These sweet cakes with gooey topping have chopped pineapple in the topping (instead of rings) for easier eating and more infused pineapple flavor. But we've included a pineapple rings option.
Author: Allen Williams
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6 pineapple upside down cakes
Ingredients
¼ cup dairy-free buttery spread
⅔ cup packed brown sugar (preferably dark)
1 cup chopped pineapple
1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsweetened or original dairy-free milk beverage
⅓ cup non-hydrogenated shortening (can sub coconut oil)
1 egg (see post above for vegan option)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
6 maraschino cherries
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350ºF.
Melt the buttery spread in a small pan. Add the brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Remove from the heat.
Distribute the buttery mixture evenly between 6 large muffin cups (3½″ wide openings). Top with 1 to 2 tablespoons of pineapple in each well, followed by a cherry pushed down into the center.
Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Add the milk beverage, shortening, egg, vanilla and lemon and beat with a mixer to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then beat the batter on high speed for 3 minutes.
Pour the batter evenly into each muffin well, to top the pineapple.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes our clean.
Immediately turn the muffin tin upside down onto a cookie sheet. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Pineapple Ring Option: You can use 6 pineapple rings (1 per cake) instead of the chopped pinepple, if preferred. The rings have a prettier presentation, but we get more eating enjoyment from chopped pineapple. Single Cake Option: Prepare and bake the recipe in an 8-inch or 9-inch baking dish or cake pan. You can use the chopped pineapple, or use 9 pineapple rings and dot each one with a maraschino cherry (one each). Bake the cake at 350ºF for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
Recipe by Go Dairy Free at https://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/dairy-free-desserts/pineapple-upside-down-cakes