If you're looking for an easy dessert to make on the grill, this Pineapple Dump Cake is one you've got to try. We're taking pineapple tidbits, crushed pineapple, yellow cake mix, and melted butter and turning them into one good dessert. I'm also adding a little of my Heath Riles BBQ Pineapple Habanero Glaze for some extra flavor.

There's not much prep work involved, and you don't need to be an expert baker to get this one right. Just layer your ingredients in an aluminum pan, put it on the smoker, and let everything cook until the top is golden brown. This is a great dessert for your next backyard BBQ, family gathering, or anytime you're craving something sweet.

Easy Pineapple Dump Cake on the Pellet Grill | Heath Riles BBQ

I love a recipe that doesn't take a lot of work but still turns out great, and that's exactly what we've got here. This Pineapple Dump Cake uses just a handful of ingredients, and everything comes together right in the pan.

For this cook, I'm using my Smokin Brothers Premier Plus Pellet Grill with Royal Oak Hickory Blend Charcoal Pellets. We're cooking at 350°F until the cake is golden brown and set. The pineapple underneath stays nice and juicy, while the yellow cake mix and butter create a rich topping.

Let's get started!

Why This Recipe Works

Simple ingredients. You only need a few pantry staples to make this dessert. There's no homemade cake batter or complicated preparation involved.

Plenty of pineapple flavor. Using both pineapple tidbits and crushed pineapple gives you a good combination of texture and sweetness.

A little extra kick. My Heath Riles BBQ Pineapple Habanero Glaze adds another layer of pineapple flavor with a touch of heat.

Easy preparation and cleanup. Everything goes into one aluminum pan, so you don't have to worry about dirtying a bunch of dishes.

Great for the grill. Cooking this dessert on the pellet grill means you can make something sweet while you've already got the smoker fired up.

The Ingredients

You don't need much to make this Pineapple Dump Cake. Here's what I'm using.

• Pineapple Tidbits. One can of pineapple tidbits adds sweet, juicy pineapple pieces throughout the dessert. Be sure to include the juice when adding them to the pan.
• Crushed Pineapple. One can of crushed pineapple helps create the soft pineapple filling underneath the cake topping.
• Heath Riles BBQ Pineapple Habanero Glaze. I'm adding a little of my Pineapple Habanero Glaze for extra sweetness and a touch of heat that goes great with the pineapple.
• Brown Sugar. A little brown sugar adds sweetness to the pineapple mixture, and another pinch or two over the top helps finish everything off.
• Yellow Cake Mix. One box of yellow cake mix creates the topping. We're using it straight out of the box, so there's no need to prepare the batter separately.
• Butter. Two sticks of melted butter go over the cake mix to help create that buttery, golden-brown topping.
• Cooking Spray. A light coating of cooking spray keeps the dessert from sticking to the aluminum pan.

Cooking Setup

For this recipe, I've got my Smokin Brothers Premier Plus Pellet Grill fired up to 350°F using Royal Oak Hickory Blend Charcoal Pellets.

I'm using an aluminum half pan to make everything easy. We'll assemble the entire dessert right in the pan before placing it on the top rack of the smoker.

Plan on approximately 1½ hours of cooking time, but keep an eye on the cake as it cooks. We're looking for a golden-brown topping and a cake that's set in the middle.

The Process

Prepare the Pan and Add the Pineapple

Start by spraying your aluminum half pan with a light coating of cooking spray to keep everything from sticking.

Next, add one can of pineapple tidbits, juice and all. Follow that with one can of crushed pineapple. Using a silicone spatula, mix the two together until the pineapple is evenly distributed across the bottom of the pan.

We're keeping all that pineapple juice in there because it's going to help everything cook together.

Add the Pineapple Habanero Glaze and Brown Sugar

Once you've got your pineapple mixed up, add a little Heath Riles BBQ Pineapple Habanero Glaze over the top.

This is going to give us some extra pineapple flavor with just a little kick. You don't need a whole lot here.

Next, sprinkle a little brown sugar over the pineapple mixture for some added sweetness.

Add the Yellow Cake Mix

Now we're going to take one box of yellow cake mix and spread it evenly over the pineapple.

Make sure you've got the cake mix distributed across the pan so everything cooks as evenly as possible. There's no need to mix up the cake batter beforehand. We're just using the dry cake mix straight out of the box.

That's what makes this recipe so simple.

Pour the Melted Butter Over the Top

Once you've got your cake mix spread out, take two sticks of melted butter and pour them evenly over the top.

Try to cover as much of the dry cake mix as possible.

Now, here's the important part: Don't stir it up.

We're going to leave everything layered just like it is. As the cake cooks, the pineapple filling will stay underneath while the butter and cake mix come together on top.

Finish with Brown Sugar

Before we get this on the smoker, I'm going to take another pinch or two of brown sugar and sprinkle it right over the top.

This adds a little more sweetness and helps give the finished cake a nice golden-brown topping.

That's all there is to the prep work. Now we're ready to get it cooking.

Get the Pineapple Dump Cake on the Smoker

With our Smokin Brothers pellet grill running at 350°F, we're going to place the aluminum pan on the top rack.

Close the lid and let it cook.

You don't need to stir anything or mess with the cake while it's cooking. Just let the heat do its job.

Check and Rotate the Pan

At about 45 minutes, I checked on our Pineapple Dump Cake, and it was starting to brown up nicely.

I went ahead and rotated the pan to help everything cook evenly. You could see the topping starting to set, but it wasn't quite ready yet.

I closed the lid and let it keep cooking. I initially thought another 15–20 minutes might finish it, but it ended up taking a little longer.

Cook Until Golden Brown

After a little over 1½ hours, our Pineapple Dump Cake was looking just right.

The top had browned up nicely, and the cake wasn't really jiggling anymore. That's what I'm looking for before pulling it off the smoker.

Every grill cooks a little differently, so don't worry if yours takes a little more or less time. Just make sure the topping is golden brown and the cake has set.

Let It Cool and Serve

Once the cake is finished, carefully remove the aluminum pan from the smoker and bring it inside.

Let it cool for a little while before serving. The pineapple filling is going to be hot, and giving it some time to rest will make it easier to scoop out.

Once mine cooled off, I grabbed a bite, and y'all, it was good. Between the sweet pineapple, buttery cake topping, and that little bit of Pineapple Habanero Glaze, this is one dessert I'll definitely be making again.

The Results

Y'all, this Pineapple Dump Cake turned out great! After a little over an hour and a half on the smoker, we had a nice golden-brown topping with plenty of sweet, juicy pineapple underneath.

I really like how the butter and yellow cake mix come together to create that rich topping. The pineapple keeps everything nice and moist, while my Heath Riles BBQ Pineapple Habanero Glaze adds a little extra flavor and a touch of heat.

Once it cooled down, I grabbed a bite, and I can tell y'all right now, this is one you'll want to make every weekend. It's a great dessert to throw on the grill when you've already got it fired up for supper.

Perfect Pairings

If you're planning a backyard BBQ or family dinner, this Pineapple Dump Cake is a great way to finish off the meal. Here are a few recipes I'd recommend serving before dessert.

• Spicy Mango Pineapple Wings. These Spicy Mango Pineapple Wings are a great option if you're looking for something sweet with a little heat. The mango and pineapple flavors go great together, and they've got just enough kick to keep things interesting. Serve these up for game day or your next cookout, then finish things off with a serving of Pineapple Dump Cake.
• Hot Honey Pineapple Ribs. You can't go wrong with a good slab of ribs, and these Hot Honey Pineapple Ribs are packed with flavor. The combination of sweet pineapple and hot honey makes them a great main dish for a backyard BBQ. Follow them up with this Pineapple Dump Cake for a meal that's got plenty of sweet and spicy flavor.
• Hawaiian Grilled Ribeye with Pineapple Soy Marinade. If you're in the mood for steak, give this Hawaiian Grilled Ribeye a try. The pineapple soy marinade adds a great combination of sweet and savory flavors to the beef. It's a good choice for a weekend dinner, especially when you've got this Pineapple Dump Cake ready to serve afterward.
• Grilled Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Pineapple Slaw. For something a little lighter, these Grilled Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Pineapple Slaw are hard to beat. The grilled fish and fresh pineapple slaw make for one flavorful taco. Pair them with this Pineapple Dump Cake, and you've got a great meal for a summer cookout or family get-together.

Storing Leftovers

If you've got any Pineapple Dump Cake left over, you can save it to enjoy over the next few days.

Refrigerating. Let the cake cool before covering the aluminum pan tightly with foil or transferring the leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate within two hours of cooking and store for up to 3–4 days.

Reheating. You can enjoy this dessert cold, but I like it best warmed up. Just place a serving in the microwave and heat until warm. You can also reheat it in an oven-safe dish at 300°F until heated through.

Freezing. You can freeze leftover Pineapple Dump Cake in a freezer-safe container for up to 2–3 months for the best quality. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The pineapple filling may be a little softer after freezing, but it'll still taste good.

Tips for the Best Pineapple Dump Cake

This recipe is pretty simple, but there are a few things I'd keep in mind to make sure it turns out right.

• Keep the pineapple juice. Don't drain your pineapple tidbits before adding them to the pan. That juice helps keep everything moist and gives the cake plenty of pineapple flavor.
• Spread the cake mix evenly. Make sure your dry yellow cake mix covers the pineapple mixture as evenly as possible. This will help the topping cook consistently across the pan.
• Don't stir the layers together. Once you've added the cake mix and melted butter, leave everything alone. We want that pineapple filling underneath and the buttery cake topping on top.
• Pour the butter evenly. Try to get the melted butter over as much of the cake mix as possible. This helps prevent dry spots and gives you a better topping.
• Rotate the pan if needed. I rotated mine after about 45 minutes to help everything brown evenly. Depending on your grill, you may need to do the same.
• Make sure the cake is set. Mine took a little over an hour and a half at 350°F. You're looking for a golden-brown top and a cake that isn't jiggling excessively in the middle.
• Let it cool before serving. Give the cake a little time to rest after taking it off the grill. The pineapple filling will be hot, and letting it cool makes it easier to serve.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for a simple dessert to make on your pellet grill, give this Pineapple Dump Cake a try. You don't need a bunch of ingredients or any special baking skills, and the whole thing comes together right in an aluminum pan.

I really like the combination of sweet pineapple, brown sugar, and that buttery cake topping. Adding a little of my Pineapple Habanero Glaze gives it something extra without making the recipe complicated.

This is one of those desserts you can throw together while you've got something else cooking on the grill. Once you try it, I think you'll see why I enjoyed it so much.

Give it a try at your next cookout, and let me know what you think!

Equipment & Tools

Smokin Brothers Premier Plus Pellet Grill, Royal Oak Hickory Blend Charcoal Pellets, Aluminum Half Pan, Measuring Cup, Silicone Spatula