These Pineapple Upside Down Cake Foil Packets are an old-fashioned favorite made easier with a shortcake dessert shell and then prepared into foil packets for a fun camping treat!
Pair these with our Jambalaya Foil Packets or Kielbasa and Vegetable Foil Packets for a full camping meal!
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe – Foil Packs
- Camping fantasy: hike, fish, swim, skip stones, search for the perfect walking stick, star gaze, play flashlight tag, build a campfire, cuddle up and fall asleep listening to crickets.
- Camping reality: swat bugs away, search for the first aid kit, wish you had a real bathroom, wake up with a back ache, dream about a shower.
HA. Well, really it’s all of those things. I think my younger body still wants to go every year. But my older body is like “you’re kidding me, right?”
We always do the typical hot dogs and s’mores, but this year I’m all about foil packet recipes. They’re so easy to pack, prepare, and cook. I gave this Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe a trial run. Four times. Obsessed!
Ingredients Needed
You only need a few simple items for this upside-down pineapple cake recipe.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Brown sugar
- Unsalted Butter
- Pineapple ring (fresh or canned)
- Maraschino cherries
- Shortcake dessert shell – (the kind used for Strawberry Shortcake, usually found near the fresh strawberries) OR a glazed donut would be delish!
- Vanilla ice cream, for serving.
How to Make Foil Packet Pineapple Cake
This foil packet dessert is so easy to make!
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Prep the foil. Tear off a 12×12-inch square of nonstick aluminum foil.
- Build the cake. Mound the brown sugar and butter in the center, followed by the pineapple slice and maraschino cherry. Top with the dessert shell, flat side up.
- Secure the foil pack. Fold in the sides of the foil and seal to form the packet.
- Grill. Grill for 12-13 minutes over medium-high heat.
- Serve. To serve, flip the cakes over. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
Bake In The Oven Instead
Video: Pineapple Upside Down Cake Foil Packets
More Dessert Camping Recipes:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Foil Packets
Ingredients
- 1 & 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 whole pineapple ring
- 1 whole maraschino cherry
- 1 whole shortcake dessert shell
- vanilla ice cream for serving , optional
Instructions
- Tear off a 12×12-inch square of nonstick aluminum foil.
- Mound the brown sugar and butter in the center, followed by the pineapple slice and maraschino cherry. Top with the dessert shell, flat side up.
- Fold in the sides of the foil and seal to form the packet.
- Grill for 12-13 minutes over medium-high heat.
- To serve, flip the cakes over. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.
What is the shell? I know it’s spongecake, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a shell….could I buy a shortcake and just do slices? I imagine I could…..
Hi Malinda – Yep, it’s a spongecake. It’s round and the center is sunken in which is perfect for holding the pineapple and cherry. They’re always kept near the strawberries. If your store doesn’t carry them, I’m sure slices of shortcake or pound cake will be fine. Enjoy!
So easy , so yummy, made 60 of these on a flat top grill for church youth camp.
I added a splash of vanilla rum. DELISH!
I am making these for a family campout – probably 2 doz or so. Has anyone made these in a dutch camp oven – cast iron dutch oven with legs and concave lid? I think this would make it easier for so many packets.
I was wondering what are “Shortbread Dessert Shells” and after reading through the comments I believe they are the “Sponge Cake Dessert Shells”. Is this correct? Is this what you used in your recipe? I live all things pineapple and want to try this. I just need to be sure “Spongecake” will work because that’s quite different from Shirtbread.
Thanks!
Hi Nancy – it says shortcake, not shortbread…which would also be very different! Yes, they’re the spongecake dessert shells.
I just made this little goodie and it is tasty. I baked salmon in the oven and thought what a great time to try these. Turned out good and very quick to put together. I almost think next time I will double the sugar and pineapple to make a larger serving. Ice cream on top is a home run. Thanks for sharing!
Looks great and would love to try it camping this weekend. I am assuming that since it is a camping recipe it is prepped made ahead of time? How far in advance have you made it. Im wondering if the sponge cake gets crazy soggy from the moisture of the pineapple slice.
Hey Chris – I’ve never made this in advance.
If baking in the oven, do you need to cover the baking dish with foil?
Yes. This will create the steam which allows it to cook, but not dry out. You’ll also need to coat the pan with non stick spray.
Made these for camping last weekend and they were a huge hit!
Can these be made in a baking dish
Sure. Make sure it’s coated with nonstick spray, though. Enjoy!
I added a bit of coconut rum and served with a drizzle of caramel sauce. SO GOOD!!
what is a dessert shell ?
They’re sponge cakes, usually found near the strawberries, but sometimes in the bread aisle or bakery department. Most people use them to make Strawberry Shortcake. If you Google it, a bunch of images will come up.
I made them in the oven and they came out great! Thanks for such a simple treat idea.