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Pina Colada Upside Down Cake

Pina Colada Upside Down Cake. A delicious dessert cake featuring coconut, pineapple and rum, the flavours found in the iconic cocktail.

Pina colada upside down cake, photo of a single slice on a green and white plate.

Pina Colada Upside Down Cake

Originally published June 2012.

Even if you are not a baker, I’ll bet you will have no trouble putting together this easy and pretty quick to prepare Pina Colada Upside Down Cake.

The fresh pineapple makes all the difference in a simple recipe like this, although you can use canned in a pinch.

Fresh Golden Pineapple cut in pieces on white background.

Fresh golden pineapple works very well in this recipe.

Pina colada upside down cake copy cropped

I buy a fresh golden pineapple and keep it for several days until it is at the peak of its ripeness for the most intense pineapple flavor. The cake recipe itself is a very simple one-bowl recipe that anyone can easily prepare.

Desiccated coconut in white ceramic bowl.

Fine cut dried (desiccated) unsweetened coconut is the type to use in this recipe.

Love homemade cakes from scratch?

We’ve put together a collection of the 25 Most Baked Cakes of the last 18 years on Rock Recipes. You are sure to find several to love.

Top Ten cake recipes photo collage with title text for Pinterest

 

Like this Pina Colada Upside Down Cake recipe?

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Pina colada upside down cake, photo of a single slice on a green and white plate.
Yield: 12-16 servings

Pina Colada Upside Down Cake

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Pina Colada Upside Down Cake. A delicious dessert cake featuring coconut, pineapple and rum, the flavours found in the iconic cocktail.

Ingredients

For the pineapple layer

  • 4 cups fresh pineapple, cut in small cubes
  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup dark rum
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

For the cake layer

  • 1 1/3 cups flour
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup fine unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup very soft butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Combine the pineapple, 3 tbsp melted butter, brown sugar rum and vanilla extract.
  2. Place in bottom of a 9x9 inch or 10 inch round baking pan.
  3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and coconut.
  4. Add the milk, egg, 1/3 cup soft butter and 2 tsp vanilla extract
  5. Beat with an electric mixer for a minute or two until smooth.
  6. Pour the batter evenly over the pineapple mixture and bake at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Serve with ice cream or sweetened whipped cream.

Nutrition Information

Yield

16

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 307Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 5gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 29mgSodium 248mgCarbohydrates 45gFiber 2gSugar 25gProtein 5g

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.

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Gisele McKnight

Saturday 8th of November 2025

I can't find where the recipe says what size of pan to use. Is it a 9 by 9 square?

Barry C. Parsons

Saturday 8th of November 2025

Oops. Updated now.

Ange

Saturday 8th of November 2025

I’m confused with the steps. Should I do 1,4,2,3,5,6,7? That makes sense to me.

Barry C. Parsons

Saturday 8th of November 2025

Steps have been updated for clarity.

Anne @ Webicurean

Sunday 2nd of December 2012

Wow what a GREAT idea! I'll bet the addition of coconut and rum really kicks up the flavor

Cindy Ingram

Friday 2nd of October 2009

I made this on the weekend when I had company over for supper....fantastic!! I replaced the oil with an equal amount of applesauce, still turned out great. I will definitely make it again.

Thom

Saturday 2nd of May 2009

The Pina Colada cake looks luscious along with a lot of other things on your blog. I will follow your blog. Best to you and your family!

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