Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

These pineapple upside down pancakes are the perfect mix of nostalgia and freshness—with tropical vibes and all the cozy breakfast feels.

Pancakes are known for bringing everyone to the table. But when you flip the script—literally—and make pineapple upside down pancakes, you’ve got a golden, caramelized breakfast moment that feels like a tropical vacation on a plate. This recipe is sweet but not over-the-top, fun to make, and guaranteed to impress whether it’s a lazy Sunday morning or a special brunch with friends.

I kept things super simple with this one—starting with a premade pancake mix (because we love convenience around here!) but elevated it with a few flavorful twists like Agave In The Raw®, pineapple juice, and sparkling water to make the fluffiest, juiciest pancakes you’ve ever tasted. These cook beautifully on the griddle, and the final result? A tropical, gooey, golden pancake with that iconic pineapple-cherry combo on top. Or should I say… underneath?

Why Agave In The Raw®

I love using Agave In The Raw® as a natural sweetener that doesn’t spike my blood sugar the way traditional sugar does. It’s made from the blue agave plant in Jalisco, Mexico, and has a glycemic index of just 19 (compared to sugar’s 63). I swapped it into both the pancake batter and used it to caramelize the pineapples—it adds the perfect touch of sweetness without being overpowering.

Thanks to In The Raw® for partnering with me on this post—it’s always a win when I can share pantry staples I genuinely use and love.

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Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

These pineapple upside down pancakes are the perfect mix of nostalgia and freshness—with tropical vibes and all the cozy breakfast feels. Sweetened naturally with Agave In The Raw®, they’re an easy and fun twist on a classic pancake recipe.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 2 servings

Author natasha

Equipment

• 1 Griddle or your favorite griddle pan

Ingredients

• 2 cups of your favorite pancake mix
• Water amount per package instructions—substitute with sparkling water
• ¼ cup Agave In The Raw® plus 1 tbsp for griddle
• Splash of pineapple juice about 2–3 tbsp
• 6 pineapple rings canned or fresh
• 6 maraschino cherries
• Shredded coconut for garnish
• Pineapple syrup or extra agave for serving

Instructions

Make the pancake batter:

• In a medium bowl, prepare your pancake mix according to package instructions, but use sparkling water instead of still. Add in ¼ cup of Agave In The Raw® and a splash of pineapple juice. Mix until smooth but slightly lumpy—don’t overmix! Let the batter rest for 10 minutes.

Caramelize the pineapple:

• Preheat your griddle to medium heat. Add a tablespoon of Agave In The Raw® and place the pineapple slices directly on the griddle. Let them caramelize on each side for about 2 minutes or until lightly golden.

Assemble and cook:

• Drop a cherry in the center of each pineapple ring. Then, carefully spoon ¼ cup of pancake batter directly over each pineapple slice, covering the top. Cook for about 2–3 minutes or until bubbles start to form. Flip and cook another 2–3 minutes or until both sides are golden brown and cooked through.

Serve:

• Garnish with a sprinkle of shredded coconut, a drizzle of agave or your favorite pineapple maple syrup, and serve warm.

Notes

Really allow the pineapples to caramelize as when they cook they get slippery so they might stick to the spatula. Spray the spatula with cooking spray so it’s non stick and get ready to flip like you mean it! I had a few ugly pancakes because my pineapple was sticking to my spatula so take your time and flip it smoothly. 

These pineapple upside down pancakes are the perfect mix of nostalgia and freshness—with tropical vibes and all the cozy breakfast feels. Sweetened naturally with Agave In The Raw®, they’re an easy and fun twist on a classic pancake recipe

Let me know if you try them!

And as always, thanks again to In The Raw® for supporting this post 💛