Pineapple Upside-Down Mini Bundts

Yield: 6 muffins or mini-Bundts, + one loaf cake

Ingredients

• 6 maraschino cherries, coarsely chopped
• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained, syrup reserved (divided)
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 (16 to 17 ounces) box pound cake mix
• 1 teaspoon lemon peel
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Combine cherries, 1/2 cup drained pineapple, brown sugar and melted butter. Spoon into greased Bundt muffin tin, multi-mini Bundt pan or jumbo muffin pan, dividing evenly.
3. Prepare pound cake mix according to package directions, using pineapple syrup for liquid.
4. Stir in lemon peel, vanilla extract and remaining drained crushed pineapple. Spoon into pan, over pineapple mixture, filling each of the six cups nearly full. Place remaining batter into greased and floured 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan.
5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until cakes test done and tops are lightly browned. (Loaf pan may take a few minutes longer.)
6. Cool in pans for 5 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack or serving plate to complete cooling.

Notes

If desired, pineapple-brown sugar mixture can be doubled, and half can be placed in the loaf pan before adding batter. An 8 inch square pan could be used, too, but cake will not bake as long.