Maybe you aren’t that gifted in the kitchen, or possibly you’re just distracted binging on Orange is the New Black, but this pineapple upside-down cake recipe is simple enough to turn even you into a summertime pastry chef.

Courtesy of my aunt, the hostess with the most-ess, this recipe is great for proving to your friends that you actually do know your granulated sugar from your powdered and how to tell if a pineapple is ripe. At least that’s what you’ll have them believing…

Easy Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

  • Prep Time:10 minutes
  • Cook Time:30 minutes
  • Total Time:40 minutes
  • Servings:10 servings
  • Medium

    Ingredients

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 can pineapple rings
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
Photo by Zoe Gallagher
  • Step 1

    Preheat oven according to cake mix directions.

  • Step 2

    Make cake mix as directed except substitute juice from pineapple rings for the water measurement. Set aside.

    #SpoonTip: Not sure what cake mix to use? Check out this ranking of store mixes.

    Photo by Zoe Gallagher
  • Step 3

    Melt butter in a medium cast iron skillet or a pan with vertical sides. Once melted, add the brown sugar and mix together until smooth.

    Photo by Zoe Gallagher
  • Step 4

    Arrange the pineapple rings in the bottom of the pan. You may have a few extra, but try to squeeze in as many as possible.

    Photo by Zoe Gallagher
  • Step 5

    Pour the cake batter on top of the brown sugar, butter, and pineapple.

    Photo by Zoe Gallagher
  • Step 6

    Bake per cake mix directions – note that the baking instructions vary with the type of pan you use.

  • Step 7

    Let cool. Then – the moment we’ve all been waiting for – flip the pan onto your serving dish.

    Photo by Aimee Moses