Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
I love pineapple upside down cakes but hate making entire cakes, so I decided to make cupcakes! Just before putting them in the oven I realized the problem that would surely arise--the puff at the top of the cupcake. Thankfully this particular recipe doesn't rise much and it wasn't a problem :) They ended up like perfectly-sized mini cakes!
The recipe my dad emailed me:
Topping
Brown sugar
Butter
1 can pineapple slices (reserve juice)
Maraschino cherries
Pecans (optional)
Melt butter and brown sugar for a few minutes in the oven. I spooned a small amount of brown sugar into each cupcake tin and wish I had used more because they weren’t as caramelized as I would have liked. Mine definitely did not add up to a cup like my dad suggested, so don’t be shy on the sugar. I would guess a tablespoon for each cupcake would be good.
Arrange pineapple slices, cherries, and pecans if using them. I opted out of the pecans because I don’t like them much.
Pour cake batter gently and evenly-remember the fruit might be moved around a bit.
Cake from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook
¾ cup butter
3 eggs
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 ¾ cups sugar
1 ½ tsp vanilla
All reserved pineapple juice, plus enough milk to add up to 1 ¼ cups
Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
Preheat over to 375F. In a mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, beating until well combined. Beat 2 minutes more. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanill. Alternately add flour mixture and the pineapple juice and milk mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Gently spread into prepared and greased pans.
Bake for 20-25 minutes for cupcakes or 9-inch pans, 30-35 minutes for 8-inch pans, or 25-30 minutes for 13×9x2 pan. Let cool for ten minutes and flip onto baking sheet.
Also, I went to Magnolia Bakery on a recent stop in NYC and had the most delicious cupcake of my life! It nearly makes me never want to bake again.
The red velvet cupcake in question
More at my blog - In the Wabe