Pineapple upside-down cupcakes: a miniature version of your favorite cake with butter, brown sugar, pineapple and a cherry on top.
preparation time: 10 MINS
Cooking time: 20 MINS
total time:30 MINS
INGREDIENTS :
cooking spray
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
24 maraschino cherries
1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple (reserve juice)
1 (18.25 ounce) package of yellow cake mix (and oil and eggs ordered in the package)
1 1/3 cups pineapple juice (you only need as much pineapple juice as the water ordered in the cake mix package – see note)
confectioner’s sugar for sprinkling
HOW TO DO IT:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray 24 cups of rolls with cooking spray.
Line a work surface with parchment or waxed paper.
Put a teaspoon of melted butter at the bottom of each cup of sprayed muffin.
Put one tablespoon of brown sugar in each cup of muffins.
Press a maraschino cherry into the center of the brown sugar in each cup of muffin.
Place a heaping tablespoon of crushed pineapple on top of the cherry and spoon it into an even layer.
Mix the pastry mixture according to the instructions on the package, replacing the water with the pineapple juice. This may vary depending on the cake mix you use. In a large bowl with an electric mixer at low speed until moistened, about 30 seconds. Turn the speed of the mixer to medium and mix for 2 minutes.
Pour the pineapple cake dough into the muffin cups, filling them almost to the top.
Bake in preheated oven on middle rack until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
Let the muffins cool for at least 5 minutes before inverting the muffin cups in the wax paper to loosen. Serve with pineapple and cherries on top. Lightly sprinkle the muffins with confectioner’s sugar if desired.
RECIPE NOTES
Just replace the water you need in your cake mix with pineapple juice. You should be able to save the juice from the crushed pineapple and have enough pineapple juice to use here. If you are a little shy about the amount of juice, just use water to fill up the rest of the liquid that is ordered in the recipe.
*Some people like the look of the pineapple snacks better for this recipe. I tried both and the crushed pineapple has much more flavor and looks nicer.