Million Dollar Cake Recipe
Introduction
The Million Dollar Cake stands out as the ultimate dessert when you want to impress guests effortlessly. Its luscious layers of airy cake, smooth cream cheese filling, and sweet, fruity pineapple set this recipe apart—a true showstopper that tastes as decadent as its name suggests. Perfect for potlucks, birthdays, or any joyful gathering, this cake promises a taste experience worth every bite.
Why Everyone Loves Million Dollar Cake
What makes the Million Dollar Cake extra-special is its balance of flavors and textures: moist yellow cake, a fluffy, tangy pineapple cream cheese filling, and a cloud of whipped topping. The burst of pineapple between creamy layers delivers both refreshment and richness, ensuring this cake will be the first to disappear at any dessert table.
Tips for The Creamiest Million Dollar Filling
To achieve that signature silky texture, make sure your cream cheese is fully softened and beat it until completely smooth before blending in the other filling ingredients. Draining the crushed pineapple well results in a thickened, luxurious filling that won’t make your cake soggy. The combination of vanilla pudding mix with pineapple creates a flavor that’s bright and irresistible.
How to Assemble the Million Dollar Cake
After baking and cooling your cake layers, slice them to create four thin, even rounds. Layer half of the pineapple filling between each cake tier, and use the remainder to cover the outside. Top the cake generously with fluffy whipped topping and finish with extra pineapple for a pretty, crowd-pleasing presentation.
Serving Suggestions for Million Dollar Cake
While this cake is a main event on its own, pairing each slice with a cup of coffee or a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes for the ultimate dessert combo. For a festive touch, scatter chopped pecans or toasted coconut over the topping before serving.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe yields one 9-inch, double-layer cake, serving 12 to 16 people. Each serving ranges from 350 to 420 calories depending on your portion size and any garnish, offering a decadent treat perfect for celebrations.
Million Dollar Cake (Recap)
Nothing says special occasion quite like Million Dollar Cake. Its visually striking layers, indulgent filling, and burst of pineapple flavor make it a decadent yet easy dessert that always turns heads and wins hearts.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (or as directed on cake mix box). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Prepare and bake yellow cake according to package directions for two layers. Allow cakes to cool completely before assembly.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla pudding mix and blend until well combined.
- Stir in the drained crushed pineapple until evenly incorporated into the cream cheese mixture.
- Once cakes are cool, slice each layer horizontally to create four thin round cake layers.
- Place the first layer on a serving plate and spread 1/3 of the pineapple mixture. Repeat layers, ending with the last cake round on top.
- Spread remaining pineapple mixture over the top and sides of the cake.
- Frost cake with whipped topping. If desired, garnish with pecans, cherries, or coconut.
- Refrigerate for at least 2–3 hours before serving for best flavor and texture.
Weekly Meal Planning
This Million Dollar Cake recipe is ideal for planning special treats throughout your week. Save and schedule this recipe to plan for celebrations and automatically add all ingredients to your personalized shopping list—making prep for parties or potlucks completely hassle-free.
Planning Benefits:
- Automatically combines ingredient quantities for all your planned recipes
- Sorts grocery lists by store section for easy in-store navigation
- Reduces food waste by organizing your week holistically
- Makes it easy to spot which ingredients overlap with other meals (like eggs or whipped topping)
Pro tip: When planning for a week with several special events or gatherings, schedule your recipes so CookifyAI consolidates all your desserts, dinners, and snacks—so nothing gets missed, and shopping is a breeze.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes (plus 2–3 hours chilling time)