Description
This classic dessert is a true showstopper, featuring a moist, tender cake topped with caramelized pineapple and maraschino cherries. It’s a delightful combination of sweet, tangy, and buttery flavors, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Topping
¼ cup (60g) salted butter, melted
½ cup (100g) brown sugar, light or dark (I usually use light) tightly packed
10 pineapple slices, patted dry (a 20oz can is typically enough)
maraschino cherries
Vanilla Cake
½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature preferred
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups (195g) all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (120ml) whole milk, room temperature preferred
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350F (175C).
2. Pour melted butter into a 9.5-10″ pie plate or deep cake pan, covering the bottom and greasing the sides.
3. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the butter. Arrange pineapple slices, and halved slices along the sides of the pan.
4. Place cherries in the center of pineapple rings and any empty spots.
5. In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, mixing in one at a time. Stir in vanilla.
6. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
7. Add flour and milk to the wet ingredients, alternating and mixing until just combined.
8. Pour batter over the pineapple/cherry layer.
9. Bake at 350F (175C) for 30 minutes. Cover with foil and bake for another 15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
10. Cool for 10-15 minutes, then invert onto a platter. Let cool before cutting and enjoying.
Notes
Use room-temperature butter and eggs for the best results. They incorporate into the batter more easily.
Make sure to drain the pineapple rings well so the cake doesn’t become soggy.
Don’t overmix the cake batter. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour and make the cake tough.
Check for doneness with a wooden skewer. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
Let the cake cool completely before slicing to keep its shape.
- Category: Dessert