1-First Step: Preheat Your Oven Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This step ensures even baking, and while the oven heats, you can get your pan ready. Using a 9.5-10 inch pie plate or deep cake pan works best for this pineapple upside down cake, as it allows the topping to spread nicely.

2-Second Step: Prepare the Topping Pour the ¼ cup (60 g) melted salted butter into your pan, making sure to coat the bottom and brush some up the sides. Then, sprinkle the ½ cup (100 g) packed brown sugar evenly over the butter. This creates that signature caramel base that makes your pineapple upside down cake so irresistible.

3-Third Step: Arrange the Fruit Lay out the 10 patted-dry pineapple slices over the sugar layer, and if you like, cut extra slices in half to line the sides of the pan. Place maraschino cherries in the centers of the pineapple rings and in any gaps for a pretty look. Remember, drying the pineapple helps keep the cake from getting soggy, which is a common tweak for better results.

4-Fourth Step: Mix the Cake Batter In a bowl, beat the ½ cup (115 g) softened unsalted butter and ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar until creamy. Add the 2 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each, then stir in the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. In another bowl, whisk together the 1 ½ cups (195 g) all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt.

5-Fifth Step: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients Alternately add the dry mixture and ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk to the butter mix, starting and ending with the flour. Mix just until combined to keep the batter light overmixing can make the cake tough, so go easy here. For dietary tweaks, if you’re going gluten-free, swap the flour as needed in this step.

6-Sixth Step: Bake the Cake Pour the batter evenly over the pineapple layer in the pan. Bake for 30 minutes, then loosely cover with foil and bake another 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. This timing works for most ovens, but if you’re using a cast iron pan, check a bit earlier to avoid overcooking.

7-Final Step: Cool and Serve Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a serving plate. Serve it slightly warm for the best flavor, and if you’re prepping ahead, this is where you can add your own touches, like for party hosts looking to impress. Each serving has about 433 calories, so it’s a treat you can enjoy without guilt.