Description
This Pineapple Butter Dump Cake is one of those incredibly easy desserts that delivers amazing flavor with very little effort. Made with sweet pineapple, buttery cake mix, and a few simple ingredients, this easy pineapple dessert comes together quickly and bakes into a golden, buttery cake with a soft, fruity center and deliciously crisp edges.
Ingredients
- 1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional
- ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut, optional
Optional Toppings
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
- Powdered sugar
- Toasted coconut
- Chopped pecans
- Maraschino cherries
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or a thin layer of butter.
Pour the entire can of crushed pineapple, including the juice, evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Spread the pineapple into an even layer with a spatula.
Do not drain the pineapple because the juice provides important moisture during baking.
Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the pineapple layer.
Try to distribute the cake mix as evenly as possible.
Do not stir the cake mix into the pineapple.
Keeping the ingredients layered is what gives a dump cake its characteristic texture.
Slowly drizzle the melted butter over the entire surface of the dry cake mix.
Try to cover as much of the cake mix as possible with the melted butter.
Some dry spots are normal, but distributing the butter evenly helps create a more consistent golden crust.
If using, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts evenly over the top.
Add shredded coconut for an extra tropical flavor.
You can use either one or both depending on your preference.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven.
Bake for approximately 40–50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the pineapple filling is bubbling around the edges.
The center should be set and the topping should have a beautiful golden color.
Remove the Pineapple Butter Dump Cake from the oven and let it rest for approximately 10–15 minutes.
This allows the pineapple filling to settle and thicken slightly while the buttery topping becomes easier to serve.
Spoon portions of the warm pineapple dump cake into dessert bowls.
For the ultimate dessert, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
The warm cake will slightly melt the ice cream, creating a delicious combination of buttery cake, sweet pineapple, and creamy vanilla.
Notes
The most important thing to remember when making a Pineapple Butter Dump Cake is not to mix the layers.
Dump cakes are designed to be layered directly in the baking dish. The pineapple provides moisture from underneath while the butter works its way through the cake mix as everything bakes.
Make sure the pineapple is not drained. The pineapple juice is necessary to help hydrate the dry cake mix.
When adding the melted butter, drizzle it as evenly as possible across the entire surface.
If some small areas of dry cake mix remain, don’t worry. However, large dry patches may indicate that the butter wasn’t distributed evenly.
For an even more buttery topping, you can arrange thin slices of cold butter over the dry cake mix instead of using melted butter. Make sure the butter is distributed evenly across the entire surface.
The baking time can vary depending on your oven and baking dish. Look for a golden-brown top and bubbling pineapple around the edges.
Allowing the cake to rest before serving helps the filling become thicker and makes the dessert easier to scoop.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Resting Time: 10–15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40–50 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 390
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Protein: 3 g