MINI PINAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKES

These mini pineapple upside down cakes are super easy to make using a boxed cake mix, canned pineapple rings, and maraschino cherries. They’re just like the classic but in handheld portions, and still feature that enticing caramel-like crust that everyone loves.

PREPARATION TIME

Total Time 55

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter melted

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

20 oz pineapple rings canned, juice reserved

12 maraschino cherries

15.25 oz yellow cake mix or white, plus ingredients on back of box substituting water with the reserved pineapple juice

Things You’ll Need

2 Jumbo muffin pans

Hand mixer

Before You Begin

You’ll need one boxed cake mix in either yellow or white, PLUS the ingredients on the back of the box (besides the water, we’re replacing that with some of the juice from the canned pineapple). However, if you’d like to use a homemade batter, go right ahead! See our pineapple upside down cake recipe for a great batter substitute.

If you don’t have a jumbo muffin tin, you can use a regular sized muffin tin instead. But if you plan on using pineapple rings, know that you’ll have to cut them to size in order to fit inside a regular muffin pan. Use a knife to slice around the edges to make them smaller. Or, you can use crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits instead of rings to make it easier on yourself.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F and spray the jumbo muffin pans with non-stick spray.

Melt butter and distribute into muffin pan wells, 1/2 tablespoon in each one. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of packed brown sugar over the melted butter in each of the muffin pan wells (2 tablespoons in each well).

Add one pineapple ring to each muffin section. Place a cherry in the center.

In a medium mixing bowl, add the dry cake mix plus the ingredients listed on the back of your cake mix box (replace the water with pineapple juice reserved from the canned pineapple). Use a hand mixer to combine thoroughly.

Divide evenly between the 12 muffin cups (2 jumbo muffin pans).

Bake for 30 minutes. You can stagger the pans in the oven, we prefer to bake one at a time Remove from oven, place on a wire rack, and allow to set for another 10 minutes.

Use a butter knife to loosen the edges the cakes inside the pan. Place a cooling rack on the top of the muffin pan, upside down, and in one motion flip both the rack and pan upside down onto a large baking sheet to catch any drippings.

Wait for another 5 minutes. Lift the pan slowly and the cakes will come out. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Expert Tips & FAQs

Store your mini pineapple cakes in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. If you’d like to make them ahead of time, I wouldn’t suggest any longer than 24 hours in advance. Pineapple upside down cake is notorious for getting soggy after sitting for too long.

To freeze these mini upside down cakes, line a plate or baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the individual cakes onto the parchment, making sure the cakes are not touching each other. Freeze for 3 hours. Remove from the freezer and wrap each one in plastic wrap. Then you can toss the individually wrapped cakes into a freezer bag or container. To thaw, remove plastic wrap while cake is still frozen and place on a plate at room temperature to thaw.

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