Description
These Pineapple Upside Sugar Cookies combine the sweet, tropical flavors of pineapple and maraschino cherries with soft, buttery sugar cookie dough for a delightful twist on the classic pineapple upside-down cake. Perfect as a fun dessert or festive treat, they bake up golden and tender with a luscious caramelized brown sugar base.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Base
- 1 (16.5-ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
Fruit Topping
- 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple slices (drained and patted dry)
- 12 maraschino cherries (halved)
Brown Sugar Mixture
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
Optional
- Whipped cream for topping
Instructions
- Prepare the Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin to prevent sticking and to help with easy removal of the cookies.
- Make the Brown Sugar Base: In a small bowl, mix the melted unsalted butter with the packed brown sugar until well combined. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of this mixture evenly into the bottom of each muffin cup, forming a sweet caramel base.
- Add Pineapple and Cherry: Place one pineapple slice into each muffin cup over the brown sugar mixture. Trim the slices if needed to fit the muffin cup perfectly. Then, place half of a maraschino cherry in the center of each pineapple slice, pressing slightly to secure.
- Top with Cookie Dough: Slice the refrigerated sugar cookie dough into 12 even rounds. Place one round on top of each pineapple slice in the muffin cups and gently press down to cover the fruit evenly.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the assembled cookies in the preheated oven for 16–18 minutes or until the cookie tops turn golden brown and are cooked through.
- Cool and Unmold: Allow the cookies to cool in the muffin tin for 5–7 minutes. Run a knife gently around the edges of each cookie to loosen them, then carefully invert the muffin tin onto a wire rack or tray to release the pineapple-topped cookies.
- Serve: Serve the pineapple upside sugar cookies warm or at room temperature. Optionally, add a dollop of whipped cream on top for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Ensure the pineapple slices are thoroughly drained and patted dry with paper towels to prevent sogginess in the cookies.
- For a homemade touch, feel free to use your favorite sugar cookie dough recipe instead of store-bought dough.
- Letting cookies cool slightly before unmolding helps them keep their shape and prevents breaking.
