Pineapple Upside-down Muffins

Pineapple Upside-down Muffins are a delightful twist on the classic cake, offering all the tropical sweetness of caramelized pineapple and cherries in individual-sized portions. These moist and flavorful muffins are made with a buttery brown sugar glaze that melts into the tangy pineapple as it bakes, creating a gooey, sweet topping that pairs beautifully with the soft, vanilla-flavored muffin base. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a special dessert, these muffins are easy to make and add a fun, tropical flair to any occasion.

Ingredients

For the topping:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup canned pineapple slices, cut into small chunks
• 6 maraschino cherries, halved

For the muffin batter:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
2. Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and brown sugar until combined. Spoon about a teaspoon of the mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup. Place a few small chunks of pineapple and half a cherry on top of the sugar mixture in each cup.
3. Make the muffin batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, milk, egg, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
4. Assemble the muffins: Spoon the batter evenly over the pineapple and cherry in each muffin cup, filling them about 3/4 full.
5. Bake: Bake the muffins for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
6. Invert and serve: Run a knife around the edges of the muffins to loosen them, then carefully invert the pan onto a plate or cooling rack to reveal the caramelized pineapple topping. Serve warm or at room temperature.

These Pineapple Upside-down Muffins are a fun and fruity treat that brings a taste of the tropics to your breakfast or dessert table, with a perfect balance of sweetness and tang!