Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes

Mini cakes are too adorable and fun to eat. When I saw this recipe for mini pineapple upside down cake, I knew I had to try to it. Who doesn't want their own little pineapple slice and cherry? It's a simple recipe they I think everyone will love.


Ingredients
1 Box of ready white/vanilla cake mix
5 Tbsp of pineapple juice

OR

Homemade Cake
2 Eggs
2/3 C white sugar
4 Tbsp pineapple juice
2/3 C all purpose flour
1 Tsp baking powder
1/4 Tsp salt

Topping
1/4 C butter (1/2 stick or 4 Tbsp)
2/3 C brown sugar
1 Can of pineapple rings  
1 Jar of Maraschino cherries


Instructions 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray your muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray. 

2. In a mixing bowl, beat cake mixture for 2-3 minutes, to not over mix that the lumps disappear. If doing homemade cake mixture: add eggs, white sugar, and pineapple juice, beat for 2 minutes. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add the dry to the wet ingredients and turn mixer back on for another 2 minutes. 

3. In a small sauce pan, melt the butter and add the brown sugar.  Stir on low heat for one minute.

4. Spoon a layer of the warm brown sugar mixture into the bottom of each muffin tin, then place a pineapple ring on top. If you are using regular muffin tins, you will need to cut down the rings to fit or just use pineapple tidbits. Add a cherry in the middle of each pineapple. 

5. Pour cake mixture over to fill each muffin tin 3/4 of the way full.

6. Bake jumbo cakes for 25 minutes. Bake regular cakes for 20 minutes. The mini cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
   
7. Remove from the oven.  Let cool in pan for 3 minutes.  

8. Run a knife around the edge of each cake to help loosen in case it sticks a little.  Place a wire cooling rack on top, and quickly flip over on top of sheet tray to catch extra drippings. 

9. Place wire rack of cakes on sheet tray to cool or a cookie pan if you don't have a wire rack.

10. Enjoy! 

Brown sugar mixture

After a quick simmer

Cake batter (keep a little lumpy)

Spoon out one tsp of mixture

Cut up pineapple slices for smaller muffin pans

Finished!

When Johnny tried out one of the cakes, he said it reminded him of his childhood. Yes! I had my Ratatouille moment. I think you will really like this recipe, I hope you give it a try.

What dessert reminds you of your childhood?