These pineapple upside-down cupcakes are perfect for family gatherings or packing into lunchboxes. They’re an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert with a delicious caramelized pineapple topping that everyone loves.
This simplified version makes baking a breeze, but you can easily tweak the recipe to make it completely from scratch. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned baker, these cupcakes are a fun and tasty way to enjoy a classic dessert in individual portions!
Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
These pineapple upside-down cupcakes are perfect for family gatherings or packing into lunchboxes. They’re an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert with a delicious caramelized pineapple topping that everyone loves.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Additional Time
5 minutes
Total Time
5 minutes
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- 24 maraschino cherries
- 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple
- 1 (15.25 ounce) package pineapple cake mix (such as Duncan Hines Pineapple Supreme)
- 1 ⅓ cups pineapple juice
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting, or as needed
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients. 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.
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