Here is another easy dessert recipe that you will fall in love with this summer. This Pineapple Sheet Cake made with cake mix is a cinch to put together and topped with easy cream cheese whipped topping.
If you’re looking for a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert that tastes like sunshine in a bite, this pineapple cake recipe with cake mix is about to be your new go-to. Made with crushed pineapple and yellow cake mix, this ultra-moist sheet cake comes together with minimal effort and is topped with the most luscious cream cheese whipped frosting. Perfect for parties, potlucks, or any day you need a sweet tropical escape.
Why You’ll Love This Pineapple Cake
This cake is all about keeping things easy without compromising flavor. You don’t need a mixer or any special baking skills—just a few pantry staples and a craving for something delicious. The yellow cake mix and pineapple do all the heavy lifting, creating a light and fluffy base with a natural sweetness. Topped with a homemade cream cheese whipped frosting, it’s the kind of dessert that disappears fast.
It’s:
- Ridiculously simple to make
- Packed with real pineapple flavor
- Great for summer and warm-weather gatherings
- Made for sharing—it serves a crowd with ease
Whether you’re prepping for a family cookout or just need a quick dessert to keep in the fridge, this pineapple cake with yellow cake mix is a guaranteed hit.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You won’t believe how short and sweet this ingredient list is. Everything here is either sitting in your pantry or just a quick grocery run away:
- 1 box yellow cake mix – the base of the cake and shortcut to success
- 3 eggs – to bind everything together
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil – for that rich, moist texture
- 1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple (with juice) – do not drain it, the juice is key
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened – for a creamy tang in the frosting
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream – gives the topping that fluffy, cloud-like finish
- 1 cup powdered sugar – to sweeten things up just right
- 2 tsp vanilla extract – adds a cozy depth to the topping
This combo keeps it simple but delivers a bakery-quality bite.
How to Make Pineapple Sheet Cake with Cake Mix
Step 1: Bake the Cake
Preheat your oven to 350°F and grab your trusty 9×13-inch baking pan. Spray it well with non-stick spray so nothing sticks. In a large bowl, mix the yellow cake mix, eggs, oil, and the full can of crushed pineapple—including the juice. Stir everything until smooth using a hand mixer or whisk. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes. It’s done when the top is golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before you even think about frosting.
Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Whipped Topping
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it’s smooth. Slowly pour in about 1/2 cup of the heavy cream while continuing to mix. Once that’s blended, add the rest of the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form—this should take about 2–3 minutes. You want the topping to be thick enough to hold its shape.
Step 3: Frost & Serve
Spread that dreamy whipped topping all over the cooled cake. Slice into generous squares and serve. Each bite delivers soft, fluffy cake with tangy-sweet topping and a tropical vibe. Top the cooled cake with whipped topping, slice into squares, and enjoy every soft, pineapple-packed bite!
Tips for Success
To make sure your cake turns out perfectly every time, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t overmix the batter—just stir until everything is combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake.
- Make sure to use the pineapple with the juice. That liquid is what keeps the cake moist and flavorful.
- Let the cake chill in the fridge before serving. It’s refreshing, cold, and makes slicing easier.
Want to experiment? Try topping it with toasted coconut or chopped maraschino cherries for extra flair.
How to Make the Cream Cheese Whipped Topping
What takes this cake to the next level is the topping. Typically, I am not a fan of whipped frostings but this one is different. I think it’s because of the cream cheese makes the whipped topping a little dense and not so fluffy. Additionally, the flavor of the cream cheese really comes through, making a terrific complement to the pineapple cake. You can also add chopped pecans and sweetened coconut flakes if you would like!
To make this pineapple cake with cream cheese frosting you simply need heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. All you are going to do is cream the cream cheese until it is smooth and slowly add the heavy whipping cream to the cream cheese, add the powdered sugar, and vanilla extract, and beat until stiff peaks occur. That’s it, that’s all!
Overall, this Pineapple Sheet Cake made with cake mix and cream cheese whipped topping is an awesome recipe. You will enjoy the chunks of pineapple in the cake and the moistness it brings. For more recipes made with cake mix, visit my blog post with a full round-up of cake mix recipes!
This pineapple cake recipe with cake mix is everything a summer dessert should be: simple, bright, and totally addictive. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, it’s the perfect sweet for any warm-weather get-together—or just a random Tuesday when you need a little sunshine.
Similar Recipes
If you like recipes with pineapple, check out the recipes below!
- Banana Split Cake
- Cherry Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Pineapple Peach Upside Down Cake
- Banana Pudding Poke Cake
- Delicious Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake
Commonly Asked Questions
Yes! White cake mix works well and will give the cake a slightly lighter flavor. Yellow cake mix has a bit more richness.
Definitely. Bake the cake a day in advance and frost just before serving. Or make the whole thing and store it chilled until needed.
It’s a bit more than that, but it captures that same ease. You can make the cake itself with just cake mix, pineapple, and eggs—but the whipped topping is worth the extra step.
You can, but the cream cheese whipped topping adds better flavor and texture. Totally worth the effort!
Pineapple Sheet Cake with Cake Mix
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 12–16 1x
Description
Enjoy the Pineapple Sheet Cake with Cake Mix with a luscious and smooth whipped topping made with cream cheese!
Ingredients
- 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 c. vegetable oil
- 20 oz. crushed pineapple
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 c. heavy whipped cream
- 2 tsp. Vanilla extract
- 1/2 c. powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 Degrees and spray a 9X13 rectangular pan with baking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the yellow cake mix, add the 3 eggs, vegetable oil, and the crushed pineapple and mix using a handheld mixer. Blend until smooth. Pour in the sprayed prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 35 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely.
- In a separate large bowl, add the cream cheese and use a mixer to blend until creamy. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl. On a slow speed, add 1/2 cup of the whipping cream to combine the cream and cream cheese together.
- Increase the speed to medium. Once you see the cream begin to firm, add the remaining 1 cup of cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract and whip the cream on high speed until firm peaks form about 3 minutes. Once the peaks are firm stop the mixer
- Spread the whipped topping to the top of the cake, cut into squares, and serve.
Notes
Feel free to add chopped pecans and/or sweetened coconut flakes to the batter or on top of the cake with the frosting.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
I have everything I need to make this cake, but I have one question – do you drain the pineapple? I’d love to know before I start – thank you! ????
No I didn’t.
wow i like it its really good thanks for sharing
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Wow. It looks delicious. I love pineapple cakes. So, I will try to make it. Your recipe will help me. Thanks for sharing.
My pantry has some interesting things that are left over from the first COVID lockdown. I searched “yellow cake mix” and “pineapple” and found your recipe. It was yummy, and super easy. The cake was moist and the flavor wasn’t overly sweet. It was a delicious ray of sunshine in this goofy year called 2020. Bake on!
Thank you so much David! SO glad you liked it!
Would love to make this but I only have a fresh pineapple and whiter cake mix. Think that will work?
Would love to make this but I only have a fresh pineapple and whiter cake mix. Think that will work?
I think so.
Should i drain pineapple?
I did a little but you don’t have to.
thanks for sharing this recipebirthdaycake
Yum. Made it and added coconut as suggested. Also toasted some for the icing. Nice recipe.
Thanks Randy!
Very yummy cake… Not too sweet and a perfect snack for any afternoon. Love how the whipped topping turned out and will most likely use that method for other recipes. I used the whole can of pineapple, juice and all. Great recipe!
What about the water for the cake mix?
You don’t need the water for this recipe.
I make this cake with dry cake mix and lg can of crushed pineapple. Everyone loves it !!! But can’t believe you don’t add eggs,water or oil
Awesome Nancy!
Can this recipe be doubled and baked on a large edged baking sheet?
Sure! I don’t think that would be an issue.
I made this for our wine group get together and it was a hit! So light, refreshing and delicious ! I served it with sliced fresh strawberries. Very quick and simple to make. Since I was in a time crunch, I put the cake in the freezer to cool down. Make sure you leave it cool down in the pan for 15 minutes before putting in the freezer. You can then pull it out and frost it.
Thank you for the feedback Megan!
If you’re a fan of coconut, try combining cool whip, cream cheese, and cream of coconut (Goya makes it!) I use this as a fruit dip but I’m using it on this cake today. I searched for pineapple cake to see if I could mix it without the cake falling so thank you for the recipe!
Looks so good! Can I make a layered cake with this or is it too soft? TIA
It is pretty soft but you should be okay.
Do you use the crushed pineapple juice instead of the 1cupwater in box yellow cake mix?
Yes.
Can I use canned chopped apricots instead of pineapple?
You can, but you may want to make the cake as it is instructed on the bo and then add the chopped apricots because you won’t have the juice from the apricots.
I don’t have whipped or heavy whipping for frosting.. can I make it without it??
If you don’t have access to whipping cream or whipped topping in your area, could make a simple cream cheese frosting without it. Or buy store-bought icing if that is easier. I hope this helps.
I made this for Mother’s Day, and it was great and soooooo easy. I used Duncan Heinz Perfectly Pineapple cake mix. This gave the cake a more prevalent pineapple taste.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!!
Hi, for some reason my frosting won’t stiffen up. I’ve added an additional cup of powdered sugar and still no luck. Any suggestions?
The whipped cream/ topping should help it along with the cream cheese. It won’t be too stiff. It will have more a whipped frosting consistency. I hope this helps.
Girl, thank you for this shortcut. I used the Yellow cake mix, added 2 ripe, mashed bananas and 1 cup chopped, toasted pecans..topped it all off with cream cheese frosting and now it’s a Hummingbird cake! Everyone oohed and ahhed and I sat on my little secret. So happy I found your blog.
Awesome! Thank you Peyton! I hope you come back from time to time.
I made Pineapple sheet cake it was amazing I added chopped pecans I remember my Mom used to make this cake but we called it .Mexican fruit cake .thank you lot easier than my real recipe from scratch Christine Craft
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Can this cake be removed from pan then frosted ?
Sure! I think if you’re careful enough it should be fine.
This was super easy and super tasty! My whole family loved it! Not too sweet and the cake came out light and moist. I did add just a pinch of salt to the frosting to enhance the cream cheese flavor. I will happily make this again and again 🙂
I’m going to bring the pineapple to a boil and poke holes in the baked cake nwhile it is still warm. Will this work and hopefully no added sugar required. Later will frost with. lol whip….will all this work please!
It doesn’t sound like a bad strategy but I can’t say in confidence that it will be effective. You can always take a fresh pineapple and grate the pineapple to get about a cup and half and you know your using fresh fruit. Maybe that will work?
Haven’t iced the cake yet, still waiting for it to cool off. The cream cheese whipped cream icing is fantastic!
Awesome! I hope you enjoyed it!
Can I use a Bundt pan ?
Sure! The baking times may change, but it should be fine!
Do you whip it up or use a mixer? Big difference.
It doesn’t matter. If you are talking about the frosting though, I would use a mixer.
Do you drain pineapple
I did drain a little.
Do you use the juice with the crushed pineapple in this cake?
Yes.
If I double the ingredients how does that affect the pan?
It will definitely spill. I would use a large baking pan if you want to double the recipe.
I made this it’s chef 😘 I did drain some of the juice out of the can to use in my icing. 👍🏽
Thank you for sharing this recipe—it sounds like the perfect, easy summer treat! The pineapple with cake mix is brilliant, and the cream cheese whipped topping sounds deliciously creamy and refreshing. Congrats on your pregnancy, too! It’s inspiring how you’re creating such accessible recipes during this time. Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you!