Gluten-Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake (DF Option)

This classic gluten-free pineapple upside down cake features a moist, tender buttery cake topped with caramelized pineapple rings and vibrant maraschino cherries. Baked to golden perfection, it flips into a beautiful, retro-inspired dessert with a sweet, tropical flavor in every bite. The recipe can be made gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, or regular.

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Why You’ll Love This Gluten-Free Upside Down Pineapple Cake

Made from scratch with simple pantry ingredients, this classic upside-down cake is fun to make and even more fun to eat.

• Versatile – This cake can be made with any of your favorite fruits.
• Perfect Flavor – No artificial flavors, just sweet pineapple and maraschino cherries on top of a tender butter cake.
• Classic Favorite – Everyone, young and old, will love this tried-and-true pineapple upside-down cake.
• Dietary/Lifestyle Friendly – Tested with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and regular ingredients.

Gluten-Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake Ingredients and Substitutions

Scroll to the bottom recipe card for a complete list of ingredients. Here are a few key items for this gluten-free pineapple upside down cake and their swaps/substitutions.

Topping

Pineapple slices: Use canned pineapple slices in juice; do not use pineapple slices in syrup. Make sure to save the juice!

Maraschino cherries: I also used jarred maraschino cherries, but you can replace with glacé cherries. If you are celiac, be careful to read the ingredients as they can sometimes contain gluten.

Butter: I enjoy baking with Becel plant-based bricks, but any dairy-free butter substitute will work. You can also use regular butter if you are not dairy-free.

Brown sugar: To sweeten the topping, I used brown sugar, but coconut sugar will work, too.

Cake

Flour: Use either a gluten-free 1:1 baking blend that contains xanthan gum or regular all-purpose flour.

Milk: Regular and plant-based milk are both good options. I bake with unsweetened almond milk.

Pineapple juice: Use the leftover juice from the canned pineapple slices

Sour cream: Use full-fat sour cream, whether it’s vegan, dairy-free, or regular. Plain yogurt will do the job, too.

Butter: Here, too, I used Becel plant-based sticks, at room temperature.

Granulated sugar: To sweeten the cake, I use white granulated sugar. Organic cane sugar will work as well.

Eggs: Two large eggs create structure and bounce in this cake. For an egg-free or vegan substitute, use 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce.

Step-by-Step Instructions For This Easy Gluten-Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake

1. Get the oven going to 350ºF.
2. Pat the pineapple and cherries dry using a clean dish towel or paper towel.
3. Melt the butter and pour it into an 8 or 9-inch round cake pan. Swirl around and brush it up the sides.
4. Gently sprinkle brown sugar over the bottom of the pan.
5. Place a pineapple ring in the center of the pan and place the rings around until the pan is completely covered.
6. Put a cherry in and between each pineapple ring.
7. On both the pineapple and cherries, press down so they are in contact with the pan. Set aside.
8. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
9. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, sour cream, pineapple juice, and vanilla.
10. Cream the butter and sugar using a hand or stand mixer on high until light and fluffy. This should take approximately 2-3 minutes.
11. Add in the eggs and mix until fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
12. With the mixer on low, add in half of the flour mixture, followed by the milk mixture, and finish with the remaining flour mixture. Mix for approximately 20-30 seconds between each addition.
13. Spread the cake batter over the pineapple and cherries and smooth out evenly.
14. Bake for 30 minutes uncovered, cover with foil, and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
15. Cool the cake in the pan for 20 minutes before inverting onto a plate, cake stand, or serving platter to fully cool. Enjoy!

Cake Removal Tips

Flipping and removing this cake can feel a bit intimidating, but with a few tips, you’ll be a cake-flipping success. First, make sure that you have thoroughly brushed the pan with butter before placing the pineapple rings inside.

Second, allow the cake to cool for 20-30 minutes before flipping it and running a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake before inverting it. This helps release any caramelized edges stuck to the pan.

Third, place a plate over the top of the cake, turn it upside down, and gently tap on the bottom of the pan until the cake releases. Voila!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Flavor Variations

The options for changing up this classic cake are endless. Here are just a few that come to mind:

• Use canned peaches in juice from concentrate, and use the peach juice instead of the pineapple juice. Pears would work too.
• Use a cherry liqueur instead of pineapple juice in the cake, or maybe even amaretto.
• Create a layer of fresh berries instead of canned fruit; blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries will all taste great. Use apple juice in the cake.
• Layer fresh ripe bananas instead of pineapple, and use whatever juice you have on hand or milk instead.

Storing and Freezing Your Gluten-Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I don’t recommend freezing this cake as it will get soggy.

FAQs

Can I use fresh pineapple to make this cake?

Yes, you can use fresh pineapple instead of canned. Just make sure it is fully ripe so it is nice and sweet. If you go this route, pick up a can or bottle of pineapple juice to use in the cake.

The Best Pineapple Upside Down Cake

This gluten-free pineapple cake is soft, buttery, and bursting with caramelized pineapple flavor that feels like sunshine in every bite. Everyone will love it for its tropical sweetness and simple ingredients.

An adaptable ingredient list allows you to tailor this recipe to suit all dietary or lifestyle needs. Everybody deserves cake, and now they can have it!

Tag me on social media @cakedbykatie and leave me a star rating and review below if you make it. I cannot wait to see!

Other Fruit-Based Cakes To Choose From

• Peach Cobbler Coffee Cake (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)
• Gluten-Free Raspberry Cake (Dairy-Free)
• Gluten-Free Blueberry Cake (Dairy-Free)

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