Aloha Isle Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe for DOLE Whip Day

Disney is sharing an at-home recipe inspired by the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake served at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom Park. To mark National DOLE Whip Day on July 18, the individual cakes are topped with a Frozen Pineapple Treat inspired by DOLE Whip.

To celebrate National DOLE Whip Day on July 18, Disney Parks is sharing a recipe inspired by the beloved Pineapple Upside-Down Cake at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom Park, topped with a Frozen Pineapple Treat inspired by DOLE Whip. It's a tropical tribute to the frozen classic that debuted at Walt Disney World in 1984.

DOLE Pineapple Whip was created by Dole Packaged Foods for The Walt Disney Company back in 1984, with the very first swirls served at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom Park. Today, Aloha Isle has expanded its pineapple lineup, and this Pineapple Upside-Down Cake has become a guest favorite standing alongside the original frozen treat.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake itself traces to a recipe contest sponsored by DOLE after James Dole, founder of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, hired Henry G. Ginaca to invent a machine that could automatically peel and core pineapples. The resulting flood of canned pineapple rings inspired the iconic dessert, and the juice from the can becomes the secret ingredient in the cake batter for this Disney version.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe from Aloha Isle

Each individual cake is built in an 8-ounce ramekin with a pineapple ring and maraschino cherry on the bottom, topped with a soft butter cake made with reserved pineapple juice. Makes 6 servings.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Lightly grease 8 ounce ramekins with butter and place on baking sheet. Set aside.
3. Drain pineapple rings, reserving 6 tablespoons juice for pineapple upside-down cake.
4. Combine melted butter, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and ground ginger in small bowl and stir until smooth. Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons of brown sugar mixture in the bottom of each ramekin. Place pineapple ring in each ramekin and add a maraschino cherry to the center of each pineapple ring. Set aside.
5. Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder together in a medium bowl and set aside.
6. Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat for 1 minute on medium speed until smooth.
7. Add reserved pineapple juice and half of reserved flour mixture and beat on low speed until smooth. Add milk and remaining flour mixture and continue mixing for 1 minute until batter is smooth.
8. Spread 1/3 cup batter on top of pineapple in each ramekin.
9. Bake for 20-22 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
10. Remove cake from oven and cool for 3 minutes. Run a knife or offset spatula around the edge of each cake. Carefully turn ramekins onto wire rack and gently lift. Cool.

Frozen Pineapple Treat Topping

1. Place 1/2 cup pineapple juice, frozen pineapple, and dairy-free vanilla ice cream in blender and blend until smooth – do not over blend.
2. If the mixture is too thick, add 2 tablespoons of pineapple juice at a time.
3. Scoop onto Pineapple Upside-Down Cake and serve immediately.

Always use caution when handling sharp objects and hot contents. Please supervise children who are helping or nearby. This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens, and the flavor profile may vary from the restaurant's version.

What This Means for Disney Parks Fans

National DOLE Whip Day is the perfect excuse to recreate a taste of Aloha Isle at home, and this recipe lets fans experience one of Magic Kingdom's most-photographed desserts without a park ticket. Pair it with the frozen pineapple topping for a dessert that mimics the flavor of the iconic DOLE Whip that's been part of Walt Disney World's culinary history for over four decades.