Pineapple Upside-down Pancakes

Name: Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: Your favorite pancake mix or homemade pancake recipe; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons white sugar; 1 tablespoon cinnamon; Pineapple rings; Maraschino cherries; Butter or cooking spray for greasing

Watch Me Make It

Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes bring the familiar pineapple, cherry, and brown sugar combination to the griddle. The fruit design is revealed after flipping, giving each pancake a dessert-inspired look.

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Metal tongs hold a pineapple ring over a hot griddle.

A little care with timing and heat helps the fruit stay in place and the sugary coating brown without scorching.

Why This Recipe Works

Let the batter set most of the way before adding the fruit so it can support the pineapple and cherry during the flip. Dry the pineapple thoroughly first, since excess moisture can prevent the coating from clinging and interfere with browning.

Ingredients

Your favorite pancake mix or homemade pancake recipe
½ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Pineapple rings
Maraschino cherries
Butter or cooking spray for greasing

How to Make It

Preheat a griddle or frying pan to medium heat between 350 and 400 degrees. Lay down about a quarter cup size of pancake batter on a greased or buttered surface.

Pancake batter cooks and bubbles on a griddle.

Let it cook until it's about 80% of the way done, watching for bubbles and holes in the pancake. Soak the pineapple rings in a mixture of brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon, then coat them.

Make sure any excess moisture is dried off. Place the coated pineapple ring in the pancake batter on the griddle.

A pineapple ring with a cherry in the center sits on a pancake cooking on a griddle.

Place a maraschino cherry in the middle of the pineapple ring. Press down and flip the pancake over, ensuring good contact with the cooking surface.

Cook on the other side for about 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through but not burning. Press it all down, then remove and serve hot with maple syrup or your favorite topping.

Tips and Variations

Use a broad spatula and make one confident flip to support the added weight of the fruit. Gently press after flipping for even contact with the cooking surface, then watch the color and aroma closely because the sugar coating darkens faster than plain pancake batter.

A golden-brown pineapple upside-down pancake cooks on a griddle.

When making several, leave room between pancakes so there is enough space to flip and monitor each one easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperature should I cook pineapple upside-down pancakes at?

Preheat your griddle or frying pan to medium heat, between 350 and 400 degrees.

When should I add the pineapple ring and cherry?

Cook the pancake until it is about 80% done and has bubbles and holes, then place the coated pineapple ring in the batter and add a maraschino cherry to the center.

How do I coat the pineapple rings?

Soak the pineapple rings in a mixture of brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon, then dry off any excess moisture before placing them on the pancake.

How long do I cook the pancake after flipping it?

After pressing down and flipping, cook the other side for about 8 to 10 minutes, until cooked through but not burning.

What can I serve with these pancakes?

Serve them hot with maple syrup or your favorite topping.

Serving Ideas

Serve with maple syrup, or add whipped cream or a light dusting of cinnamon if desired.

Three glazed pineapple upside-down pancakes with cherries in the centers on a blue and white zigzag-patterned plate.

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