These homemade pineapple upside down pancakes are the perfect breakfast recipe for anyone with a sweet tooth! Light, fluffy, and packed with sweet pineapple flavor, you can’t go wrong with these dessert-inspired pancakes.

An overhead image of a stack of homemade pineapple upside down pancakes served on a white plate, topped with whipped cream, honey drizzle, cherries, and pineapple pieces.

Hey, Cousins! Today, I’m coming to you with a breakfast recipe. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love breakfast food—eggs, bacon, pancakes, waffles… you name it, I love it! I could eat breakfast food all day, every day and never get tired of it. I’m the same way with desserts… which is exactly why I’m making a dessert-inspired breakfast recipe for y’all today: pineapple upside down pancakes, 100% homemade!

Dessert for Breakfast with Pineapple Pancakes

If I could get away with eating cake all day, I probably would. No joke! When my husband and I recently went out to breakfast, my eyes found the sweetest thing on the menu: pineapple upside down pancakes! I couldn’t believe it—I had to order it. I mean, come on, did you seriously think I would pass up the opportunity to eat pineapple pancakes for breakfast?!

A screenshot of an I Heart Recipes Instagram post showing a picture of pineapple upside down pancakes on a plate with eggs and sausage.

While these restaurant pancakes made for a delicious breakfast, they weren’t the best pancakes. They were good and I really liked them, but I knew from the jump that I wanted to recreate these pancakes, Cousins Rosie style. So, I made a list of exactly what I wanted to improve on:

The pancakes were good—however, I don’t think they were made from scratch. This isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker for me, but I knew I could make a tasty from-scratch pancake batter.
The pineapple chunks were a little too big for me. I wanted to use crushed pineapple instead of huge pieces.
I wanted pancakes that tasted more like pineapple upside-down cake. So, I knew I needed to make them sweeter with the addition of a few key ingredients.

I played around in the kitchen and came up with a homemade pineapple upside-down pancake recipe that is SUPER easy to make. It’s the perfect recipe for an Easter or Christmas breakfast or brunch. Maybe even for Mother’s Day!

Ingredients for Homemade Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

Believe it or not, a from-scratch pancake batter is easier than you may think! As much as I love Bisquick and other quick pancake mixes, nothing beats a homemade buttermilk pancake batter. Making your own pancake batter is crazy simple, and it’s the perfect base for these decadent pineapple upside down pancakes. Scroll on down to the recipe card to find the complete ingredient measurements for these delicious pancakes.

Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt: these four ingredients are the base of your homemade pancake batter.
Buttermilk: for perfectly moist and fluffy pancakes. If you don’t have buttermilk, use regular milk or alternatives like almond milk or coconut milk.
Eggs: give structure to the pancakes.
Cinnamon & Nutmeg: warm spices that complement the sweet pineapple flavor.
Brown Sugar: for that caramelized flavor.
Crushed Pineapple: I prefer smaller pineapple pieces over big chunks. Canned crushed pineapple mixes perfectly into the batter.
Almond & Vanilla Extract: these are two key ingredients for that just-like pineapple upside-down cake flavor!

I think buttermilk is a crucial ingredient in homemade pancakes—it gives your pancakes a rich moistness that you can’t get with plain milk. However, if you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of regular milk. Let the mixture stand for about 10 minutes, and then you’re ready to go!

How to Make Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes (Steps + Video Tutorial)

Y’all ready to learn how to make the easiest pineapple upside down pancakes? If you’re a breakfast girlie like me, these homemade pancakes are the perfect treat – sweet, decadent, and ridiculously simple! No more searching for pineapple pancakes at restaurants near you when you can make an entire batch at home, all for yourself!

Pineapple Upside Down Pancake Recipe Steps:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients for the pancake batter—all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Add the wet ingredients to the same bowl—buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Then add the crushed pineapple (you don’t have to drain the pineapple juice from the can).
Heat your frying pan, large skillet, or griddle to medium heat and melt butter (you can swap butter out with coconut oil or canola oil if preferred).
Pour 1/3 to 1/2 cup of batter per pancake onto the skillet (you can make them bigger if you want, but I find this size easiest to flip without a mess).
Cook the pancakes until they’re golden brown on both sides, flipping when you see bubbles all over the top of the pancakes.

Video Tutorial

This short and sweet video will show you exactly how easy it is to make delicious pineapple upside down pancakes from scratch! Be sure to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube, and check out my Breakfast and Brunch Recipes playlist for more ideas!

Recipe Tips, Tricks, and FAQs for Homemade Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

Top your pineapple upside down pancakes with even more goodness! I top mine with a drizzle of honey, whipped cream, pineapple pieces, and maraschino cherries.
Regular maple syrup is also a great option for a classic pancake topping.
Don’t overmix your pancake batter! A few lumps in the batter is okay. Overmixing will cause a dense, flat pancake.
Remember, it always takes a few tries to get that perfect golden brown, caramelized pineapple crust on your pancakes. If your skillet or griddle is too hot, turn that heat down and cook them low and slow.

How to Make a Caramelized Pineapple Topping for Your Pineapple Pancakes

Y’all know that one of the main features of classic pineapple upside-down cakes is that sweet, tender caramelized pineapple ring on top. How the heck do you recreate that for these pineapple pancakes?! I gotcha.

Start by melting some brown sugar and butter in a pan over medium heat. Once that’s melted and combined, add the pineapple slices (you can also use pineapple chunks) and cook them in the brown sugar sauce until they’re soft, tender, and caramelized. Add the pineapple to your pancakes with a drizzle of sauce, and wooooowie, cousins—delicious!

Storing and Reheating Leftover Pancakes

If you make a big ol’ batch of pineapple upside down pancakes, they’re just as delicious days later! Store leftovers in a freezer bag or airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat the pancakes in the toaster oven for a few minutes or in the microwave for 15-second intervals until warmed through. Pack them in your kids’ lunches, or freeze a batch for fast weekday breakfasts!

A closeup image of three pineapple pancakes topped with whipped cream, cherries, pineapple pieces, and a drizzle of honey.

More Sweet Breakfast Ideas from I Heart Recipes

Loved these dangerously sweet pineapple upside down pancakes? Try these sweet breakfast recipes next time!

Have you tried any of my recipes? Tag me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to show off your skills! Don’t forget to check out my cookbook series, loaded with many recipes you can’t find anywhere else.