Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Introduction

This is my mom's recipe, and she bakes it in an iron skillet. She substitutes the water in the cake mix with the same amount of pineapple juice from the crushed pineapples. It makes for a very moist and sweet cake! No one will ever know it's made with Sugar Free ingredients (unless you tell them!). Guaranteed!!!! This is my mom's recipe, and she bakes it in an iron skillet. She substitutes the water in the cake mix with the same amount of pineapple juice from the crushed pineapples. It makes for a very moist and sweet cake! No one will ever know it's made with Sugar Free ingredients (unless you tell them!). Guaranteed!!!!

Minutes to Prepare: 55

Minutes to Cook: 45

Number of Servings: 12


Ingredients

    1 Box Pillsbury Moist Supreme Sugar Free Classic Yellow Cake Mix (dry)
    20 oz. can Dole Crushed Pineapple in 100% Pineapple Juice (drained, with juice reserved)
    1 cup pineapple juice from crushed pineapple
    3 eggs
    1 stick unsalted butter
    1/3 cup Canola Oil
    1/2 cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend


Directions

1. Drain crushed pineapple. Reserve the juice.
2. Add butter to an iron skillet (or cake pan) and put in the oven at 325 degrees to melt.
3. While butter is melting, prepare cake mix according to box, except instead of using 1 cup water, use 1 cup of the reserved pineapple juice.
4. Once the butter is melted in the skillet, remove from oven. Add Splenda Brown Sugar Blend to the melted butter in the iron skillet. Stir until dissolved.
4. Add crushed pineapple and stir together with butter & Splenda mixture. Evenly distribute over the bottom of the skillet.
5. Pour cake mix on top of pineapple and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. Do the spring-back test or check with toothpick for doneness.
6. Let cool for 5 minutes, then invert on decorative plate.

Serving Size: Makes 12 servings

Number of Servings: 12

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user SANDYINLEX68.

This easy Gluten-free Keto Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is surprisingly low in carbs with only 3.8 grams of net carbs per slice and the best buttery, moist pineapple cake crumb ever!

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

  • Is Pineapple Keto-friendly?
  • Can I Eat Pineapple On A Keto Diet?
  • How To Make Keto Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
  • Baking Tips
  • More Keto Cake Recipes
  • Keto Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
  • Nutrition

I know what you think, pineapple is high in carbs and sugar, and I can’t eat pineapple on a keto low-carb diet. Well, not exactly, and let me explain below.

Is Pineapple Keto-friendly?

Pineapple is not a keto-friendly fruit – it’s rather high in carbs and natural sugar from fructose.

So if you are craving fruits on a keto diet, don’t eat pineapple. With more than 20 grams of net carbs, a cup of pineapple will reach all your daily macros.

Instead, if you want to eat fruits, snack on berries or keto-friendly fruits.

Can I Eat Pineapple On A Keto Diet?

On a keto diet, nothing is 100% bad or 100% good. It’s all about the quantity taken.

So pineapple is not a keto-friendly snack to fill you up on its own because you would need a large quantity to feel full.

But you can use small amounts to flavor a dish or a cake.

The keto diet consists of switching your body to a ketosis mode to burn fat as a source of energy instead of glucose.

This state naturally occurs in the body when you eat less than 25 grams net carb per day (this number varies slightly from person to person).

So with 11.6 grams of net carbs per 100 grams (3.5oz), pineapple is a high-carb fruit.

If you want to sneak some fresh pineapple into your daily macro, you will have to weigh your portion and keep it very small!

As a result, 25 grams of pineapple bring about 3 grams of net carb, so it’s what you should aim for.

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

How To Make Keto Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Luckily, you can make a keto pineapple cake using some tricks to bring out all the natural flavor of pineapple without the added sugar or excessive carbs.

All you need to make this moist, buttery cake are a few simple ingredients, split into two steps.

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Bottom Layer Ingredients

An upside-down pineapple cake is made with a buttered cake pan filled with pineapple rings and glazed cherries.

To make a low-carb pineapple cake, you will need to tweak the authentic recipe by using the ingredients below :

  • Brown erythritol – or any brown sugar-free keto sweetener you like.
  • Softened butter – butter is a keto-friendly dairy product.
  • Fresh pineapple rings – cut them super thin, weigh them, and keep the total amount to 100 grams (3.5oz) or less.
  • Raspberries – this replaces the usual glaze cherries used in pineapple cake. Raspberries are low-sugar and keto-friendly fruits.
  • Pineapple cake batter

Pineapple Cake Batter

For the cake batter, you need:

  • Large eggs
  • Almond milk – no regular milk as dairy milk is full of carbs.
  • Sea salt
  • Melted butter or melted coconut oil
  • Almond flour – learn how to choose your keto flour.
  • Baking powder
  • Vanilla extract
  • Pineapple extract or pineapple flavor
  • Erythritol

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Cutting The Pineapple

First, peel the fresh pineapple and then cut the fresh pineapple into very thin rings.

You should aim for 3-mm/0.1-inches pineapple rings. Remove the center of each ring using the back of a piping nozzle or a round shape.

Pat dry the pineapple ring in absorbent paper to remove extra juice and prevent the top of the cake from becoming too moist.

Preparing The Cake Pan

Next, select a non-stick 9-inch round cake pan – mine has a removable side and bottom, which is very convenient to unmold this almond flour pineapple cake easily.

In a bowl, combine softened butter and sugar-free brown sweetener until creamy.

Using a silicone spatula, press and rub the butter mixture on the bottom and the sides of the pan.

Add the three pineapple rings to the bottom of the pan and add 3 raspberries into the hole of each ring. You can add 2-3 more on the sides if you like!

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Almond Flour Pineapple Cake Batter

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, almond milk, sweetener, pineapple extract, vanilla extract, and melted butter.

In another bowl, combine all the remaining ingredients: almond flour, baking powder, and salt.

Finally, stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a slightly thick and grainy cake batter forms.

Assembling The Pineapple Cake

Spread the keto pineapple cake batter over the pineapple rings evenly using a spatula.

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Baking The Cake

Bake the cake in the center rack of the oven until golden brown and a pick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Cooling Down

Cool the cake down in the pan for 30 minutes, then release the sides of the pan.

Flip the cake upside down on a serving cake plate.

Making It Shine

This is totally optional, but to make the top of the cake shiny, you can brush 1-2 tablespoons of sugar-free pineapple syrup on top of the cake.

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Baking Tips

Here are my tips for using high-carb pineapple in keto recipes.

Tip 1: Use Fresh Pineapple

Skip the canned pineapple pieces or rings that are soaked in pineapple juice. They are even higher in carbs!

Tip 2: Use A Small Amount And Do The Math!

A 9-inch cake serves about twelve portions (of a generous 100g or 3.5oz) and pineapple contains about 12 grams of net carbs per 100 grams.

So it’s totally fine to use 100 grams (3.5 oz) of pineapple in a cake recipe. You will only get 1 gram of net carbs (12 grams of net carbs split into 12 portions) coming from the fresh fruit.

The best way to add pineapple flavor in keto recipes is to use one of the zero-carb options below:

  • Pineapple Extract – natural but a bit expensive.
  • Pineapple Flavoring – often made from artificial flavors, but cheaper.
  • Pineapple Stevia Drops – also add sweetness to the recipe.

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

More Keto Cake Recipes

I love sugar-free cakes, and below are my top low-carb cake recipes for you to try:

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

Have you made this keto pineapple cake recipe? Share a comment or review below to let me know how it turned out!

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

3.8gNet Carbs

This Keto Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is an easy, moist, and buttery childhood favorite upside down cake revisited sugar-free and gluten-free, with a delicious pineapple caramel flavor.

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 35 mins

Total: 50 mins

Yield: 12 slices

Serving Size: 1 slice

Net Carbs 3.8g

Fat 25.6g

Protein 7.7g

Calories 271.7kcal

For the bottom layer

  • 3 tablespoons Softened Unsalted Butter
  • 3 tablespoons Brown Erythritol
  • 3 rings Fresh Pineapple equivalent to 3.5oz/100g in total weight, 1.2oz per ring, thickness 3mm/0.1 inches.
  • 3-6 Raspberries

For the cake batter

  • 3 large Eggs beaten, at room temperature
  • ½ cup Erythritol
  • cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 teaspoons Pineapple Flavoring or pineapple extract
  • ½ cup Unsalted Butter melted (or melted coconut oil)
  • 3 cups Almond Flour scooped and leveled

Optional – to brush on top

  • 1-2 tablespoons Pineapple Sugar-free Syrup

Sugar free pineapple upside down cake

New to Keto? Join my Keto Quick Start Guide now to get all the best keto tips for beginners, straight to your inbox!

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

  • Peel the fresh pineapple and cut it into thin rings of about 3 mm/0.1 inch thickness, using a sharp knife (remove the hard center part of each ring using a round shape. A ring is about 1.2 oz.

  • Pat dry each pineapple ring into some absorbent paper to remove extra juice that could release into the cake and make it too moist.

Bottom Layer

  • Prepare the topping in a small bowl by beating softened butter and brown erythritol to form a creamy paste.

  • Use a silicone spatula to spread the creamy, buttery paste all over the bottom and sides of a non-stick 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

  • Arrange the fresh pineapple ring all over the bottom of the pan and place a raspberry in the center of each ring. Set aside at room temperature.

Cake Batter

  • In a large mixing bowl, using a manual whisk, beat eggs, erythritol, unsweetened almond milk, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract, pineapple extract, and melted butter. Make sure the melted butter is not too hot, or it can cook eggs and form lumps.

  • Gradually pour the almond flour into the liquid ingredients and stir until it forms a thick, slightly grainy cake batter.

  • Pour the cake batter into the greased pan.

  • Bake cake for 40-45 minutes in the center rack of your oven. I recommend tenting the cake pan with a large piece of foil after 25 minutes to prevent the cake's top from burning.

  • After 30 minutes, insert a skewer in the center of the cake, and if it comes out with almost no crumb on it, the cake is ready.

  • Cool the keto pineapple cake into the pan for 30 minutes, then release it on a cooling rack for at least 3 hours before slicing.

  • When the cake has reached room temperature, you can brush a sugar-free pineapple syrup on top to make it shine!

  • Slice into 12 even slices.

Storage

  • Store the cake in a sealed cake box in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

  • Freeze cake slices in airtight zip lock bags or a box and thaw at room temperature the day before serving.

To save your own private notes on your favorite recipes, join Sweetashoney Members!

Nutrition Facts

Keto Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 271.7 Calories from Fat 230

% Daily Value*

Fat 25.6g39%

Saturated Fat 6.8g43%

Trans Fat 0.3g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g

Monounsaturated Fat 3.9g

Cholesterol 66.8mg22%

Sodium 246.5mg11%

Potassium 22.7mg1%

Carbohydrates 6.8g2%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 1.1g1%

Protein 7.7g15%

Net Carbs 3.8g

Vitamin A 429.4IU9%

Vitamin B12 0.1µg2%

Vitamin C 0.3mg0%

Vitamin D 0.4µg3%

Calcium 116.9mg12%

Iron 1.4mg8%

Magnesium 2.2mg1%

Zinc 0.2mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

How many carbs are in a pineapple upside down cake?

Desserts Pineapple Upside Down Cake 1 Slice (1 serving) contains 17g total carbs, 17g net carbs, 4.5g fat, 3g protein, and 120 calories.

Why does my pineapple upside down cake stick?

If it cools in the pan, the sugar-fruit mixture will harden and stick. Let the cake cool for 5 minutes. Then run a small spatula around the side to loosen it. Put a serving plate upside-down on top of the cake pan.

Can you use parchment paper on the bottom of a pineapple upside down cake?

This can happen even when you wait several hours for the homey classic to cool. To get the goo to stay where you want it and not impede the release of the cake, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper or a silicone cake-pan liner after you grease the pan.

Can I make pineapple upside down cake the night before?

Like most cakes, pineapple upside-down cakes can be made in advance. Warm the cake slightly after it's been refrigerated or frozen and it will taste like it was made the same day!