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Elvis Presley Cake

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 so 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. See my post on How to Soften Cream Cheese Quickly if you forgot to soften it in time. I also have a great hack for How To Soften Butter Quickly as well.
  • 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.
  • I think if you like this cake then you will love my other recipe for Southern Pecan Praline Cake. That one is inexplicably delicious!
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: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • 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. 

collage of two photos: cake mix, eggs, oil and water in a bowl; prepared cake batter in a baking dish.

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.

collage of two photos: sugar and crushed pineapple added to a sauce pan; a whisk shown mixing the mixture together.

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.

collage of two photos: a baked cake with holes poked into it; pineapple sugar mixture spread on top of cake.

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.) 

college of two photos: butter and cream cheese shown in a bowl; powdered sugar added to butter and cream cheese mixture.

Finally, stir in the chopped pecans (if using.) Drop the frosting by dollops onto the cake.

collage of two photos: chopped pecans added to cream cheese frosting; frosting spread on top of cake.

Smooth and spread it to coat. Cover and refrigerate the cake until fully chilled before serving. The cake will keep for up to 5 days when stored, covered, in the refrigerator.

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

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

Pineapple ELVIS PRESLEY Cake

Elvis Presley Cake

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

  • 1 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), softened to room temperature
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

  • Prepare 1 box yellow cake mix with (ingredients needed to make cake; eggs, oil and water) and bake according to package directions for a 9×13-inch baking pan.
    prepared cake batter in a baking dish.
  • While cake is baking, stir together 20 ounce can crushed pineapple in juice and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.
    crushed pineapple and sugar in a sauce pan.
  • 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.
    whisking pineapple mixture in a sauce pan.
  • Once the cake is finished baking, while still hot, poke holes all over the top with a fork.
    fully baked yellow cake with holes poked in it.
  • Pour the warm pineapple mixture over the cake. Spread out the pineapple mixture so it evenly covers the cake.
    pineapple mixture spread evenly on top of cake.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely. Once cake is cooled, it's time to start the frosting.
  • In a large bowl, beat together 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened to room temperature and 11/2 cup salted butter (1 stick), softened to room temperature using an electric or stand mixer) on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.
    Butter and cream cheese in a bowl.
  • Gradually add in 3 cups powdered sugar (a little at a time) beating until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Remember, if using a stand mixer, to occasionally scrape down the sides.
    powdered sugar added to whipped butter and cream cheese.
  • Finally, stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans.
    chopped pecans added to cream cheese frosting in bowl.
  • Drop the frosting by dollops onto the cake. Smooth and spread it to coat.
    Cream cheese frosting spread onto cake.
  • Cover and refrigerate the cake until fully chilled before serving (2 hours). This gives time for the flavors to come together so don't skip this step.
    Elvis Presley Cake slice on a white plate with milk in the background

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

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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.