- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- AmericanBakingDessert
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every April 20
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍍🍰
National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day arrives every April 20, inviting everyone to indulge in this beloved dessert. Known for its caramelized pineapple rings and maraschino cherries, it’s a sweet treat that brings joy. Bake a cake from scratch, try a new recipe, or share a slice with friends.
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History of National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day
While the history of National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day is unclear, the history of the dessert itself is well-documented and well-loved.
Hundreds of years ago, people used cast-iron skillets to cook fruit cakes over open flames. Any type of fruit would produce a delicious tasting cake. With the fruit lining the bottom of the skillet and cake batter added over the fruit, the pan would be flipped after cooking, revealing a beautiful showing of caramelized fruit on top.
The earliest cast-iron skillets were called ‘spiders’ because they had legs. The cakes themselves were commonly known at this time as ‘spider cakes.’ Once ovens became a fixture in the homes of Americans, the skillets lost their legs, transitioning to a flat-bottomed pan that would more easily fit into the ovens.
In 1925, the Hawaiian Pineapple Company sponsored a contest to find the best pineapple recipes. With “Good Housekeeping” and “McCall’s” magazines promoting the contest, over 60,000 submissions were entered. Of those, 2,500 recipes were for pineapple upside-down cake alone! The cake’s popularity soared with the publishing of 100 of the winning recipes in a cookbook the next year.
Today, we still crave an occasional pineapple upside-down cake so try your hand at this relatively simple-to-make dessert and celebrate with your friends.
National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day timeline
The first commercially grown pineapple crop is established in Hawaii — Hawaii continues to be a mass producer of pineapples supplying much of the U.S.
The first profitable lot of canned pineapples is produced by Dole’s Hawaiian Pineapple Company.
Mrs. Robert Davis, from Norfolk, Virginia, wins a contest sponsored by the Hawaiian Pineapple Company hoping to find new, creative pineapple recipes.
With the rise in food creativity and sharing the unusual through social media, the pineapple upside-down cake cocktail arrives.
National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day FAQs
When is National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day?
In 2027, this delicious holiday is celebrated on Tuesday, April 20, offering another perfect opportunity to bake or buy a slice of this iconic cake.
What is the origin of pineapple upside-down cake?
While similar fruit-first cakes existed for centuries, the specific pineapple upside-down cake as we know it took off in the 1920s. A contest by the Hawaiian Pineapple Company in 1925, which received over 2,500 recipes, cemented its place in American culinary history.
How popular is pineapple upside-down cake today?
Despite newer dessert trends, pineapple upside-down cake holds a steady appeal, especially among those seeking traditional, home-style treats. Online searches for ‘pineapple upside-down cake recipe’ consistently show strong interest, particularly around spring and summer.
Can you make pineapple upside-down cake with other fruits?
Many bakers enjoy experimenting with different fruits for upside-down cakes. Stone fruits like apricots or plums work wonderfully, as do citrus slices such as oranges or grapefruits. The key is to choose fruits that hold their shape and caramelize well.
National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day Activities
Learn how to cut a pineapple
While canned pineapple rings taste perfectly fine in every pineapple upside-down cake recipe, nothing beats fresh pineapple. Plus, cutting your own pineapple is an adventure in itself. Search online for ways to cut a fresh pineapple, whether in rings as with this dessert or chopping it into smaller pieces for cooking.
Take one to a neighbor
Pineapple upside-down cake can be made ahead of time so if you are looking for a simple and easily transportable dessert, look no further. You can make these to take to a potluck or to give to someone as a gift. It’s always a welcomed treat.
Bring out your pineapple-themed serving pieces
Since today is a day of sharing and celebrating, use hospitable pineapple-themed serving pieces. If you don’t already have anything, today is a good day to buy something. There are serving trays, bowls, pie cutters, napkins, and many other options that brighten up the table and experience of serving your guests.
5 Fun Facts About Pineapples
World Production
Annually, just under 28 million tons of pineapples are produced all over the world with the greatest production serving the U.S. coming from Costa Rica.
Lots of water
Raw pineapple pulp is 86% water.
Health benefits
Pineapples are rich in vitamin C and loaded with antioxidants.
The multiple fruit
A pineapple is not a single fruit but a group of berries that have grown together.
As ripe as it gets
Once harvested, pineapple does not continue to ripen so it remains as ripe as the day it was picked.
Why We Love National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day
Easy to make an individual serving
A fun way to serve pineapple upside-down cake is in individual ramekins — match the ramekin size to a pineapple ring and continue using whatever recipe you love most. It will be just as tasty as if you had made one cake but will be a cool way to serve at your next dinner party.
It’s all about the presentation
When you make the final flip of the cake onto your cake server, you realize this is the star of the show. The pineapple rings and cherries (or whatever other fruit you choose to use) create a beautiful presentation — part of the draw of the dessert. You start eating with your eyes, right?!
We love hospitality
The pineapple has long been considered a symbol of hospitality. This idea and tradition began with Caribbean Indians who placed pineapples at the entrance of their homes.
