Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

 

These pineapple upside down cupcakes are great to make for family gatherings or as treats to pack into lunches. It's an easy recipe; adaptations can be made to make this completely from scratch. This is just a yummy simplified version!

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Additional Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 24

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

cooking spray

½ cup butter, melted

1 ½ cups brown sugar

24 maraschino cherries

1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple

1 (18.25 ounce) package pineapple cake mix (such as Duncan Hines® Pineapple Supreme)

1 ⅓ cups pineapple juice

⅓ cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting, or as needed

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Move an oven rack to the middle of the oven. Spray 24 muffin cups with cooking spray.

Spoon 1 teaspoon melted butter into the bottom of each sprayed muffin cup. Spoon 1 tablespoon brown sugar into each muffin cup. Press a maraschino cherry into the center of the brown sugar in each muffin cup. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of crushed pineapple on top and compact it with the back of a spoon into an even layer.

Mix pineapple cake mix, pineapple juice, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium; mix for 2 minutes.

Pour batter into the muffin cups, filling them to the top; do not overfill.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

Line a work surface with waxed paper. Allow cupcakes to cool at least 5 minutes before inverting muffin cups onto the waxed paper; serve with pineapple and cherry sides up. Sprinkle cupcakes lightly with confectioners' sugar before serving.