I bet you didn't think this pineapple upside-down cake is healthy and made with healthier ingredients, right? It has no white flour and is refined-sugar-free. It looks so pretty and it tastes amazing! Super moist and tender, juicy pineapple with a touch of caramel on the top.
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And you know what? It also has coconut! So it's like a combination of pineapple upside-down cake and pina colada. I mean, you can never go wrong with this combo.
I created this healthy pineapple upside-down cake for my husband Marco, by modifying my peach upside-down cake and my lemon almond cake. If you love anything upside-down cake, you really should try the recipes!
And if you like summer cakes with fruits, you should check out our peach cobbler with cake mix, such a delicious and easy summer dessert.
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Ingredients & Substitutions
Pineapple - I use fresh ripe pineapple. Canned pineapple works great also.
Spelt flour - It's healthier than all-purpose flour and the amazing thing is, it acts very similar to all-purpose flour. My olive oil raspberry cake is one delicious proof! So if you're thinking of switching to healthier flour, start with spelt flour.
Sugar - I use 2 different kinds of sugar. For the caramel topping, I use brown sugar. For the cake itself, I use erythritol. You can use any dry sweetener that you prefer.
NOTE: Erythritol is generally 30% less sweet than regular white sugar. So bear that in mind if you plan to use other types of sugar.
Desiccated coconut - Unsweetened. Trust me, this elevates the cake flavor to another level, just like in our layered carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.
SUBSTITUTION: If you're not up for it, no worries! Simply use another ½ of spelt flour instead.
How To Flip An Upside-Down Cake
This healthy pineapple upside-down cake is appreciated not only for its taste but of course, for its unique look. The beautifully arranged pineapple crowning the cake, yes that's what we want.
And in this type of cake, the nerve-wracking moment would be when we flip it, right? Is the pineapple going to be stuck? Is the cake going to fall down easily? It is going to look good? How do I do this?
Well, I'm here to help put those nerves at ease. Follow the steps below and you're good to go!
- Leave the cake to cook for 10-15 minutes after removing it from the oven. Don't wait too long or else the caramel will harden and get stuck. And then the pineapple and the cake might get stuck also.
- Meanwhile, find a serving plate that's at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) bigger than the cake.
- Place the serving plate facing down, on top of the cake.
- Swiftly yet confidently flip both the serving plate and pan. If everything comes out great, you'll hear the sound of the cake falling onto the serving plate.
- If in doubt, gently tap the bottom of the pan a few times. Gently lift the pan up and that's it!
Steps To Make Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
- Caramel - Pour melted butter and sprinkle brown sugar in a 9-inch (18 cm) cake pan.
- Pineapple - Arrange pineapple slices and place some cherries in between.
- Dry ingredients - Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Whisk until pale - Whisk butter and erythritol until pale and fluffy. Add in eggs 1 by one and mix well.
- Add in dry - Add dry ingredients half at a time and mix well. Finally, mix in yogurt.
- Bake - Pour batter in and spread evenly. Bake at 350ºF (175ºC) for x minutes. Cool for 15 minutes, flip it on a serving plate, and leave to cool completely before slicing.
Tips For Making This Recipe
- Make sure to pat the pineapple dry before using. This applies to both fresh and canned pineapple. We don't want extra moisture in our caramel layer.
- Don't slice the pineapple too thick (or too thin). 1 cm thickness is enough.
How To Serve & Store
Serve - At room temperature. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side is not a bad idea. Both Marco and I have eaten it cold from the fridge and surprisingly, it also tastes delicious! Haha!
Store - At room temperature for max 24 hours. After that, it's better to be kept in the fridge since it's a cake with fruit. Best for up to 3 days in the fridge. If you plan to keep it longer than that, then freeze it. Best consumed within 1 month.
FAQs
Yes, no problem at all.
No worries, then simply use another ½ cup of spelt flour instead.
This is probably because you waited too long before flipping it. When the caramel cools down, it hardens and sticks to the pan. Flip after 10-15 minutes.
Well, this has to do with extra moisture. Make sure to pat the pineapple dry before using.
If you follow all my instructions and tips, you don't need to. But of course, you can use it if you want to.
Watch How To Make It
📖 Recipe
Healthy Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Caramel Pineapple Layer
- ¼ cup (59.97 g) melted butter
- ⅓ cup (77.49 g) brown sugar
- 5 pineapple rings
- 12 cherry
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup (126.8 g) spelt flour
- ¾ cup (67.36 g) unsweetened desiccated coconut
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup (119.93 g) unsalted butter , room temperature
- ¾ cup (187.5 g) erythritol
- 2 large eggs , room temperature
- ½ cup (129.44 g) plain yogurt , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Pineapple Caramel Layer
- Butter 1 x 9 inch round cake pan. Pour in melted butter and swirl the pan so that it covers the bottom. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly.
- Arrange pineapple rings and place cherry in between. Set aside.
Dry Ingredients
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a spoon. Set aside.
Wet Ingredients
- Into another bowl, add in butter and erythritol. Using a handheld whisk, mix until pale and fluffy.
- Now add in the eggs, one at a time, and whisk for a minute after each addition.
- Add dry ingredients half at a time and mix well. Mix in yogurt and vanilla extract. Don't over-mix at this stage to prevent a hard, dense cake. Pour batter into the pan. Spread evenly using an offset spatula.
Bake
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350ºF (175ºC), no fan, on lower ⅔ rack for 40-45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Leave to cool for 10-15 minutes before flipping the cake. Let it cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Use a portable oven thermometer to make sure your oven's temperature is accurate. I use this all the time.
- Use scoop and level method when measuring flour.
- Pat the pineapple dry before using.
Lucia says
Se puede usar aceite en lugar de mantequilla derretida y yogur natural sin lácteos?
Bea & Marco says
Hola Lucía, el yogur si puede ser sin lactosa pero la mantequilla no, ya que se tiene que batir en el edulcorante hasta formar una pasta cremosa.
Mel says
Hello, can I use a gluten free flour to substitute spelt flour?
Bea & Marco says
Hi! If you've been substituting all purpose flour with gluten-free flour (without modifying the recipe), then use that one.
Diana says
I’m going to assume that we’re supposed to ignore where it says “mix in yogurt” on step 5 since it mentions mixing in yogurt a second time in step six.
Bea & Marco says
Hi Diana! I've updated the recipe instructions, thanks for the heads up!
Bethaney Latham says
What would an egg alternative be for this recipe?
Bea & Marco says
Hi! I haven't tried it without egg, sorry though.
Amy says
I had been really craving pineapple upside down cake lately, but wanted something healthier. This was perfect! Really easy and super yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
Bea & Marco says
Awesome, I'm happy to hear that you liked it. We have more healthier bake recipes here, do check them out. Thanks, Amy!
Stephanie Cervantez says
Have a question do you have a true diabetic recipe or is this one if so is a good for a type 2 diabetes
Bea & Marco says
Hi Stephanie! I don't have specific diabetic recipes. Our healthy recipes focus on using healthier and wholesome ingredients. You can use the sugar that you're allowed to, or consult your doctor for options. I don't feel comfortable saying it's OK for type 2 diabetes since it's not my specialty, plus, everybody has their own medical history. Hope it helps in any way.