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Get ready to be transported to the sunny shores of Hawaii with this delightful Island-Inspired Jello Pineapple Cake with a Coconut Glaze! Bursting with fresh pineapple flavor and topped with a creamy coconut glaze, this cake is a tropical paradise in every bite.
Whether you’re hosting a summer gathering or simply craving a taste of the islands, this cake promises to bring a slice of sunshine to your table. With its moist texture and irresistible sweetness, you’ll feel like you’re lounging on a beach, soaking up the sun with each delectable forkful.
Table of Contents
- How to Make Jello Pineapple Cake
- Does This Island-Inspired Jello Pineapple Cake with a Coconut Glaze Need to be Refrigerated?
- What Makes this Recipe Easier Than Other Cakes?
- Will the Cake Dry Out in the Refrigerator?
- How Can I Avoid A Bitter Pineapple Cake?
- Ingredients Needed for Island-Inspired Jello Pineapple Cake with a Coconut Glaze
- More Cake Recipes You’ll Love:
- Pineapple Cake with Coconut Glaze Recipe
I told you that Sarah created a monster when she shared her family recipe for lemon jello cake and the craziness continues as I’ve now not only made a strawberry lemonade jello cake but a pineapple crush jello cake too! ACK! I. CAN’T. STOP!
I think this rendition might be my favorite one yet! As a huge fan of pineapple upside-down cake, I can’t resist the tropical flavor and the sweetness of maraschino cherries—they always evoke a feeling of sunshine. This cake brings back those wonderful memories, but it’s even easier to make and just as delicious! I particularly love that it uses canned pineapple, which is perfect for when fresh pineapples aren’t in season. This may just become my go-to pineapple cake recipe!
How to Make Jello Pineapple Cake
- Prepare the Pan – Grease a 9×13-inch cake pan with nonstick spray or coat it generously with butter and dust with flour. Tip and tap the edges to ensure the pan is evenly coated.
- Mix the Batter – In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the cake mix, eggs, crushed pineapple (with juice), water, oil, and pineapple jello until smooth and well combined.
- Bake the Cake – Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 350°F for 27-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Poke the Cake – While the cake is hot, prick it with a two-tined fork or toothpick to create small holes.
- Add the Glaze – Immediately pour the prepared glaze over the top, letting it seep into the holes for extra flavor and moisture.
- Cool and Serve – Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing and serving. Perfect for pineapple lovers and a refreshing twist on a classic poke cake!
Does This Island-Inspired Jello Pineapple Cake with a Coconut Glaze Need to be Refrigerated?
Jello poke cakes typically need to be refrigerated. However, this Jello cake is a different story! Because the Jello is baked into the cake and the glaze is drizzled on top of the cake, it doesn’t require refrigeration. You can store it at room temperature, making it a convenient treat for any occasion!
Cade insists he doesn’t like cake, but I secretly love proving him wrong—in the nicest way possible, of course! I whipped up this delicious cake, and he didn’t even glance at it until I started drizzling the glaze on top while he was busy working in the yard.
He strolled in, beaming with pride over his yard work. “I filled our entire waste can with weeds and that little bush that suddenly died. Want to see how great it looks? Whoa, what smells so amazing?”
Cake, Cade! The very thing you claim to not care about. But apparently, he did! Over the next hour, he kept popping into the kitchen, begging for a slice until I finally relented and served him a piece of the still-warm cake.
What Makes this Recipe Easier Than Other Cakes?
This recipe is a breeze to whip up! Unlike traditional recipes that often require you to meticulously separate egg yolks or fuss with layers, this cake combines all the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in one simple step. Just grab a white cake mix, which is already formulated with cake flour for that tender, fluffy crumb, and mix it with four eggs, crushed pineapple, and a splash of water or juice. No complicated techniques here! The cake comes together in a snap! The best part is pouring the sweet glaze over the warm cake right out of the oven. This no-fuss approach means you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time savoring that delightful tropical flavor!
Will the Cake Dry Out in the Refrigerator?
Most cakes, whether frosted or unfrosted, can be safely stored at room temperature for several days. However, if you do choose to refrigerate your cake, it’s essential to take some precautions to keep it moist and flavorful.
Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container. This prevents it from drying out or absorbing fridge odors. Before serving, let the cake sit at room temperature for a while. This helps restore its texture and flavor, making it taste as fresh as when it was baked!
How Can I Avoid A Bitter Pineapple Cake?
Pineapple cake often turns bitter due to a few key culprits. Bromelain, an enzyme in fresh pineapple, breaks down proteins and can disrupt the cake’s flavor if not handled properly. This enzyme, the same one that can make your mouth sore after eating too much pineapple, creates bitterness when added raw to the batter. Cooking or processing fresh pineapple neutralizes bromelain, but canned pineapple, already heated during processing, is a hassle-free option that keeps flavors in check. Overbaking is another common cause of bitterness. Burnt cake or overly caramelized sugar can overshadow the tropical sweetness. Stick to canned pineapple and monitor your baking time to ensure a perfectly sweet and flavorful cake!
Ingredients Needed for Island-Inspired Jello Pineapple Cake with a Coconut Glaze
This recipe is budget-friendly, easy, and uses lots of pantry staples you likely already have. While you can mix it up with different canned fruits, the pineapple version is our absolute favorite for that perfect tropical touch!
- White Cake Mix
- Eggs
- Crushed Pineapple with Juice
- Water
- Oil
- Small Box of Pineapple Jello
- Powdered Sugar
- Coconut Milk
This is a great crowd-pleasing dessert if you’re short on time! This island-inspired Jello Pineapple Cake with a Coconut Glaze is perfect for any occasion! This cake will bring sunshine to your table no matter the season!
More Cake Recipes You’ll Love:
- Strawberry Jello Cake
- Best Chocolate Mayonaise Cake
- Frosted Lemon Jello Cake
- Red White and Blue Jello Poke Cake
- Orange Jello Cake
- Layered Spice Cake
- Lemon Jello Cake
- Cranberry Orange Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Pineapple Cake with Coconut Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 White Cake Mix
- 4 Large Eggs
- 1 Cup Crushed Pineapple with Juice
- 1/3 Cup Water, or additional pineapple juice
- 2/3 Cup Oil
- 1 Package Pineapple Jello, small box-3 oz
Glaze
- 1 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar
- 2-3 Tablespoons Coconut Milk, or pineapple juice or lemon juice is fine
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a 9×13-inch cake pan with nonstick spray, or generously coat it with butter and dust it with flour.
- Tip and tap the edges of the cake pan to coat it with flour.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the cake mix, eggs, pineapple, water, oil and jello together.1 White Cake Mix, 4 Large Eggs, 1 Cup Crushed Pineapple with Juice, 1/3 Cup Water, 2/3 Cup Oil, 1 Package Pineapple Jello
- Pour cake batter into a greased and floured 9×13 pan.
- Bake at 350° for 27-30 minutes.
- When cake is done, prick with 2 tined fork or toothpick while still hot.
- Immediately pour glaze over top.
Glaze
- In a small bowl, mix the coconut milk and powdered sugar until smooth.1 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar, 2-3 Tablespoons Coconut Milk
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Strawberry Lemonade Jello Cake
I love anything pineapple,. Can’t wait to try this. You are not alone and you’re not silly for being happy that your husband loves something you cooked for him. I have been married foe 52 years to my best friend and still love hearing that he likes something I cook.
Oh I love that, thanks June.
Can this be made as a bundt cake?
Leah,
Unfortunately we haven’t tried it as a bundt but it’s a pretty moist cake so I’d worry about it being too soft. Let us know if you try it.
Now I want to make a lime jello cake. I will let you know how it
goes. Caryle
That’s funny, we just bought lime jello to try it!
Can’t wait to try this. Would the cake hold up to a cream cheese frosting?
Hi Debbie! I think that would be a great combo!
This cake was really moist and delicious. I substituted the glaze with a cream cheese/cool whip frosting with crushed pineapple and toasted coconut flakes on top and it was even better.
Sorry gVe it 5 stars
oh my goodness, that topping sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try that version!
I can’t wait to try it too. Actually when I ran across this recipe I was looking for something to make with cream cheese.
Why are you using a cake mix at all? That’s not a “family recipe”, in fact it isn’t even baking and all the artificial chemicals are horribly unhealthy for you.
Take a prozac
Chill out a little. Most of their followers, including me, are fine with semi-homemade.
Then don’t make it… just that simple!!! Don’t comment on something simply because YOU DONT like the idea of box cake
Rude and unnecessary.
I made this cake today and wow! It is fabulous! It is so moist and the pineapple flavor really stands out. I have never ever used jello in a cake recipe. I can’t wait to try the other flavors. It is just my hubby and I and I love to cook/bake, so my grand kids and neighbors are always happy to see me coming as we can never eat it all. So boy are they going to be happy to see me today!! thanks again, wouldn’t change one thing! Oh and my house smells amazing!
Can’t wait to try all the recipes.
I like make cake that what I like to do
Do not belittle yourself! You are not a “silly young wife.” Many of us derive pleasure from nurturing our families with good food (and in other ways) and of course we are glad when our efforts are appreciated. To want to please those you love is a beautiful personality trait. Many balk at the idea of woman as homemaker (rather loudly, sometimes) but others of us relish it. Neither view is superior to the other.
I’ll get of my soapbox now. 🙂 Keep doing what you’re doing!
Well thank you for the sweet comment! I really do think it’s actually a lost tradition to enjoy caring for your family and spouse. We tend to be a “me” society so taking pleasure in serving those around us is drifting away but I hope to teach my children the opposite, that’s it’s wonderful and more fulfilling than always worrying about number 1 😉
Curious as to why you chose a lemon cake mix versus a pineapple cake mix?
Oh no!!! I adapted this from the lemon jello cake so I merely forgot to change that part. However, we found the pineapple cake didn’t taste as fresh so we actually use a white cake mix to lighten things up and let the real fruit shine. 🙂