Easy Slow Cooker Pineapple Upside-Down Dump Cake
Make an incredible Slow Cooker Pineapple Upside-Down Dump Cake! This easy recipe uses yellow cake mix, crushed pineapple, cherries, and pecans for a decadent, effortless dessert.
Ingredients
(Based on 1x column)
Fruit & Caramel Base:
- ▢ ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
- ▢ ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
- ▢ 1 jar (6 oz) maraschino cherries, drained
- ▢ ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional but recommended)
- ▢ 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits, undrained
Cake Topping:
- ▢ 1 package (regular size, approx. 15.25 oz) yellow cake mix, dry
- ▢ ¼ cup (½ stick) butter, melted (for topping)
Optional for Serving:
- ▢ Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
1. Prepare Slow Cooker and Caramel-Fruit Layers:
- Grease the insert of your 5-quart slow cooker well with cooking spray or butter.
- Create the Brown Sugar Layer: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt ½ cup of the butter. Stir in the ⅔ cup of packed brown sugar until it’s well combined and forms a slurry.
- Pour this brown sugar-butter mixture into the bottom of the prepared slow cooker and spread it into an even layer.
- Add Fruit and Nuts: Sprinkle the drained maraschino cherries and the toasted pecans evenly over the brown sugar layer.
- Spoon the entire can of undrained crushed pineapple (or tidbits) evenly over the top of the cherries and pecans.
2. Add Cake Mix and Butter Topping:
- Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix as evenly as possible over the pineapple layer. Do not stir it in; just let it sit as a distinct layer.
- Melt the remaining ¼ cup of butter.
- Drizzle this melted butter evenly all across the top of the dry cake mix.
3. Cook the Dump Cake:
- Cover the slow cooker securely with its lid.
- Cook on the HIGH setting for 2 hours, or on the LOW setting for 4 hours (this recipe specifies HIGH, but LOW is a common alternative). The cake is done when the fruit mixture is bubbly around the edges and the top cake layer looks set and slightly moist. (Optional: The recipe suggests rotating the slow cooker insert halfway through the cooking time if you know your machine has hot spots, to help prevent scorching on one side).
4. Cool Slightly and Serve:
- Once cooked, turn off the slow cooker.
- Carefully remove the lid (be mindful of hot steam). It’s a good idea to let the cake sit, uncovered, for about 30 minutes before serving. This allows the very hot, bubbly fruit layer to cool slightly and set up, making it easier to scoop.
- Serve the Pineapple Upside-Down Dump Cake warm, scooped directly from the slow cooker into bowls. Be sure to dig deep to get all the layers – the cakey topping and the gooey fruit/caramel from the bottom.
- It’s especially delicious topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Enjoy this wonderfully easy dessert.