This 5-ingredient oven baked pineapple dessert is the kind of old-fashioned, low-effort sweet dish that turns pantry staples into something warm, buttery, and comforting. Using canned crushed pineapple with all its juice keeps the mixture moist and spoonable while the dry cake mix and butter bake into a golden topping, creating a dessert somewhere between a cobbler and a dump cake. It is especially handy for potlucks, holiday tables, or any night when you want dessert without much measuring or fuss.
Serve this dessert warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a spoonful of lightly sweetened Greek yogurt if you want some contrast to the sweetness. It also pairs nicely with toasted pecans on top, a cup of coffee after dinner, or a simple fruit platter if you are setting out a few desserts for guests.
5-Ingredient Oven Baked Pineapple Dessert
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 large can crushed pineapple in juice, undrained, about 20 ounces
1 box yellow cake mix, about 15.25 ounces
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease an oven-safe aluminum roasting pan or similarly sized baking dish.
2. Pour the undrained crushed pineapple into the pan, then stir in the vanilla extract and cinnamon so the fruit is evenly seasoned.
3. Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the pineapple mixture, covering the surface as uniformly as possible without stirring it in.
4. Drizzle the melted butter over the cake mix as evenly as you can, aiming to moisten most of the dry surface.
5. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the pineapple is bubbling around the edges. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
Add nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts scattered over the butter before baking add welcome crunch and make the dessert feel a bit more like a holiday casserole.
Try a different cake mix: White cake mix gives a slightly lighter flavor, while butter cake mix makes the topping richer. Yellow cake mix remains the most classic choice for this style of dessert.
Watch for dry spots: If you notice large patches of dry cake mix before baking, drizzle a little extra melted butter over those areas so the topping browns more evenly.
Serve it warm: This dessert is best while still slightly warm, when the pineapple layer is soft and juicy and the top has a delicate crispness.