Home » Dessert Recipes » Elvis Presley Cake (+Video)

Elvis Presley Cake (+Video)

This Elvis Presley Cake starts with a boxed cake mix and topped with an amazing pineapple glaze and the most delicious homemade frosting!

A PINEAPPLE CAKE WITH A CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

I have such a fun recipe to share with y’all today! Seriously, you are gonna fall in love with this cake. I’ll be honest, I have no clue how it got its name. You always hear that Elvis Presley loved his peanut butter and banana sandwiches but this definitely doesn’t have those flavors. However, it was rumored that he loved pineapple cakes! this recipe definitely fits that bill!

ELVIS PRESLEY Cake slice on a white plate with milk in the background

TIPS FOR MAKING ELVIS PRESLEY CAKE:

  • To really enhance the pineapple flavors, you can use a pineapple cake mix.
  • It’s very important the cream cheese be at room temperature. If it isn’t, your frosting will come out lumpy.
  • If you don’t want a cream cheese frosting, just leave out the cream cheese from the frosting recipe.
  • The pecans are optional in the frosting. Or, feel free to switch it up with walnuts. Pecans are very southern so we think that was only fitting for Elvis.
  • I haven’t tried making this as a layer cake yet. Once the cake gets saturated with the pineapple glaze, it becomes very moist and therefore doesn’t always lend itself for layering. If you try it, please let me know!
  • Be sure to look for crushed pineapple in 100% juice, not syrup. The syrup kind is thick and is super sweet.
ELVIS PRESLEY Cake recipe from The Country Cook, slice shown on a white plate with forks and an additional slice in the background

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • yellow cake mix
  • (ingredients needed to make cake; eggs, oil and water)
  • crushed pineapple in juice (not heavy syrup)
  • sugar
  • cream cheese
  • salted butter
  • powdered sugar
  • chopped pecans
yellow cake mix, (ingredients needed to make cake; eggs, oil and water), crushed pineapple in juice (not heavy syrup), sugar, cream cheese, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, chopped pecans

HOW TO MAKE ELVIS PRESLEY CAKE:

Prepare yellow cake mix according to package directions for a 9×13-inch baking pan. While cake is baking, stir together the pineapple and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved (about 2-3 minutes.) Remove from heat and wait for cake to finish baking.

crushed pineapple and sugar in a saucepan with a whisk

Once the cake is finished baking, while still hot, poke holes all over the top with a fork.

poking holes into a baked cake with a fork

Pour the warm pineapple mixture over the cake.

pouring crushed pineapple mixture into poked holes in cake

Spread out the pineapple mixture so it evenly covers the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely.

spreading pineapple mixture evenly over cake with an offset spatula

Once cake is cooled, it’s time to start the frosting! In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter (using an electric or stand mixer) on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.

mixing together softened cream cheese and butter in a stand mixer

Gradually add in the confectioner’s sugar, beating until the frosting is smooth and creamy (remember, if using a stand mixer, to occasionally scrape down the sides.) Finally, stir in the chopped pecans (if using.) Drop the frosting by dollops onto the cake.

spreading homemade pecan cream cheese frosting over cake

Smooth and spread it to coat. Cover and refrigerate the cake until fully chilled before serving.

closeup, slice of yellow pineapple cake with homemade pecan cream cheese frosting

The cake will keep for up to 5 days when stored, covered, in the fridge.

Elvis Presely Cake, slice on a plate with milk

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

Pineapple ELVIS PRESLEY Cake

Elvis Presley Cake (+Video)

This Elvis Presley Cake starts with a boxed cake mix and topped with an amazing pineapple glaze and the most delicious homemade frosting!
4.94 from 31 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix
  • (ingredients needed to make cake; eggs, oil and water)
  • 20 ounce can crushed pineapple in juice (not heavy syrup)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • ½ cup salted butter (1 stick), at room temperature
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

  • Prepare yellow cake mix according to package directions for a 9 x 13″ baking pan.
  • While cake is baking, stir together the pineapple and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  • Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved (about 2-3 minutes). Remove from heat and wait for cake to finish baking.
  • Once the cake is finished baking, while still hot, poke holes all over the top with a fork.
  • Pour the warm pineapple mixture over the cake.
  • Spread out the pineapple mixture so it evenly covers the cake.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely. Once cake is cooled, it's time to start the frosting!
  • In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter (using an electric or stand mixer) on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.
  • Gradually add in the confectioner's sugar, beating until the frosting is smooth and creamy. (remember, if using a stand mixer, to occasionally scrape down the sides)
  • Finally, stir in the chopped pecans.
  • Drop the frosting by dollops onto the cake.
  • Smooth and spread it to coat.
  • Cover and refrigerate the cake until fully chilled before serving (2 hours).

Video

YouTube video

Notes

The cake will keep for up to 5 days when stored, covered, in the fridge.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Sodium: 316mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 65g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @thecountrycook and mention us #thecountrycook!

Originally published: November 2013
Updated & republished: August 2020

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




211 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this as a treat for the lady who helps take care of me. I’m a paraplegic and she helps with showers, personal things. She’s a huge fan of Elvis! She was wondering what I was making and I wouldn’t tell her until she had the first bite! She said the cake was SO moist and delicious! Told her then what it was called. She was SO surprised! Delicious and will make again for sure! My pineapples were only in a 20oz can. I added another 1/2 cup of sugar while melting it in the pot. FYI

  2. 5 stars
    When I retired 2 years ago I said I would start baking more. Believe it or not this is the first cake I made
    Reminds me a 7up cake. It is delicious and everyone thinks so.

  3. 5 stars
    I love, love, love cookbooks! I'm a "collector", lol! I also read Christy Jordan's first cookbook (not just cooked the recipes, but read the content), and it was awesome.