This Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Cocktail is a spin on a pineapple sour, with an ode to the classic, vintage and granny-esque (in a good way!) pineapple upside-down cake. The cake part comes from a dose of nutmeg and cinnamon, adding a hint of baking spices and sweetness to what otherwise is an acidic and bright bourbon cocktail. It’s cozy, it’s frothy and it’s fun, and if you’re a pineapple head or a bourbon lover, it’s a great cocktail to keep in your rotation.
Ok, yes, the inspiration for this cocktail came from the fact that I LOVE the look of a dried (or just thinly sliced!) pineapple slice and a bright maraschino cherry in the center. So I knew where the cocktail was going, but of course, I knew if this was going to be a dessert-themed cocktail, it needed to have a little froth and body to it. For this Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Cocktail, I opted to use an egg white, but two tablespoons of aquafaba will also work just fine if you are plant-based!
What does an egg white do in cocktails?
Great question, and in short: it makes them frothy and adds a smoother and richer mouthfeel. This happens only when a cocktail is shaken, not stirred. If you whisk an egg white on its own in a bowl, you’ll see that it will become frothy and foamy. Well, the same thing happens when you shake a cocktail! The agitation from ice will speed up the process, so while mixing in a bowl to produce a foamy egg white takes a few minutes, shaking a cocktail with an egg white in it should take about 30 seconds.
And that’s how you get the foamy top on this Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Cocktail! It might seem like an odd addition, but it’s so worth it to up your cocktail game.
Looking for similar recipes?
I have a few others that have similar energy to this cocktail. Meaning: easy, but classy. Here are a few favorites:
And that’s everything for this Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Cocktail!
If you make it, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see! It’s my favorite thing to scroll through stories and see what you all are making.
And of course feel free to leave any questions, comments or reviews! This is the best place to reach me, and I’d love to hear from you <3
Watch the recipe here
The video may not fully represent the recipe. For best results, follow the instructions as written.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Cocktail
Equipment
- 1 cocktail shaker
- 1 rasp-style grater
Ingredients
- 1 large egg white
- 2 ounces fresh lemon juice
- 4 ounces pineapple juice fresh or canned
- 4 ounces bourbon of choice
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 2 slices of dried pineapple optional, for garnish
- 2 maraschino cherries
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Add the egg white, lemon juice, pineapple juice and bourbon to a cocktail shaker. Grate in the nutmeg.
- Add a cup of ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for 30-40 seconds.
- Serve in two lowball glasses. Add a large ice cube to each and place the dried pineapple slice on top. Strain the cocktail over the slice until the foam reaches just under the pineapple garnish. Add a cherry to each glass.
- Use a rasp-style grated to grate over some fresh cinnamon, and serve chilled.
Made these tonight and they were spectacular! Subbed ground nutmeg for freshly grated because I didn’t have any whole nutmeg but it was still delicious.
Curious if you think this will also work as a mocktail, or if you’d need to add anything else. I do drink alcohol, but also looking to up my mocktail game, as there are times I don’t want a drink and have friends who don’t drink as well. Love your recipes (and videos). Thanks for all you do!
Hello! This would be pretty tricky as a mocktail, unless you have an NA bourbon you love! I’m posting a mocktail today though, and it’s pretty delicious <3