This pineapple dump cake recipe is one of the easiest desserts you can make, using simple ingredients like canned pineapple, cake mix, and butter. It bakes into a warm, buttery cake with sweet pineapple flavor and a soft, golden topping that's perfect for potlucks, holidays, or last-minute desserts.
This old-fashioned dessert is similar to pineapple upside-down cake, but much easier. Instead of mixing, everything is layered right in the pan, making it a no-fuss recipe that still tastes homemade.
If you're looking for more easy dump cake recipes like this one, you can find all of my favorites here.
If you are looking for easy cake recipes to serve for the holidays, look no further. This delightful pineapple dump cake is full of sweet pineapple flavor and is sure to receive rave reviews from all your guests!
I've made this recipe multiple times for family gatherings and potlucks, and it's always one of the first desserts to go.
A No-Fuss Dessert That Always Works
This is the kind of recipe that shows up at potlucks and disappears fast. It's simple, reliable, and uses ingredients most people already have on hand. Whether you're making dessert for a crowd or just need something easy, this one delivers every time.
Do you know why this pineapple dump cake recipe (and all classic dump cake, really) is such a popular recipe? Because it’s such an easy recipe to make! It might be one of the easiest desserts of all time. Well, this and our pineapple sunshine cake!
You don’t need a fancy cake pan, you don’t even have to dirty a spoon. This entire cake is made by dumping ingredients on top of each other in a baking dish to create a delicious dump cake!
Expert Tips and FAQs
This sweet treat does in fact need to be refrigerated! The cans of fruit in this recipe will cause the cake to spoil quite quickly if kept at room temperature.
Dump cake recipes are unique in the way that they are made (no mixing required, simply dump the ingredients in the order listed and you’re ready to bake). The end result is a tender cake that’s sure to be a family favorite!
To make a pineapple upside down cake, follow all of the directions listed in this recipe. Once the cake is baked and cooled, flip it upside down onto a platter (so the top of the cake becomes the bottom). That’s it!
No, the pineapple should be used undrained so it creates the moisture needed to bake the cake properly.
This usually means the butter didn't fully coat the cake mix. Make sure to spread it evenly or gently smooth the top before baking. Tip: I’ll take a fork to gently slide across the cake mix before adding butter, to smooth out any peaks that will resist the butter topping. Then I’ll gently tilt the pan after adding melted butter to cover any “wells.”
Crushed pineapple works best for even texture, but rings can be added on top for presentation.
Jump to the printable recipe card and see for yourself.
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Ingredients
With a few simple ingredients, you can make this impressive dessert (even though it’s actually a super easy dessert…shh, we won’t tell if you don’t).
And if you don’t have very much time on your hands, we have more good news for you- you can have this cake in the oven in ten minutes flat!
- 2- 20 oz cans crushed pineapple in pineapple juice, undrained
- 1- 20 oz cans pineapple rings drained
- 1- 6 oz jar maraschino cherries
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1- 15.25 oz box yellow cake mix Betty Crocker works well
- 1 stick of butter salted, melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- Optional toppings: scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
Why do they call it dump cake?
Dump cakes get their name from their unusual preparation method. You don’t need to mix any of the ingredients, you just dump them in the baking pan!
How to make this easy pineapple dump cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; grease a 9×13 baking pan or spray with cooking spray.
- Pour both of the undrained cans of crushed pineapple into the bottom of prepared baking dish. Next, add lemon juice on top of the pineapple.
- Pour dry cake mix over top of crushed pineapple.
TIP: To help prevent uncoated/uncooked, flour/cake mix after baking, use a fork to try and create an even layer of the cake mix, before baking, as much as possible. Then follow the tip below with the butter, that I suggest…
- Pour melted butter over top of the cake mix.
TIP: After pouring the butter on, I carefully tilt the pan to try and make sure every bit of the cake mix is covered in melted butter. You may want to grab the fork again and spread out any “peaks” that there still are, and help the butter coat all of the cake mix.
- Place pineapple rings on top of cake in rows of 3.
- Drain maraschino cherries and place one in the centre of each pineapple ring.
- Sprinkle brown sugar over the whole thing, then bake in your preheated oven for 70 minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Optional toppings: add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some whipped cream to a slice of cake when serving!
Variations
You can make the perfect dump cake with any kind of fruit filling! You can replace the 2 cans of pineapple called for in this recipe with basically any kind of fruit. Try…
- Cherry Dump Cake – instead of crushed pineapple, use 2 cans of cherry filling. Top your cherry pie filling with the box cake mix, the melted butter layer and a few maraschino cherries on top. Bake as directed (or until golden brown on top).
- Peach Dump Cake – replace the cans of crushed pineapple with canned peaches (undrained). Top with the box cake mix and melted butter and add a few peach slices to the top as a garnish if you like. Bake as directed (or until golden brown on top).
- Blueberry Dump Cake – you guessed it, simply replace the pineapple in this recipe with blueberry pie filling and then follow the steps listed above (cover with box cake mix, melted butter and bake). You could add a few fresh blueberries on top of the melted butter layer, too!
Alternatively, you could replace just one of the cans of crushed pineapple with different fruit and still use one can of crushed pineapple to add some sweetness and varied texture to this quick dessert!
Cake Mix Variations
We haven’t tried it ourselves, but we’ve heard that others have had success with swapping the yellow cake mix for other kinds of cake mix! Instead of the yellow cake mix, you could try…
- Lemon cake mix
- Angel food cake mix
- White cake mix
I bet you could even use a chocolate cake mix to make a chocolate dump cake! Basically all of my favorite desserts have chocolate in them, so of course my brain would go there.
Imagine a cherry pineapple dump cake recipe made with a chocolate cake mix, and then a mountain of whipped cream on top of the fruit. Sounds like a yummy dessert to me; if you try it, be sure to leave us a comment!
Storage
You should store your pineapple dump cake in an airtight container (or covered tightly with plastic wrap) in the refrigerator. It should keep for 5 days.
More Easy Dump Cake Recipes
- Lemon Cream Cheese Dump Cake - simple and full of fresh flavor with a creamy center
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake - rich, sweet, and a classic potluck favorite
- Pumpkin Dump Cake - warm, buttery, and perfect with ice cream
- Oreo Dump Cake - full of chocolate, comforting flavor with this popular cookie
Desserts like this work really well for sharing, and you can find more potluck desserts here.
If you liked this easy dump cake recipe and you want to try another simple dessert recipe, you’ll love this caramel apple dump cake or this duckling cake recipe!
Fan of pineapple? Then you’ll also love this easy pineapple bread recipe!
Recipe
Pineapple Dump Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 2- 20 ounce cans crushed pineapple in pineapple juice, undrained
- 20 ounce can pineapple rings drained
- 6 ounce jar maraschino cherries
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix Betty Crocker works well
- 8 tablespoons butter salted, melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- Optional toppings: scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; grease a 9×13 baking pan or spray with cooking spray.
- Pour both of the undrained cans of crushed pineapple into the bottom of prepared baking dish. Next, add lemon juice on top of the pineapple.2- 20 ounce cans crushed pineapple, 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- Pour dry cake mix over top of crushed pineapple.15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix
- Pour melted butter over top of the cake mix.8 tablespoons butter
- Place pineapple rings on top of cake in rows of 3.20 ounce can pineapple rings
- Drain maraschino cherries and place them on top of the cake.6 ounce jar maraschino cherries
- Sprinkle brown sugar over the whole thing, then bake in your preheated oven, on the middle rack, for 70 minutes or until golden brown on top.½ cup brown sugar
- Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Optional toppings: add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some whipped cream to a slice of cake when serving!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Jim says
This recipie sounds delicious! I’ve tried dump cake recipies a few times. I end up with a lot of raw cake mix/flour. Makes me hesitant to try making one again.
Jessica says
Hi Jim! You bring up a great point! So I know what you mean, and I’ve made a LOT of dump cakes, and I’ve figured out what works for me, that may help you too. To help prevent uncoated/uncooked, flour/cake mix after baking, use a fork to try and create an even layer of the cake mix before baking, as much as possible.
Then, after pouring the butter on, I carefully tilt the pan to try and make sure every bit of the cake mix is covered in melted butter. You may want to grab the fork again and spread out any “peaks” that there still are, and help the butter coat all of the cake mix.
Lola says
Honestly, this is the worst cake I’ve ever made. I could see it was going to be when it said out 2 cans of crushed pineapple on the bottom of the pan, UNDRAINED! It’s so mushy it’s inedible! Sorry, but don’t make. I can’t believe there are any good reviews. .
Jessica says
Hi Lola. Oh really? I’m sorry you didn’t like it… but I suppose not everything is for everyone. I guess too, if you’re expecting a “dry” cake, instead of a dump cake like this is, then it could be unexpected to have the moisture at the bottom. Have a great day!
Susan Reed says
I’d love the recipe for pineapple dumplings cake
Jessica says
Hi Susan! You should be able to see the recipe on this page! Let me know if you have trouble finding it! 🙂
Toni says
This is such a gorgeous dump cake!! My whole family loved it!
Jessica says
Hi Toni! Thank you so much for the kind words. I’m so glad that your family loved this dump cake recipe too!
Pat Jenner says
I made this for my mother in law and she loved it! Such a yummy recipe!
Jessica says
Aww, I’m so glad she loved this pineapple dump cake!! Thank you so for sharing this with us!
Allyssa says
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing pineapple dump cake recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Jessica says
Oh good! Thank you so much Allyssa for sharing that you liked this recipe too! It means so much!