Description
Your Ingredient List for a Tropical Treat. Buttery sugar-cookie bases baked in a muffin tin with a quick brown-sugar caramel, juicy pineapple rings, and bright maraschino cherries—mini pineapple upside-down cakes in cookie form.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Caramelized Pineapple Topping
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (forms a quick caramel)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed (deep molasses sweetness)
- 1 (20-oz) can pineapple rings, drained & patted dry (use rings packed in juice, not syrup)
- 12 maraschino cherries, blotted dry
For the Soft Sugar Cookie Base
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (provides structure)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt (balances sweetness)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (rich, tender texture)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (classic cookie sweetness)
- 2 large eggs (binds dough)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (essential flavor)
- 1/2 tsp coconut extract (optional) (adds tropical note)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease a 12-cup muffin tin for clean release.
- Caramel topping: Melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in 1/2 cup packed brown sugar until smooth and bubbly. Spoon 1–2 teaspoons into each muffin cup.
- Arrange fruit: Drain and pat pineapple rings very dry. Trim to fit if needed. Place a ring over caramel in each cup; blot cherries and place one in each center.
- Make cookie dough: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, cream 1 cup softened butter with 1 cup sugar 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla and optional coconut extract. On low, add dry ingredients just until combined.
- Assemble & bake: Scoop about 2 Tbsp dough onto each fruit-filled cup, covering fruit. Bake 18–22 minutes until edges are light golden and tops are set.
- Cool 5 minutes & invert: Let cookies cool in the pan exactly 5 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges, cover with a rack or parchment-lined sheet, and flip to release the caramelized tops.
Notes
Hosting hint: Individual desserts are party-friendly—bake time under 25 minutes and easy to serve. For best texture, dry pineapple and cherries well to prevent sogginess and color bleed. If any caramel sticks, return pan to a warm oven 1–2 minutes and gently loosen.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Cookies, Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 25
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Protein: 3
