Description
Sweet tropical Pineapple Heaven Cake brings island flavors right to your dessert table. Layers of moist cake, creamy frosting, and fresh pineapple create a divine treat that transports you to a paradise of delightful tastes.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base:
- 1 15.25 ounces (432 grams) yellow or white cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil
- 1 20 ounces (567 grams) can crushed pineapple (with juice)
Topping and Filling:
- 1 8 ounces (227 grams) container whipped topping (Cool Whip)
- 1 3.4 ounces (96 grams) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) cold milk
Optional Garnish:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) crushed pineapple (drained)
- ½ cup (40 grams) shredded coconut
- ¼ cup (30 grams) chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Combine cake mix, crushed pineapple including its juice, eggs, and oil in a large mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly until the batter achieves a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Prepare the baking dish by lightly greasing a 9×13-inch pan. Transfer the mixed batter into the prepared dish, ensuring even distribution.
- Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 350F (175C). Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean when the cake is fully baked.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely at room temperature. This cooling process ensures the cake’s structural integrity for the next steps.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk vanilla pudding mix with cold milk until a smooth liquid forms. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes, enabling it to thicken naturally.
- Gently fold whipped topping and drained crushed pineapple into the pudding mixture, creating a light and creamy topping with visible pineapple pieces.
- Once the cake has cooled, spread the pineapple pudding mixture evenly across the surface, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle shredded coconut and chopped nuts over the cake, adding textural contrast and additional flavor complexity.
- Refrigerate the cake for a minimum of 1 hour before serving, allowing the flavors to meld and the topping to set properly.
Notes
- Ensure your cake mix is fresh and not expired to guarantee the best texture and rise.
- Check the pineapple’s moisture content; too much liquid can make the cake soggy, so drain slightly before mixing.
- Experiment with different pudding flavors like coconut or banana to create unique taste variations that complement the pineapple.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the cake mix with a gluten-free alternative and verify all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg