It was a birthday occasion that I thought would suit this pineapple cake best, and it was my daughterβs birthday. I knew because she always anything that has pineapple to it. I wanted to prepare something unique and mouth-watering, and, at the same time, it should capture an eye in the social media posts. Since I really like taking photos, I considered this as a chance to combine the two things I love β baking and photography.
The final part of this project grew into an exciting adventure of making this cake. I took my time taking photographs that involved different angles but also playing with light and focused on coming up with the best presentation of the cake in terms of its appearance to the people as well as taste.
This I discovered makes food photography best used natural light and that using a basic backdrop helps to accentuate the cake. Even taking a picture of the cake I felt relieved and valued the result of my labor and cakeβs design even more. When I was finished, I had an album of photographs which wasnβt just the cake but also the spirit and the happiness that went into the preparation of that cake.
A Sweet Beginning: Why This Cake Is Relevant:
They always say there is no plate of home cooking nice as the one that gathers people together. This pineapple cake which we make with cake mix is also not an exception. Ignoring the fact that it is a confection, it can be seen as and a piece of affection, attention and ideas. This festive cake is suitable for just any occasion β a birthday, an anniversary or if you just want something sweet.
How To Make Pineapple Cake β Easy And Fast
Now, so we are through with the preparation, let us deep down into the part that is called BAKING. What can I say, this pineapple cake is very easy to make especially if youβll use boxed cake mix. In a few steps you will prepare a yummy cake that will be ready to serve, with the use of few
Ingredients:
Ingrdients and Quantity
Yellow cake mix 1 box
Pineapple Chunks in their Own Juice 1 can (20 oz)
Vegetable oil 1/3 cup
Large eggs 3
Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Preheat Your Oven:
First of all, prepare your oven by heating it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.Grease and flour a 9Γ13 inch baking pan; or you may grease and flour two round 9-inch layer cake pans for a layered cake if desired.
Mix the Ingredients:
In one of the large mixing bowls, sift the cake mix, along with the crushed pineapple with the juice, vegetable oil, eggs and the vanilla essence. Mix the ingredients with an electric mixer or a whisk till all the ingredients are fully incorporated and the batter uniform.
Pour the Batter:
To bake it, pour it to your desired pan. After that, spread it with the help of a spatula in an even layer.
Bake:
Put the pan into the oven and set it at the temperature of approximately 3500 C then bake it for 25-30 minutes. To make sure that the cake is fully cooked, one has to insert a toothpick into the cake middle. When the cake is cooked you count honeymoon on your fingers; if there is none you pinch the Caribbean blackboard, if the cake is clean.
Cool the Cake:
After a cake has been baked it should be cooled on the baking pan for approximately 10minutes. Then serve the cake on a wire rack to cool the cake to room temperature completely.
βThere are no great cakes which are made by chance it needs a lot of effort and dedication. β β Michel Roux
Before decorating the cake, itβs necessary to frost and layer it.
After you have allowed your cake to cool or to cool completely remove it from the oven, it is now time to decorate it with frosting and layer them. It also provides additional taste but also makes your cake look more appetizing and professional looking.
Ingredients for Frosting:
Ingredient and Quantity
Cream cheese (softened) 1 (8 ounce) package
Unsalted butter (softened) Β½ cups
Powdered sugar 3 cups
Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon
Pineapple juice (optional) 1 β 2 tablespoons
Make the Frosting:
In a large bowl add the cream cheese and butter and mix the two ingredients until they are creamy. Slowly incorporate the said powdered sugar, in a cup, to the frosting while continually whipping until you attain the preferred thickness. Finally, stir in the vanilla extract. To add pineapple flavor in the frosting to have an idea, you can add pineapple juice of 1-2 tablespoons.
Layer the Cake:
And, in case you baked your cake in two round pans, proceed with placing one part of the circle on the serving plate. Frost some more frosting over it and ensure that it is enough after which go round the sides. Lay the second layer and spread it over the first layer and apply slight pressure so that it may stick nicely with the first layer.
Frost the Cake:
Insert an offset spatula on the surface of the cake and spread a thin layer of frosting on all the cake (it termed crumb coat). After this, chill the cake in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes to let the crumb coat set. After that, put the frosting on one more layer to make sure that the cake is adequately covered with it.
Decorate:
You can now go ahead and add whatever topping you may wish to include on the cake; flowers, fruits or any other fancy design using frosting.
People believe frosting is the sweetness of the cake; it is the icing on the cake. β β Buddy Valastro
Troubleshooting Tips
As one will realize even with recipes that are quite simple, hey that does not always turn out as planned. Here are some common difficulties you might encounter and how to solve them:Here are some common difficulties you might encounter and how to solve them.
Cake Sticking to the Pan:
Solution: Particularly, ensure that the baking pan is greased and floured before filling it up with the batter. You can also have the precaution of putting a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan as well.
Cake is Too Dry:
Solution: If your cake is dry then most likely it was baked for a longer time than required. One should ensure that they check their cake just a few minutes before the time that is recommended on the cake. And, the same, pineapple juice should be used in the recipe without draining, as it makes a cake tender and moist.
Uneven Baking:
Solution: For the baking to be even ensure that the oven is well heated before you actually put in the cake. If baking two round pans of cake then you need to rotate it at middle of the required baking time.
Frosting Not Sticking to the Cake :
Solution: In case you find that your frost is not sticking to the cake it may be because the cake is still hot or warm. Always ensure you let the cake cool to room temperature before applying any frosting. You can also make a very thin layer of the frosting and spread on the cake and then put the cake into the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes and then frost the cake.
Creative Variations to Try:
The greatest feature of this pineapple cake recipe is it can be easily modified without much compromise. It is also easily modifiable depending on the event that is to be catered or the preference of a client or customer. Here are some creative variations you can try:Here are some creative variations you can try:
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake:
If you enjoy classic topping of pineapple and brown caramelized sugar, then this twist is for you. Hereβs how you can make it:Hereβs how you can make it:
Prepare the Topping:
Before pouring the cake batter into the pan melt ΒΌ cup of butter and coat the bottom of the pan with it. Crumble Β½ cup of brown sugar over the melted butter. Place pineapple rings over sugar, and put little cherry in the center of each ring.
Add the Batter:
Spread it evenly on the layer of pineapple rings and bake as described for the cake batter. After baking, let the cake to cool for awhile then turn it over on the serving plate. Thus the caramelized topping will be on top to allow for the best presentation of what it contains.
Tropical Delight:
Take your cake on a tropical vacation by adding a few extra ingredients:Take your cake on a tropical vacation by adding a few extra ingredients .
Coconut Flavor:
Mix 1/2 cup of the shredded coconut with the cake batter for that enticing coconut flavor. If youβd like, you could add a little toasted coconut to the top of the frosting for a little extra crunch.
Mango and Pineapple Combo:
To get more fruity feeling, you may put more chopped mangoes together with the pineapple that has been crushed. This variation is ideal to be included during summer outfits and other related parties.
Lighter option:
If youβre looking for a healthier version, you can make some simple substitutions:If youβre looking for a healthier version, you can make some simple substitutions.
Reduce the Sugar:
Substitute ordinary cake mix with a sugar-free mix or decrease the amount of sugar that is being used. Some of the other flavors will probably also come through, but the natural sweetness of the pineapple will still dominate.
Some suggestions fro Home Decor for People to amaze all the guest:
Anyone who has received a delicious cake would agree that a well decorated cake can bring about a great impact. Here are some simple yet stunning ideas to decorate your pineapple cake:Here are some simple yet stunning ideas to decorate your pineapple cake.
Edible Flowers:
You should also know that it is possible to use flowers for laying on your cake since many of them are edible. Hereβs how you can use them:Hereβs how you can use them.Always use edible flowers for example ; Pansies, violet or marigolds. These you can get at the specialty stores or you can cultivate them in your gard
Arranging the Flowers:
When you are done with the frosting of the cake, you should then put the flowers on the top of the cake in a specific way to form a design or just place them haphazardly depending on your choice. This will create some pomp in the cake and you can also put several flowers at the foot part of the cake.
Sugar-Coated Flowers:
To add a final exquisite feel to the flowers, it is recommended that they are dusted with sugar. Dip the tips of each brushy flower in lightly beaten egg white and then lightly dust with granulated sugar.Ensure that they cool a little before placing on the cake as they maybe too hot to handle. It puts a slight and somewhat sweet touch in your decoration which adds a kind of shimmer.
βThey say that simple things are always elegant when it comes to caking decorating.β β Jacques Torres
Frosting Techniques:
Even if youβre not a professional baker, you can still achieve a beautiful frosting finish .Even if youβre not a professional baker, you can still achieve a beautiful frosting finish.
Smooth Finish:
Imagine, only using a spatula to spread the frosting over the cake as uniformly as possible. To give it an even surface make sure spatula is warm by dipping it in warm water and then apply it lightly on the frosting.
Textured Look:
Youβll want to cover the brownies completely with frosting since it will look a little more rustic if you swirl in the frosting using the back of the spoon. An added advantage of this technique is that it is lenient and produces the cake with the look of being homemade.
Piping:
For more excitement, use some tubes to pipe some ornate edge or some rosettes around the perimeters of the cake. You are going to use a star tip in order to make your cake appear shiny and stunning like a star.
One of Mary Berryβs quotes says it best, βFrosting is like the icing on the cake; it takes the average and makes it the extraordinary. β
Fruit Garnishes:
Fresh fruit not only adds a burst of color but also complements the pineapple flavor perfectly:Fresh fruit not only adds a burst of color but also complements the pineapple flavor perfectly.
Pineapple Slices:
Let the cake have a statement by placing thinly cut fresh pineapple on top. It is possible to lay the slices one over the other or lay them in a fanned out manner.
Berries:
Top the cake with one cup of fresh berries; strawberries, blueberries or raspberries will perfectly do the job. These colours will also be clear and eye-catching against the yellow cake and frosting, and I really love it.
Citrus Zest:
Itβs better to garnish the lemon or lime flavored cake by sprinkling the zests of same fruits on it. Citrus and pineapple are great combinations; they deeply compliment one another.
Conclusion:
Savoring the Moment
Now that youβve invested time and effort in preparing, baking, and even styling your pineapple cake through proper photo and decoration, it is time to benefit from all of it and eat your creation. Time and effort invested in making a cake prepare people for a great feeling when they are slicing a cake theyβve baked with their hands. for further more pineapple cake recipes visit
This pineapple cake is not only sweet, but it is the hope which, when shared with friends and family members, fosters warm memories. In general, this cake is perfect for any celebration or even you would like to pamper herself/himself a little bit.
βWell, itβs not just about the cake β it is about the story that you make each time whilst baking it and then sharing it.β β Duff Goldman
BY : JULIYA