This Pineapple Sheet Cake is a sweet and decadent dessert that tastes just like a pina colada but in cake form!

Try making a homemade sheet cake from scratch with this easy recipe. Made with crushed pineapples and juice, this cake is perfectly moist, sweet, and super delicious. Top with a homemade glaze or frosting made with coconut and roasted pecans for a decadently sweet and simple cake. The perfect treat to serve this summer!

pineapple sheet cake slice on a plate

Pineapple Sheet Cake

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Best Sheet Cake Recipe

  • The pineapple and coconut flavors are reminiscent of beaches and lounging by the pool.
  • Pineapple Sheet Cake is a single-layer concoction that’s so moist that it could be eaten in a bowl with a spoon.
  • The cake itself has little bits of crushed pineapple in every fork-full and a sweet, dense texture.
  • The icing is part glaze and part frosting. It adds chewy coconut and crunchy pecans to the top and marries so seamlessly with the cake that it’s hard to tell where one starts and the other stops. 

ingredients assembled to make pineapple sheet cake

Ingredients & Variations

CAKE In this case, oil is used instead of butter or shortening, which produces consistently moist results, and a coarse crumb which is perfect for cradling the golden nuggets of pineapple. Don’t forget the crushed pineapple and the juice. 

FROSTING The frosting is a glossy, thick-but-pourable cooked icing with a base of butter, sugar, and evaporated milk (which gives a more concentrated, slightly caramelized flavor than regular milk). When it comes time to frost the cake, pour it over the cake while it is still warm. 

TOPPINGS Sweet shredded coconut and pecans, toasted to enhance their flavor. If not a fan of pecans, replace them with your favorite nuts and enjoy! 

two images showing process of making topping

How to Make Pineapple Sheet Cake

This homemade pineapple sheet cake is a keeper. 

  1. Mix cake ingredients until smooth and bake (per recipe below).  
  2. Prep the icing and pour over the hot cake.
  3. Top with pecans and serve. 

Once cooled and the icing sets, slice into this delicious cake and serve (if you can wait that long!). 

three photos showing the process of baking pineapple sheet cake

Tips for a Moist Cake

  • Do not overmix the batter. This can cause your cake to become too dense and chewy. 
  • Make sure all the ingredients are measured carefully. Check out this flour measuring guide to ensure the perfect amount of flour! 
  • Do not overcook the cake. Insert a toothpick. When it comes out clean the cake is ready.  
  • For leftovers, remember to cover tightly and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can also be frozen and will keep in the freezer for a couple of months. 

More Cake Recipes

pineapple sheet cake slice on a plate
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Pineapple Sheet Cake

Tender pineapple cake with a delicious glaze topping.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 44 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Author Kathleen

Ingredients  

Cake:

Icing:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • cup evaporated milk
  • ¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup pecans chopped

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 15x10 inch pan.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, mix together cake ingredients until smooth. Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake 20-24 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • While the cake is cooking prepare the icing. Combine sugar, butter, and evaporated milk and boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the coconut.
  • Pour icing over hot cake. Spread pecans on top. Cool and serve.
5 from 4 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Nutrition Information

Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American

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Recipe Adapted from Spicy Southern Kitchen

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About the author

Kathleen is a recipe developer, passionate home cook and the author of the blog Gonna Want Seconds. She has been married to her best friend for 32 years and has two great kids, two Bernese Mountain Dogs, a Quarter Horse and a little green parrot. She is obsessed with cookbooks, cowboy boots, red wine and vintage costume jewelry. Kathleen’s recipes are all tried and true, tested and tweaked and, most importantly, family and friend approved!
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Comments

    1. We haven’t tried this recipe in a 9×13 but it should work, you may need to cook it longer since the cake will be in a deeper dish. Cook it for 24 minutes as listed in the recipe and add more time if needed!

  1. 1 20 ounce pineapple with juice? How much pineapple and how much its juice? Can you be specific? I mean if we drain pineapple can then how much would be pineapple and its juice

    1. You add in the entire 20 Ounce Can Crushed Pineapple with juice as listed in the ingredients. Enjoy, Naila!

  2. Would it be possible to make this with gluten free plain flour instead? And in what quantities?

    1. I have only made the recipe as written so can’t say for sure how it would turn out. Let us know if you try it!

  3. Hello,
    I was wondering if the sugar quantity can be reduced to only 1/2 cup in your pineapple sheet cake recipe without compromising the end result? I am trying to reduce all my sugar intake for health reasons.
    Many thanks
    Emilia

    1. I have only tried this as written. If you try it using less sugar, please let us know how it works out for you!