#1303 - Mini Pineapple Upside Cakes

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 20oz. can Dole crushed pineapple (drained BUT save the juice)
1/3 cup Parkay margarine (melted) + 2 TBSP Parkay margarine (NOT melted)
2/3 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1 box yellow OR pineapple cake mix
1 jar maraschino cherries (drained)

In a bowl add brown sugar and melted Parkay--stir. Grease cupcake tins--do not use cupcake liners. Put about a teaspoonful of the brown sugar mixture into cupcake cups until you run out. Use your fingers to pat down the brown sugar mixture so they cover the bottoms of each cup. Place a drained cherry into the center of each cupcake. Place a tablespoonful of drained pineapple on each cupcake--spread it out using the spoon. Prepare the cake mix according to box directions BUT replace the water with the same amount of pineapple juice (that you saved earlier), and also add 2 TBSP Parkay margarine. Scoop enough batter into each cupcake cup until each is 2/3 full--repeat with all cupcake cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool them at least 5 minutes, then use a knife to loosen them and flip them upside down on to a serving plate.

#300 - Easy Upsidedown Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 20oz. can Dole pineapple slices
1/4 cup melted butter
2/3 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1 jar maraschino cherries
1 - 18.25 box yellow or pineapple cake mix

Drain pineapple slices and save 3/4 cup of the juice for later. Stir together the melted butter and brown sugar in a bowl. Pour the brown sugar mixture in a 9 x 13 x 2 cake pan and smooth it out so bottom is covered with the brown sugar mixture. Arrange the pineapple slices on top of the brown sugar and put a cherry inside the whole of each pineapple. In a mixer, prepare cake mix according to package directions EXCEPT replace 3/4 cup of the water called for in the cake mix directions with the 3/4 cup of pineapple juice you saved. Pour the cake batter evenly over top of all the pineapples in the cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. After removing from oven, let it cool 5 minutes. Loosen the edges with a knife, place a piece of foil over the top of the cake, then turn it upside down on top of heat proof cutting board.