Upside-Down Pineapple Coconut Cake (Carolina Gellen Style)
🎂CakesIntermediate🇺🇸American

Upside-Down Pineapple Coconut Cake (Carolina Gellen Style)

A tropical twist on the classic upside-down cake featuring caramelized pineapple and shredded coconut. Topped with sweet coconut and optional cherries, this cake offers a moist crumb and rich flavor.

25
Prep (min)
40
Cook (min)
65
Total (min)
9
Servings
$7.66
Total Cost
$0.85
Per Serving

All Ingredients

  • 57 g (½ stick OR 4 tbsp) Butter, unsalted, 1 stick
  • 188 g (1½ cups) All-Purpose Flour
  • 7 g (1½ tsp) Baking Powder
  • 165 g (¾ cup) Brown Sugar (packed)
  • 2 g (½ tsp) Baking Soda
  • 60 g (½ cup) Shredded Coconut, sweetened
  • 2 g (¼ tsp) Table Salt
  • 960 g (8 counts) Maraschino Cherries, optional
  • 567 g (3⅛ pineapples) Pineapple
  • 57 g (½ stick OR 4 tbsp) Butter, unsalted, softened, 1 stick
  • 200 g (1 cup) Granulated Sugar
  • 100 g (2 large) Eggs, large, room temperature
  • 4 g (1 tsp) Vanilla Extract
  • 3 g (1 tsp) White Vinegar, to improve crumb
  • 123 g (½ cup) Buttermilk, or coconut milk
  • 60 g (½ cup) Shredded Coconut
1

Caramelized Topping

Ingredients

  • 57 g (½ stick OR 4 tbsp) Butter, unsalted, 1 stick
  • 165 g (¾ cup) Brown Sugar (packed)
  • 60 g (½ cup) Shredded Coconut, sweetened
  • 960 g (8 counts) Maraschino Cherries, optional
  • 567 g (3⅛ pineapples) Pineapple

Steps

  1. 1Melt the butter in the pan, then stir in the brown sugar and reserved pineapple juice until smooth.
  2. 2Arrange pineapple slices over the caramel, placing cherries in the center of the slices if desired.
  3. 3Sprinkle the shredded coconut over the pineapple.
2

Cake

Ingredients

  • 188 g (1½ cups) All-Purpose Flour
  • 7 g (1½ tsp) Baking Powder
  • 2 g (½ tsp) Baking Soda
  • 2 g (¼ tsp) Table Salt
  • 57 g (½ stick OR 4 tbsp) Butter, unsalted, softened, 1 stick
  • 200 g (1 cup) Granulated Sugar
  • 100 g (2 large) Eggs, large, room temperature
  • 4 g (1 tsp) Vanilla Extract
  • 3 g (1 tsp) White Vinegar, to improve crumb
  • 123 g (½ cup) Buttermilk, or coconut milk
  • 60 g (½ cup) Shredded Coconut

Steps

  1. 1Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or cast-iron skillet generously with butter.
  2. 2In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. 3In a large bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy.
  4. 4Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract and vinegar.
  5. 5Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
  6. 6Stir in the shredded coconut.
  7. 7Pour the batter over the pineapple layer.
  8. 8Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. 9Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes, then place a serving plate over the pan and carefully flip it over.
  10. 10Let it sit for a minute before removing the pan.

Cost Breakdown

$7.66
Total Cost
$0.85
Per Serving

Ingredient Costs

  • Butter(Land O'Lakes)
    $0.69
  • All-Purpose Flour(King Arthur)
    $0.50
  • Baking Powder(Rumford)
    $0.10
  • Brown Sugar (packed)(Domino)
    $0.73
  • Baking Soda(Arm & Hammer)
    $0.01
  • Shredded Coconut(Meijer)
    $0.00
  • Table Salt(Morton)
    $0.00
  • Pineapple(Dole)
    $2.39
  • Butter(Land O'Lakes)
    $0.69
  • Granulated Sugar(Domino)
    $0.49
  • Eggs(Store Brand)
    $0.67
  • Vanilla Extract(McCormick Pure)
    $0.95
  • Buttermilk(Store Brand)
    $0.45
  • Shredded Coconut(Meijer)
    $0.00
Missing pricing data for:
  • maraschino-cherries
  • white-vinegar

Tags

#pineapple#coconut#upside-down#cake#tropical