The best vegan pineapple upside down cake, so moist and delicious with caramelized pineapple and cherries! This easy vegan pineapple cake recipe is perfect for your next occasion!
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And for more vegan goodies, try my Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies, my Vegan Olive Oil Cake with Lemon and Pistachio, and my Instant Pot Apple Butter!
Best Vegan Pineapple Upside Down Cake
I'm such a fan of pineapple upside down cake! My original pineapple upside down cake recipe is one of my favorite treats to make. It's such a retro classic and reminds me of my childhood so much. This vegan version is just as amazing! It's so moist and delicious -- you'll absolutely love it!
This vegan pineapple upside down cake has everything you want in an upside-down cake -- it's a moist vanilla cake with hint of pineapple flavor topped with a buttery caramelized pineapple-brown sugar topping and the unforgettable flavor of maraschino cherries. A classic flavor combination that is incredibly delicious!
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Why is it called a pineapple upside down cake?
Because it's baked upside-down! The pineapples, cherries, butter, and brown sugar go into the pan first, and then the batter is poured on top, so that when we flip our cakes over after baking, they've got a built-in caramelized pineapple and cherry topping that is SO easy!
How to Make Vegan Pineapple Cake - Ingredients
- granulated sugar - to keep this pineapple upside down cake vegan, we’ll use organic cane sugar to create a nice sweetness and complement the pineapple flavor.
- canola oil - helps to keep our vegan pineapple upside down cake nice and moist.
- vegan butter - I used Miyokos Cultured Vegan Butter, but feel free to use your favorite plant butter in this recipe!
- crushed pineapple - we'll use crushed pineapple in two ways in this easy vegan pineapple upside down cake: first in the batter to add moisture and pineapple flavor, and again in the caramelized pineapple topping! I prefer crushed pineapple for the topping because it makes it easier to slice, but if you like, you can use sliced pineapple rings for the topping for a more traditional look.
- plant milk - I like to use soy milk in baking, but you can use whatever plant milk you prefer.
- pineapple juice - adds a bit more liquid to the batter and even more pineapple flavor!
- lemon juice - I add lemon juice to react more with the baking soda in the batter and give this cake a bit more lift.
- vanilla extract - be sure to use a high-quality pure vanilla extract. Or better yet, check out my post on how to make vanilla extract at home with just 2 ingredients!
- all-purpose flour - be sure to measure your flour correctly -- preferably by weight using a kitchen scale, or by using the spoon-and-level method.
- baking powder and baking soda - these leaveners help to give our eggless pineapple upside down cake its fluffy texture.
- salt - boosts the flavor of this cake, and balances the sweetness nicely.
- light brown sugar - in our caramelized pineapple topping, we'll use organic brown sugar to get that deep caramelization.
- maraschino cherries - the final touch you'll need to make this vegan pineapple upside down cake is a jar of maraschino cherries! They add the perfect flavor to complement the pineapples!
Equipment
This vegan pineapple cake recipe is so simple to make, so you'll only need some basic tools like an 8-inch cake pan, a mixing bowl, a whisk and a cooling rack! I also like to measure my flour with a kitchen scale for the best accuracy.
How long do you cool an upside down cake before inverting?
A common question I get is when should I flip my pineapple upside down cake? Well, I've found that giving it 15-30 minutes in the pan to set a bit before you invert it onto a serving dish is your best bet. Letting it sit for that time allows the caramelized topping to set and prevents a mess once you flip.
Tips and F.A.Q.
If your vegan pineapple upside down cake comes out soggy, it's probably because of an excess of liquid in your batter or the caramelized pineapple topping. Make sure you drain your pineapple well before adding it to both parts of this cake, and don't add and extra liquid when mixing the batter.
Yes it is! And this vegan pineapple upside down cake is a great option for a vegan diet if you're craving that amazing caramelized pineapple flavor!
Yes you can! Just place it in an airtight container, then store in the fridge. It should stay fresh for up to 3 days.
I prefer soy milk because it's got the right thickness and consistency, but you can also use almond milk, oat milk, or any other plant milk you like!
I like to let the cake cool a bit, as I mentioned above, but once it's flipped it's fair game! I love warm pineapple upside down cake! If you want neat slices, however, you may want to let it cool fully to room temperature.
If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a star review rating and comment below! It’s so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!
Other Vegan Recipes You'll Love!
- Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies
- Vegan Pumpkin Smoothie
- Vegan Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies with Banana and Cacao
- Sweet Potato Patties with Chickpeas and Creamy Avocado Sauce
- Vegan Couscous Salad with Charred Corn
📖 Recipe
Equipment you may need
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (150 g) organic cane sugar
- ⅔ cup (145 g) vegetable oil - I used canola oil
- ½ cup (114 g) vegan butter - melted; divided
- 1⅓ cup (315 g) crushed pineapple - drained (¼ cup of juice reserved) and divided
- ½ cup (122 g) plant milk - I use soy milk
- ¼ cup (59 g) pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
- 1½ cups (188 g) all-purpose flour - measured by weight or with spoon-and-level method
- 1½ teaspoon (6 g) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (2 g) baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt
- ¼ cup (59 g) maraschino cherries - drained
- ⅓ cup (73 g) organic light brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spread ¼ cup melted vegan butter in an 8-inch cake pan.½ cup vegan butter
- Sprinkle brown sugar over butter and stir to spread evenly. Add 8-10 cherries, spaced evenly.⅓ cup organic light brown sugar, ¼ cup maraschino cherries
- Spoon 1 cup drained crushed pineapple in between cherries and pat with the back of a spoon to distribute evenly. Set aside.1⅓ cup crushed pineapple
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt¾ cup organic cane sugar, 1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Stir in remaining ¼ cup of melted vegan butter and vegetable oil, followed by remaining ⅓ cup of crushed pineapple, plant milk, lemon juice, vanilla, and pineapple juice, stirring just until combined after each addition.⅔ cup vegetable oil, ½ cup vegan butter, 1⅓ cup crushed pineapple, ½ cup plant milk, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¼ cup pineapple juice
- Pour batter over pineapple mixture in cake pan and bake for about 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes, then carefully invert onto a cake plate. If any of the pineapple sticks to the pan, just scrape it off and gently add to the top of the cake.
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Notes
Nutrition
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Last Updated on March 15, 2025 by Chenée Lewis
Cindy Burks says
I made this for my vegan daughters birthday. It was delicious. I have been making traditional pineapple upside down cake for years. I may switch to this we loved it so much. I love the way the crushed pineapple gives you the taste in every part of the cake.
Chenée Lewis says
I'm so glad you liked it and that it worked out for your daughter's celebration! That's why I love using crushed pineapples too! It doesn't look as cute, but the flavor is way better!
Rani says
Excellent recipe ! The texture and crumb of the cake was so yummy and moist. I bet this cake batter is easily customizable and could be used for lots of yummy creations ! Thank you for this !
Chenée Lewis says
You're so welcome and thanks for the feedback!
Alice says
Could you please put the ingredients into cups not in grams, because I dont know exactually what the measurements are ingrams. Like when you say 1.33 cups, so what is 33 cups equal to?
Chenée Lewis says
I'm not sure what you mean -- the recipe card has measurements in cups. The pineapple, for example, is listed as 1 1/3 cups.
Kimberly says
I made this recipe exactly as written. The plant I used was soy. We love Pineapple Upside Down cake, and are transitioning to vegan. This cake was so good. Cannot even tell there is no dairy in this. It will be our go-to.
Chenée Lewis says
So glad to hear it! Thanks for the feedback!
Kimberly says
Made this awesome cake again! Last time, I used a cast iron enameled baking pan. I let it cool completely. It wouldn’t loosen enough to come out upside down. Didn’t matter! The “crust” on top was out of this world!
Chenée Lewis says
Hi Kimberly! Sorry it didn't loosen up enough for you! But I'm glad you enjoyed it anyway 🙂
marcy Nesbitt says
Making this right now! Suddenly allergic to eggs vegan baking has been a life saver! PS, your style of writing out recipes amounts with the steps incredibly wonderful I read aLOT of recipes and never seen that before. Heartfelt thanks!
Chenée Lewis says
You're so welcome! I hope you liked the cake!
Tina Franco says
This recipe was super easy. Smells Heavenly and cams out perfectly!
Chenée Lewis says
So great to hear! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Hayley says
Couple of my friends are coming over to my place and one of them is vegan, definitely going to bake this cake for our dessert! Sounds so delicious and easy enough to make!
Chenée Lewis says
Yay! Hope everyone likes it!
Camila Carraturo says
What can I use if I don’t have cherries?
Chenée Lewis says
You could try it with blueberries or even pecans! I haven't tried those but I imagine they would be delicious. Let me know how it works!
Debbie says
This pineapple upside down cake was melt in your mouth good and nobody even knew it was vegan. We are trying to eat with more plant based options at my house and this cake was a perfect choice,
Chenée Lewis says
Wonderful! I'm happy that it worked for you
Jacqueline Debono says
I love pineapple upside down cake! My mum used to make it when I was young and it brings back childhood memories! Great to have a vegan version. on my to make list!
Chenée Lewis says
Wonderful! I hope you enjoy!
Tammy says
What an incredible cake! I love pineapple upside down and I'm so impressed this one is vegan! 😀 It looks lovely <3
Chenée Lewis says
I love pineapple upside down cake too! So good!
Ellen Sullivan says
Absolutely the best Pineapple Upside-down cake that I've had. It got rave reviews from all of my family.
Chenée Lewis says
Yayy! So glad to hear it! 🙂
Veronika says
I love making upside down cakes! I think they are so much fun to present to your guests 😉 Going to save this recipe and will try some time soon!
Chenée Lewis says
Yes! this one is always a hit!
Linda says
I'm in love with this recipe! It's so delicious and full of flavors
Chenée Lewis says
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Julia says
Yum, I love how the sweet and tangy flavors work together for this cake! I'm a huge pineapple fan (pineapple on pizza is def my preference) so this just hit the spot!
Chenée Lewis says
I love pineapple on pizza too! So glad you enjoyed the cake!
Adriana says
Upside down cakes are such a classic; I love that you reinvented the recipe and modified it to include ingredients that embrace the began lifestyle.
Chenée Lewis says
Thanks so much! It's always a hit!
Cathleen says
Pineapple upside down cakes used to by my favourite cake ever. I can't believe I have never made it at home before!! This needs to change. Definitely giving this a go this weekend, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
Chenée Lewis says
I hope you love it!
Marta says
Great vegan recipe! Awesome crumb & great flavor. We loved it!
Chenée Lewis says
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed!