With only 3 ingredients, this ultra moist Pineapple Cake recipe is the perfect summer treat. Low on calories, high on flavor, you’re going to be shocked how easy this cake is to make!
Once you realize the combination of the 3 ingredients in this cake, you’ll see the flavor possibilities are endless!
This easy pineapple cake was originally published in May 2017. The recipe notes and photos were updated in June 2025.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
Taste & Texture: sweet pineapple cake with a dense texture, lightened up with Cool whip topping!
Budget Friendly: only 3 ingredients for this easy cake.
Prep Note: Mix, pour, and bake. It’s that easy.
Gluten Free: Simply use a gluten-free yellow cake mix, and make sure you use gluten-free sprinkles.
Ingredient Swap: not a fan of Cool Whip? Swap them out for homemade whipped cream or my stabilized whipped cream.
I love how light this is! Such a great dessert for after dinner without feeling like you need a nap afterwards.
– Jen
Only 3 Ingredients needed
These are the basic 3 ingredients, however sprinkles are always a must, so I guess that makes four. Scroll down to the recipe card for full measurements.
- Yellow cake mix – Boxed yellow cake mix saves time and adds a nice vanilla flavor.
- Pineapple – Crushed pineapple in juice makes this cake taste juicy and flavorful.
- Cool Whip – This ready-made low-fat whipped dessert is perfect for spreading and keeping its shape. Use stabilized whipped cream if you don’t want to use Cool Whip.
Sprinkles – Optional sprinkles add a fun visual appeal to the cake. Plus, you can pick seasonal colors and designs.
How to Make Pineapple Cake
Make the Cake Batter.
- Combine cake mix with canned pineapple in juices (don’t drain the juice)!
- Pour into a 13×9 baking dish. Use baking spray or my homemade cake release on the pan.
Add the Topping.
- Wait until the cake has cooled COMPLETELY.
- Top the cake with thawed Cool Whip and add sprinkles. Store cake in refrigerator for 3 hours before serving. Keep covered in fridge for up to one week.
More Pineapple Desserts
- Love pineapple desserts? My delicious skinny pineapple cupcake recipe is light and delicious! Of course pineapple upside down cake is always a hit with guests.
- If you love pineapple, be sure to try my delicious pineapple pie recipe next. So easy, and no bake too!
- Bake up a loaf of my easy pineapple carrot zucchini bread. Loaded with flavor.
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3 Ingredient Pineapple Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix for 13×9 cake
- 1 can crushed pineapple (DO NOT DRAIN) 20 ounce
- 12 ounce Cool Whip thawed
- sprinkles optional
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix with crushed pineapple (and the juice from the can). Mix until well blended, and no dry mix to be found.
- Pour batter into a greased 13×9 baking dish.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-28 minutes.
- Cool and refrigerate for 3 hours. Top with thawed Cool Whip (or make your own whipped cream). Serve cold and enjoy!
I love this recipe, it is so simple and very light for summer . My son ask for it all the time.
Exceptionally easy and quick to prepare
MAde it for a community social.
It was one of first to disappear. Light and tasty as well as visual appearance plus plus
Love your blog and use your recipes all the time
Thank you so much!
Aww thank you so much!
I love a good pineapple cake and this one is awesome! so easy to make too. Thanks for sharing!
I love how light this is! Such a great dessert for after dinner without feeling like you need a nap afterwards.
I follow the 80/20 rule which sometimes falls into the 70/30 rule…ha..ha…..I try to fix good healthy meals a lot but don’t stress out over some quick easy summer deserts that tastes good and everyone else enjoys too……………I thank you for publishing this and have a family reunion coming up in a couple weeks and will give it a try…………pretty sure there won’t be any crumbs left……and you know what I do with recipes I don’t want? I just delete them…………..:)…………..anyway, enjoy your blog and thanks for putting a lot of work into it that we can enjoy…………
Aww thanks. I’m sure this one will be a big hit, ENJOY!
Oops…should have said IT…not I ????
So glad you loved it 🙂
I made this last week….only I ended up using pineapple chunks because that’s all we had. I was delicious! Gonna try some other combinations now ????
Nice one, looks yummy and fresh!!
made this a few years ago for girls week-end at the beach–not even crumbs leftover–we loved it ! So easy–I did cream cheese frosting, so not skinny, but soo good.
It’s all about balance, haha. Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Since when is a saturated fat, ‘box mix’ an ingredient…? Or , when did cool whip become ‘low-fat’..? At 25 calories per oz. Skinny cake ? Only in america ! Gross.
I guess you haven’t heard of fat free Cool Whip. My mom always said, if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything…..so I’ll just say bless your little heart.
🙂
What our grandkids he calories and fat, carbs etc in this skinny pineapple cake?