Last Updated on April 29, 2026 by Carrie Korem, FNTP
Pineapple upside down cake is an iconic classic. I absolutely love the little rings of pineapple, the cherries, and the gooey, sweet layer on top mixed with a hint of vanilla. This cake is gluten-free and made with all real food ingredients.
Ingredients for Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Unsalted butter
- Organic cane sugar or coconut sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Whole milk or coconut milk
- Fresh lemon juice
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Arrowroot flour
- Baking powder
- Unflavored gelatin
- Celtic sea salt
- Organic pineapple rings
- Pitted cherries
Can I use fresh pineapple or cherries?
You can use either canned organic pineapple rings and organic cherries, or cut fresh pineapple pieces for the top layer of the cake. I tested both, and either option works just fine, but the cherries and pineapple rings provide a little more pizazz.
Here are some other gluten-free cake recipes you might enjoy:
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream
Vanilla Bundt Cake
Coconut Layer Cake
Cherry Crumb Cake
Angel Food Cake
Pineapple Upside Down Cake (Grain-Free)
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: One 9-inch cake
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Units
For the cake:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/3 cup organic cane sugar or coconut sugar (see post above for more info)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespopons whole milk or coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 cups finely ground almond flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1/4 cup arrowroot flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
For the Pineapple Topping:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup organic cane sugar or coconut sugar (see post above for more info)
- 1 can round organic pineapple rings, or cut a fresh pineapple into bite-size 5/8”-thick pieces
- 8-10 pitted cherries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and adjust the rack to the middle position. Place the room temperature butter and 1/3 cup organic cane sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer and mix on medium speed with the beater attachment for 3 minutes. With the mixer on low, beat in each egg individually until fully combined. Mix in the vanilla.
- Combine the almond flour, coconut flour, arrowroot, baking powder, gelatin and sea salt in a medium mixing bowl and set aside. Combine the milk and lemon juice in a small bowl.
- With the mixer on low, alternately add the almond flour mixture and the milk mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Set aside for a few minutes.
- For the topping, melt the 6 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the ½ cup organic cane sugar or coconut sugar and cook until foamy, about 3 minutes. At this point, the butter and sugar won’t be fully combined, and it may look grainy or separated – that’s ok.
- Pour the butter mixture into a 9-inch buttered cake pan. Place the pineapple pieces and cherries (if using) on top of the butter mixture in an even layer. Spoon the cake batter on top and carefully smooth it out with a spatula into an even layer. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes, and then invert on to a serving dish. Cool completely. Serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
Ooh-la-la!!! Can’t wait to try!!!!
Do you think I can use an egg substitute?
Yummy, Larry is going to LOVE this! Pineapple upside down cake is his favorite. ;o)
Do you possibly have a substitute suggestion for almond flour??
Yay! You read my mind! I was just cruising Pinterest the past couple of days for a recipe! Can’t wait To make it! ?
I am SO glad to see this! I have to make one for a birthday party every year. Can’t wait to try it! Thank you!
Nice recipe Carrie, I love pineapple cake.
very good. Thank you!! I put apples instead of pineapples.
Next time i will take one more egg.
Geiberuam
I did everything according to the recipe and it was not good at all. So sad as I had high hopes for this. In an odd way, it reminded me of strange cornbread. My sister didn’t like it either so we threw it away and will look for something else next time.
That’s odd. I’ve tested this recipe many times as written and it works perfectly every time.
Hello, I don’t have gelatin. Can I make this without or substitute it with something else?
Thank you!
I haven’t tested this recipe with substitutions, so I don’t know which changes need to be made that will produce the exact same flavor and texture.