Dad's All-Time Favorite Pineapple Cake

By Addie

This recipe, which is my dad’s all-time favorite cake, was passed on to me by my step-grandmother, Bessie. I’ve made it several times since, but never quite the same way. Bessie’s original version used cake mix, so sometimes I use that too – the “butter flavor” cake mixes work the best. Sometimes I make the cake from scratch. Yesterday I used a scratch recipe off Recipezaar but wasn’t too happy with it and will not point it out. Luckily, the topping made up for the lackluster cake and Todd loved it. It’s a nice change from the usual frosting and pineapple lovers will go crazy for it.

Ingredients

• 1 box yellow cake mix (your choice of brand)
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• 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple
• 4 ounces butter (1 stick) – regular salted type
• 5 oz can evaporated milk.
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13×9 inch metal cake pan with cooking spray.

Drain crushed pineapple and reserved juice. You should get about 2/3 cup of juice which you can use in the cake (as below) or drink.

Prepare cake as directed on box or use your favorite scratch recipe for yellow cake or pineapple cake. My grandmother used a box yellow cake, but instead of using water as directed, she used half pineapple juice/half water instead of all water. Set cake aside to cool.
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Set a large (3 quart) saucepan over medium heat and add butter. When butter is about halfway melted, add evaporated milk and sugar. Continue cooking over medium heat, whisking often, until butter is completely melted and mixture is hot and just beginning to simmer around the edges. Add egg yolks and continue cooking over medium, whisking constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. Cook and whisk for a little over a minute, then remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes. Add vanilla extract and drained pineapple. Leave pineapple mixture at room temperature (still in pan) while cake continues to bake and cools.
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When cake is cool, pour room-temperature pineapple mixture over cake. Place in refrigerator and chill until pineapple topping sets.
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REVIEWS:

I made this yesterday and the topping is wonderful! I love pineapple and I am not a huge icing fan. I just used a yellow butter recipe box cake with some pineapple juice rather than just water like suggested. I thought the cake tasted good but the topping make it super. If I was serving it at a party or something, I would dress it up like you did with the whipped cream and cherry, it was kinda odd looking after it cooled with just the pineapple topping. If the rest of the family liked coconut, I would have added it.

I made this a few years ago when you gave the recipe to me or posted it somewhere. it was really good! I made it in a 13×9 pan and added 1/2 cup unsweetened desiccated shredded coconut to the topping.

I made this recipe for mum, dad and the rest of the family as mums a big pineapple fan. They just looooooved it.