‘Fantastic pantry staple’ behind 4-ingredient slice

Cake mix has to be one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. How does one box contain almost all the ingredients you need to whip up a proper cake?

While cake mix is a fantastic pantry staple to create a last-minute birthday cake or just-because cake, it can be the base of many more sweet delights, like this 4-ingredient pineapple slice recipe, by Best Recipes contributor Greer Worsley.

By using cake mix in a clever way (dividing it up and mixing with different ingredients for the base and topping), the end result has all the tropical flavours for a summer’s day dessert.

History of cake mix

Woolworths butter cake mix

While many sources state that box cake mix was created after World War II, the history of cake mix patents tell a different story.

In the early 1930s, a molasses company named P.Duff and Sons applied for a patent for a new product.

The company founder John D. Duff had figured out how to dehydrate molasses and combine with flour and other ingredients to create a dry gingerbread cake mix.

It was sold in a can (yes, not a box!) and home cooks needed to just add water.

After a few years he adapted the mix to remove the powdered egg, so cooks would add their own eggs.

According to his patent application, “The housewife and the purchasing public in general seem to prefer fresh eggs.”

Then in the 1950s, amidst the rise of convenience products and post-war innovation from flour companies, cake mixes really took off as a household ingredient and multiple companies introduced their version of the dry box mix.

Variations on the box cake mix

Fast forward to now, where cake mixes are available in classic and trend-inspired flavours, with new options coming out constantly.

Now these packets can lead to exciting new recipes that go beyond the directions on the back of the box – check out these unexpected ways to use a packet cake mix.

That’s why we love this 4-ingredient pineapple slice recipe. With only a handful of ingredients including a butter cake mix, you get a layered fruity and coconut treat.

The cake mix brings the flour, sweetness and and rising agents, making the process (and shopping list) so much simpler, while the crushed pineapple and desiccated coconut are a classic pair that add an island-inspired flavour boost.

Check out the rave reviews

Best Recipes users love this easy 4-ingredient pineapple slice, here’s what they’re saying:

“Very tasty, like a pineapple upside down cake (without the sweetness). As long (as) you take care to drain the pineapple well this is a ‘never fail’ slice.” -relle

“Love this so easy and turned out perfectly. My new favourite go-to slice!” – Goodolmum

“Thank you. This is delicious. My family love it. It is not too sweet. Great recipe.“ – nanaofthree

How to make 4-ingredient pineapple slice

Preheat the oven and grease and line a square baking tin, leaving an overhang to make it easy to remove the slice.

Combine some of the cake mix with desiccated coconut and melted butter. Press into the prepared tin and bake until golden.

Drain the crushed pineapple, reserving the juice. Combine the crushed pineapple with the remaining cake mix and some pineapple juice and mix to form a loose batter.

Pour the mixture over the golden base and bake until set. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

Find the full recipe here.