🍍 Sourdough Pineapple Upside Down Cake (with Discard!)

Sweet, gooey, and ridiculously delicious — this Sourdough Pineapple Upside Down Cake takes a vintage classic and gives it a zero-waste, sourdough twist. The caramelized brown sugar topping with golden pineapple rings and cherries is pure retro magic.

Whether you’re baking to impress or simply need to use up some discard, this cake is the showstopper you didn’t know you needed.

This gooey sourdough pineapple upside down cake is sweet, tangy, and easy to make with discard. A classic dessert with a delicious twist!

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Rest Time 10 mins

Total Time 1 hr 10 mins

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cooking Temp: 350 F

Description

This gooey sourdough pineapple upside down cake is sweet, tangy, and easy to make with discard. A classic dessert with a delicious twist!

Ingredients

Brown Sugar Toppings

1/4 cup melted butter (57g)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (95g)
7 Pineapple rings – 1 whole, 6 cut in half
6 maraschino cherries, cut in half

Cake Batter

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (113g)
3/4 cup granulated sugar (150g)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sourdough discard (130g)
1/2 cup pineapple juice (120g)
1 tsp vanilla extract (4g)
1 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (133g)
1/4 tsp salt (2g)
1.5 tsp baking powder (6g)

Instructions

Brown Sugar Topping

1
Pour melted butter into a 9-inch round cake pan or an 8x8 square pan.
2
Sprinkle brown sugar over the butter evenly.
3
Place the whole pineapple ring in the center and arrange the half rings around it.
4
Place a cherry half in the center of each pineapple ring.
5
Set aside while you prepare the batter.

Cake

6
7
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
8
In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
9
Add eggs and mix until smooth.
10
Mix in the sourdough discard, then add pineapple juice and vanilla.
11
Add flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix until just combined — do not overmix.
12
Pour the batter evenly over the pineapple topping in the pan.

Bake & Flip

13
14
Bake for 25–40 minutes (start checking at 25 min), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
15
Cool for 15 minutes in the pan.
16
Run a knife around the edges to loosen, then place a serving plate or cake stand over the pan and flip the cake.
17
Carefully lift off the pan to reveal your beautiful pineapple upside down cake!

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