Volcano Bay's Chocolate Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Photo courtesy of Discover Universal Blog.

Couldn't visit Universal on June 5th to eat some Chocolate Pineapple Upside Down Cake? Well let us show you how bake it!

Be sure to read the recipe thoroughly so you understand the steps, get all your ingredients prepped before you start.

Coconut Smear  Recipe:

• 1/2 cup room temp butter
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup corn syrup

In an electric mixer using a paddle attachment, combine above ingredients, mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until a coarse paste is formed, set aside.

Chocolate Cake Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda 
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk (Or 1 cup of milk mixed with 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar)
• ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• ¾ cup water
• 12 canned pineapple rings
• 12 maraschino cherries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Coat 12 three-inch round mini cake pans with non-stick baking spray. (If you don’t have mini cake pans, try using a large ramekin, a large non-stick muffin tin or making a 9×13 cake instead of individuals.)
3. Place 1 pineapple ring in the bottom of each pan, OR arrange all 12 rings in your larger cake pan. Then place 1 cherry inside each pineapple ring and drop 1.5 tablespoon of coconut smear on top of each pineapple ring, using a teaspoon to spread the smear evenly.
4. To make the cake, combine all dry ingredients, sift or whisk together and set aside.
5. In an electric mixer using a whip attachment, combine eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla; mix on medium speed until combined.
6. Add dry ingredients, mix on low speed for 1 minute, stop mixer, scrape sides of the bowl, mix for an additional 3 minutes on medium speed. Stop the mixer, scrape sides of the bowl, add water, mix on low speed for an additional 1 minute.
7. Place mini cake pans evenly on a baking sheet
8. Pour equal amounts of batter on top of each pineapple slice.
9. For mini cakes, bake 350℉. for approximately 20 minutes or until the cake is set. For a 9×13 pan, bake 350℉. for approximately 40-45 minutes or until the cake is set. 

Remove from oven and allow to cool approximately 20 minutes before removing cakes from their pan(s) and flipping onto a platter or plate. When removing the cakes from their tins, make sure the pineapple slice is facing up.

To finish off your masterpiece your chocolate pineapple cake can be served with fresh fruit, or fruit compote, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, or your favorite ice cream.

Xavier.H.

​I'm Xavier - a food enthusiast and full-time blogger, theme park lover(especially Universal), and Halloween Horror Nights fan. I so happen to also lead the Universal Food Blog team on our trek to find the best dishes around Universal Orlando Resort to report to you!