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Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes

This recipe offers a quick, delightful twist on classic pineapple upside-down cake, using readily available hamburger buns as a convenient base. Caramelized butter and brown sugar form a luscious glaze for tender pineapple slices, all topped with a warm, slightly toasted bun. It's an ideal dessert for a swift and satisfying sweet treat, especially when served à la mode.
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Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: lunch/dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 1352.1
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 4 pineapple slices fresh or canned, 1/4 inch thick
  • 2 hamburger buns split
  • vanilla ice cream optional

Equipment

  • 1 Medium Skillet Preferably heavy-bottomed or cast iron for even heat distribution.
  • 1 Measuring Spoons/Cups For accurate measurement of butter and sugar.
  • 1 Heatproof Spatula For stirring caramel and inverting cakes.

Method
 

  1. Melt the unsalted butter in a medium, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat.
  2. Sprinkle the light brown sugar evenly over the melted butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar melts and forms a bubbly caramel sauce, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Carefully arrange the pineapple slices in a single layer over the caramel in the skillet.
  4. Place the split hamburger bun halves, cut-side down, directly on top of the pineapple slices. Press gently to ensure good contact.
  5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the buns are warm and lightly toasted, absorbing the caramel flavors.
  6. Using a spatula, gently check if the pineapple and caramel have set slightly and the buns are warmed through.
  7. Carefully remove the skillet from the heat.
  8. Place individual serving plates directly over each bun half in the skillet.
  9. Working quickly and carefully, invert each bun-pineapple assembly onto the serving plates.
  10. Serve immediately, optionally topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

For optimal flavor and texture, use fresh pineapple if available, ensuring slices are uniformly 1/4 inch thick. If using canned, drain them thoroughly to prevent excess moisture from diluting the caramel. When caramelizing the butter and brown sugar, maintain a medium-low heat to allow the sugar to melt evenly without scorching; this creates a rich, golden base. Toasting the hamburger bun halves lightly before placing them on the pineapple adds a textural contrast and prevents them from becoming soggy. Serve immediately after inverting, while warm, ideally with a scoop of premium vanilla bean ice cream to balance the sweetness and add a creamy element. A well-executed caramel layer is key, so don't rush that step.