Transform your dessert routine with this incredibly easy 5-ingredient pineapple cake, ready in under 45 minutes from start to finish! This delightful sheet cake, crowned with a luscious pineapple cream cheese frosting, offers a sweet and tangy explosion of flavor. With minimal prep time and a straightforward recipe, it’s destined to become your go-to spring and summer dessert, perfect for any occasion that calls for a taste of sunshine.
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Why You’ll Adore This Easy Pineapple Cake Recipe
This wonderfully fluffy and sweet pineapple sheet cake, generously topped with a rich pineapple cream cheese frosting, is truly like biting into a ray of sunshine! It’s the ultimate warm-weather treat, bringing all those delightful spring and summer vibes directly to your plate. Beyond its captivating flavor, there are so many reasons this recipe will quickly become a cherished favorite in your kitchen:
- Effortlessly Quick and Simple: Not only does this recipe call for a mere 5 key ingredients, but we also embrace the clever shortcut of using a boxed cake mix. There’s absolutely no shame in this game, as it guarantees a perfect, consistently delicious result every single time! It’s ideal for busy weeknights, impromptu gatherings, or when you simply crave homemade goodness without the fuss.
- Feeds a Crowd with Ease: Planning a party or need a dessert that generously serves many? This beautifully simple 5-ingredient pineapple cake yields up to 24 servings. It’s perfect for potlucks, family reunions, barbecues, or any large event where a crowd-pleasing dessert is a must.
- Irresistible Flavor and Texture Profile: Prepare for a sensory delight! The cake itself boasts an incredibly fluffy, moist, and tender crumb, infused with a delightful balance of tangy-sweet pineapple flavor. This is perfectly complemented by a heavenly, creamy pineapple cream cheese frosting that adds an extra layer of richness and tropical zest.
- Minimal Cleanup: With only a handful of ingredients and a streamlined process, you’ll spend less time washing dishes and more time enjoying your delicious creation. Who doesn’t love a recipe that’s as easy to clean up as it is to make?
- Versatile for Any Occasion: While it screams spring, this pineapple cake is truly suitable year-round. It brightens up holiday tables, adds a tropical twist to summer picnics, and provides a comforting, sweet escape on cooler days.
While I thoroughly enjoy the intricate challenge of baking delicate lemon macarons and crafting an elaborate pineapple layer cake, when it comes to serving dessert to a large group, I consistently gravitate towards seriously easy and reliable options, like this fantastic 5-ingredient pineapple cake!
Key Ingredients for Your Perfect Pineapple Cake
You might notice six ingredient lines listed in the recipe card below, but don’t be alarmed—this easy pineapple cake recipe genuinely only calls for five distinct ingredients! The “extra” line simply accounts for how you’ll divide one large can of crushed pineapple between the cake batter and the luscious frosting. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in creating this delightful tropical dessert.
For the Moist Pineapple Cake:
- Boxed White Cake Mix: This is our secret weapon for speed and consistency! For optimal results, my personal preference is Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe French Vanilla Premium Cake Mix or a similar high-quality white or French vanilla cake mix. The subtle hint of vanilla allows the vibrant pineapple flavors to truly shine through, baking into a beautifully light and fluffy cake that tastes homemade. This shortcut eliminates the need for flour, sugar, baking powder, and other dry ingredients, making the process incredibly straightforward.
- Eggs: Eggs are vital for providing structure and richness to the cake. They bind the ingredients together, contribute to a stable crumb, and add essential moisture, ensuring your cake is tender and not dry.
- Crushed Pineapple with Juices: For this specific recipe, I highly recommend using a 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple packed in heavy syrup. The syrup is essential as it adds a significant amount of moisture and natural sweetness to the cake batter, eliminating the need for additional liquids like water or oil often required by cake mixes. You will measure out the necessary amount for the cake batter first, then thoroughly drain the remaining crushed pineapple for the frosting. The juices are key for infusing the cake with its signature tropical flavor and keeping it incredibly moist.
For the Creamy Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Plain Cream Cheese: Achieving that perfectly smooth and decadent frosting texture requires a brick-style, full-fat, plain block of cream cheese. It’s crucial to use full-fat for the best body and flavor. Avoid anything labeled as whipped or reduced-fat, as these varieties will result in a frosting that is too thin and runny to hold its shape beautifully on your sheet cake. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature before mixing for a lump-free finish.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This magical ingredient does double duty: it adds a wonderful depth of sweetness and creates a pourable, yet rich, consistency for our frosting. It’s important not to confuse sweetened condensed milk with evaporated milk! While they are both concentrated milk products, evaporated milk contains no added sugar and would not provide the necessary sweetness for this delightful pineapple condensed milk cake frosting.
- Crushed Pineapple without Juices (Drained): Once you’ve used the pineapple with its juices for the cake, the remaining crushed pineapple needs to be well-drained. These juicy pineapple bits are then folded into the frosting, studding it with delightful pockets of tropical flavor and adding a lovely texture contrast. Draining ensures the frosting remains thick and creamy, not watery.
Why We Omit Oil or Butter in This Pineapple Cake
It’s no oversight that this particular 5-ingredient pineapple cake recipe doesn’t include additional oil or butter. During extensive testing, I prepared batches both with and without these fats and found no significant difference in the cake’s delightful flavor or moist texture. Ultimately, I chose to omit them because why introduce extra calories if there isn’t a noticeable improvement in the final product? The crushed pineapple with its juices provides ample moisture and richness, making additional fats unnecessary for a perfectly delicious result.
How to Make This Easy Pineapple Cake Recipe: Step-by-Step
Get ready to whip up this impressive yet simple dessert! Before you dive in, ensure your oven is preheated to 350°F (177°C), and generously spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. This preparation ensures your cake bakes evenly and releases easily.
1. Mix and Bake the Pineapple Cake
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, ideally fitted with a paddle attachment on a stand mixer (or use a handheld electric mixer), combine the entire box of cake mix, the eggs, and the crushed pineapple along with all its juices.
- Beat the Batter: Begin by beating the mixture on low speed until all the ingredients are just combined and no dry pockets of cake mix remain. Then, increase the speed to medium-high and beat for precisely 2 minutes. This crucial step incorporates air, resulting in a wonderfully white and fluffy batter—the foundation of a light and airy cake.
- Pour into Pan: Carefully pour the prepared pineapple cake batter evenly into your greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Spread it gently to ensure an even layer.
- Bake to Perfection: Transfer the pan to your preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The cake is perfectly done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating no wet batter remains. Avoid overbaking to maintain maximum moisture.
- Cool Completely: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack. This is a critical step; frosting a warm cake will cause the frosting to melt and slide off.
2. Prepare the Luscious Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting
- Whip Cream Cheese: While the cake cools, place your room-temperature plain cream cheese in an electric mixing bowl. Whip it on medium speed for about 1 minute, or until it becomes light, smooth, and fluffy. This ensures a lump-free frosting.
- Add Sweetness and Pineapple: To the whipped cream cheese, add the sweetened condensed milk and the thoroughly drained crushed pineapple (ensuring no excess juices are present).
- Beat Until Combined: Beat the cream cheese frosting mixture again on medium speed until all ingredients are well combined and the frosting is smooth, creamy, and evenly studded with pineapple bits. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
3. Assemble and Serve Your Pineapple Delight
- Frost the Cooled Cake: Once your cake has fully cooled to room temperature, pour the prepared pineapple cream cheese frosting evenly over the entire cake. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to gently spread the frosting to all edges, creating a beautiful, smooth layer.
- Chill for Perfection: For the best texture and flavor, transfer the frosted cake to the refrigerator and let it chill for at least 30 minutes, or until you’re ready to serve. Chilling helps the frosting set and allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Slice and Enjoy: When ready to indulge, remove the cake from the refrigerator. Slice the dessert into 24 perfect squares, and dig in! This easy pineapple cake is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Expert Tips for the Best 5-Ingredient Pineapple Cake:
Even though this recipe is incredibly simple, these insider tips will help ensure your easy pineapple cake turns out perfect every single time:
- Managing Leftover Crushed Pineapple: Don’t fret if you have a bit of crushed pineapple left over! Whether you start with a single 20-ounce can or multiple smaller cans, you’ll likely have some remaining after measuring for both the cake and frosting. You can either save it for another delicious use (like adding to yogurt or smoothies) or discard it. The key is to strictly adhere to the amounts specified in the recipe card for optimal results.
- Choose Your Cake Mix Wisely: While many boxed cake mixes work, you’ll achieve the most superior results and consistent texture by using Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe French Vanilla Premium Cake Mix or a very similar high-quality white or French vanilla cake mix. The specific blend of ingredients in these mixes pairs perfectly with the pineapple.
- Stand Mixer vs. Handheld: I personally prefer the convenience and power of my stand mixer, especially with a paddle attachment. However, since this quick pineapple cake recipe is so inherently simple and requires minimal beating, a handheld electric mixer is perfectly adequate and will yield equally fantastic results. Use what you have!
- Avoid Overmixing for a Light Cake: After the initial low-speed mix, beat the batter on medium-high for *exactly* 2 minutes, and no more. Overmixing cake batter can overdevelop the gluten, leading to a dense, tough, or rubbery dessert instead of the desired light and fluffy texture. Mix until just combined and then for the specified time.
- Softened Cream Cheese is Key for Smooth Frosting: The secret to a perfectly smooth, lump-free cream cheese frosting lies in using softened, room-temperature cream cheese. If your cream cheese is cold and firm, it won’t blend evenly, resulting in an unappetizingly lumpy frosting. Simply take your brick of cream cheese out of the refrigerator 1-2 hours in advance to let it come to room temperature naturally.
- Don’t Overbake: Keep a close eye on your cake as it bakes. Start checking for doneness around the 25-minute mark. Overbaked cake will be dry and less enjoyable. A clean toothpick means it’s ready!
- Cool Completely Before Frosting: Patience is a virtue here! Ensure the cake is absolutely cool to the touch before attempting to apply the frosting. A warm cake will melt the frosting, turning your beautiful creation into a gooey mess.
- Garnish for Extra Flair: While delicious on its own, consider garnishing your finished pineapple cake. A sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes, a few maraschino cherries, or even some fresh mint sprigs can add a lovely visual appeal and extra flavor dimension.
Make-Ahead Mastery: Preparing Your Pineapple Cake in Advance
This easy pineapple cake is not only quick to prepare but also wonderfully accommodating for make-ahead convenience, making it perfect for entertaining or enjoying throughout the week.
- Prepare the Frosting in Advance: The creamy pineapple cream cheese frosting can be prepared 1-2 days ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to frost your cooled cake, simply let the frosting come to room temperature on the counter for about 30-60 minutes. If it seems a little stiff, give it a quick re-whip with your electric mixer for a minute or two until it’s smooth and spreadable again.
- Assemble the Entire Cake Ahead of Time: For ultimate convenience, you can prepare and assemble the entire cake, including frosting it, up to 24 hours in advance. Once frosted, cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. This allows the flavors to deepen and the frosting to set perfectly, often making the cake even more delicious on the second day.
Storing Your Delicious Pineapple Cake Leftovers
Should you be lucky enough to have any leftover pineapple cake, proper storage will ensure it remains fresh and delicious for several days. Store any remaining cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The chilling helps maintain the integrity of the cream cheese frosting and keeps the cake wonderfully moist. This dessert is best served chilled, making it an especially delightful treat the next morning alongside a hot cup of coffee or tea!
Frequently Asked Questions About Pineapple Cake:
While many baking recipes can adapt to fresh ingredients, canned pineapple is absolutely essential for this particular 5-ingredient pineapple cake recipe. There are a couple of key reasons for this. First, fresh pineapple can often be less sweet and even quite tart compared to its canned counterpart, which is packed in syrup and has a consistently sweet flavor profile. Second, fresh pineapple contains enzymes (specifically bromelain) that can interact negatively with dairy products like milk or cream cheese, potentially preventing the cake from setting properly or curdling the frosting. Canned pineapple, having been heat-processed, does not have this issue. Furthermore, the juices from canned pineapple are a crucial ingredient for adding the necessary moisture to the cake batter, which this recipe relies upon.
This vibrant pineapple cake beautifully complements a variety of light and spring-like main courses. Consider serving it after dishes such as savory asparagus stuffed chicken roll-ups, a flavorful basil pesto pasta, or a zesty Greek lemon chicken if you’re planning a complete meal. For an alternative frosting experience, you could also use a light coconut frosting or a fluffy whipped topping instead of the pineapple cream cheese frosting to enhance the tropical notes.
The main distinction between a classic pineapple upside-down cake and our easy pineapple cake lies in their preparation and presentation. Pineapple upside-down cake is a traditional dessert characterized by a beautiful arrangement of sliced pineapple rings, often with maraschino cherries in their centers, placed at the bottom of the baking pan. The cake batter is poured over this fruit layer, and after baking and cooling, the cake is then dramatically flipped onto a serving plate, revealing the caramelized fruit on top. Pineapple cake, on the other hand, typically incorporates crushed pineapple pieces directly into the cake batter, infusing every bite with a juicy, tropical flavor throughout the cake itself. It’s then usually frosted on top, as with our delightful pineapple cream cheese frosting, offering a different textural and visual experience while still celebrating the wonderful flavor of pineapple.
Explore More Delightful Spring Desserts:
If you’ve enjoyed the simplicity and deliciousness of this 5-ingredient pineapple cake, you’ll love these other light and refreshing dessert recipes, perfect for spring gatherings or a sweet treat any time of year:
- Zesty Lemon Sheet Cake
- Elegant Pineapple Layer Cake
- Luxurious Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Curd
- Adorable Mini Strawberry Pies
5-Ingredient Pineapple Sheet Cake
Shinee Davaakhuu
10 minutes
25 minutes
35 minutes
24
servings
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Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 box White Cake Mix (such as Duncan Hines French Vanilla)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup (8 oz/240ml) crushed pineapple with juices*
For the Frosting:
- 4 oz (115 g) plain cream cheese (full-fat, brick style, softened)
- ½ cup (120 ml) sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup drained crushed pineapple
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with a non-stick cooking spray, ensuring all sides are covered.
- In a large mixing bowl (preferably with a paddle attachment on an electric mixer), combine the entire box of white cake mix, the 3 large eggs, and the 1 cup of crushed pineapple with all its juices.1 box White Cake Mix,
3 large eggs,
1 cup crushed pineapple with juices* - Beat all ingredients on low speed until just combined. Then, increase the speed to medium-high and continue to beat for exactly 2 minutes. The batter should appear white and fluffy.
- Pour the pineapple cake batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- While the cake is cooling completely, prepare the frosting. In a separate mixing bowl, whip the softened plain cream cheese until it is light and fluffy, which should take about one minute.4 oz plain cream cheese
- To the whipped cream cheese, add the ½ cup of sweetened condensed milk and the ½ cup of thoroughly drained crushed pineapple. Beat the mixture until all ingredients are well combined and the frosting is smooth.½ cup sweetened condensed milk,
½ cup drained crushed pineapple - Once the cake has completely cooled to room temperature, pour the pineapple cream cheese frosting evenly over the entire cake. Gently spread it to cover the top. Transfer the frosted cake to the refrigerator and chill until you are ready to serve.
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Tips & Notes
Nutrition
1
serving
132
kcal
23
g
2
g
4
g
14
g
180
mg
Dessert
American
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This recipe for 5-ingredient pineapple cake was originally published on March 1, 2018, and has been updated for clarity and enhanced instructions.