNDT POKE CAKE

Pineapple Pecan Pound Cake

Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

Frozen Pineapple Pie ( No Bake)

Pineapple Coconut Poke Bundt Cake

Tropical Pineapple Coconut Bars

More Savory Pineapple Recipes:

BBQ Bacon & Pineapple Shish Kabobs

Asian Pineapple Ribs and Ling Ling Bibimbap Beef Fried Rice

Pineapple Sweet Ribs

Easy Pineapple Casserole

Pineapple Fried Rice

Nettie is a wife and mother who is passionate about cooking and baking. With 5 children, Nettie insists that all meals, snacks, and desserts come together quickly! You will find a wide variety of easy yet scrumptious recipes on her very popular website Moore or Less Cooking

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Southern Pineapple Cake is amazingly moist and delicious. It’s so easy to make and even easier to eat! A simple, moist from scratch pineapple cake studded with pecans and coconut. Topped with a scrumptious pecan coconut frosting.

Ingredients

• For the Cake:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 - 20 oz can Dole crushed pineapple (with juice)
• For the Topping:
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1 cup coconut flakes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease or spray with baking spray a 13 x 9 -inch baking dish. In a large bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, eggs, vanilla and crushed pineapple (with juice) and beat until well combined.
3. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
4. While cake is baking, heat butter, evaporated milk, vanilla, and sugar in a medium-sized saucepan until it begins to boil over medium-high heat.
5. Stir in pecans or walnuts and coconut and continue cooking on medium heat about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
6. The mixture will thicken slightly.
7. Removed baked cake from oven and poke holes all over the top using a wooden chopstick or the tines of a large serving fork.
8. Spread topping evenly over top of warm cake and let cool.
9. Slice and serve!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 

  365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Evaporated Milk (Vitamin D Added), 12 Fl Oz

• 

  Rodelle Gourmet Pure Vanilla Extract, 8 Oz

• 

  365 Everyday Value, Unsalted Butter, 16 oz

• 

  Dole Crushed Pineapple in Juice

• 

  Baker’s Sweetened Angel Flake Coconut (7 oz Bag)

• 

  Fisher Chef's Naturals Pecan Halves, 24 oz, Naturally Gluten Free, No Preservatives, Non-GMO

• 

  C&H, Cane Sugar, Golden Brown, 2lb Bag (Pack of 2)

• 

  King Arthur, Unbleached Cake Flour, 32 Ounce

• 

  Ifuerte 10-Piece Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

• 

  Mixing Bowls

Nutrition Information

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