Well, it didn’t turn out quite like I had hoped, but it was still delicious.
Part of the draw of making it in jars was intended to be that I could put lids on the individual cakes. I made some cupcakes in jars for a baby shower last summer, and those were a hit – and SO EASY to bring along. But, the pineapple cakes rose considerably more than I was expecting. You can see where the cake mix even rose through the pineapple ring to bake on top. Which is kind of nice in this example, but of course, this was the best-looking one of the bunch.
Here’s how the rest turned out:
I’m calling this one a semi-fail… because the good news is, they were DELICIOUS! With a bit more tweaking (and/or bigger jars) I think these could also be beautiful, too.
I have to be honest – I used a mix! The Duncan Hines recipe for Pineapple Upside Down Cake is on the side of the box. It did call for instant pudding, some additional brown sugar and butter, and of course the fruit in addition to adding eggs, water, and oil.
I used half-pint wide-mouth jars, so that they would be about the same size as the pineapple rings. I sprayed my jars with baking spray and filled them just sightly over halfway… which as you can see, ended up being too full. I’d go with about 1/3 full, if I try this again.
The recipe called for a brown sugar topping to put on the bottom of your baking dish. With individual servings being assembled right-side-up, I added it to the top, which worked just fine.
Then I added a pineapple ring to each jar and a cherry in the center, and there began my problem. The cherries sank. So if you’re thinking you might like to do this, I have tested the theory and there really is a reason you bake it upside down, other than the fact that it looks nice when it comes out of the pan. If you want to try it right side up, I’d add the cherries at least halfway into the baking time next time. These turned out to be like a cherry surprise – buried inside the cake.
And as I mentioned, the mix rose quite a bit, so I ended up with some strange bumpy centers, and a little bit of overflow. Here’s the ugliest one:
On the whole… my family doesn’t expect me to be Martha in the kitchen (thank goodness). So these were still well-received, and we all had a good laugh. My mom seemed to have a really nice time at the picnic, and a great birthday – which is what really matters! It may have helped that I made sure she got the nicest one…
I link up to these great parties! 
Thank you so much for this. All of the other articles I read about this topic simply provided easier methods of flipping. Wasn’t what I was inquiring. Your tip on baking the cake halfway first and then placing the cherries so they don’t sink, was great. I have to bake a few pineapple “right-side up” cakes in very, very large aluminum pans for a fair tomorrow. No cake flipping in these pans. It’ll look like a dump cake. So placing the pineapples ahead of time is fine, just not the cherries. Thank you. Love this!
YUM! Oh my glory. Shared via G+ and Pinning :) Hugs to you, friend!
Featuring your cakes on this weeks All Star Block Party!
http://www.nutmegplace.com/2012/07/all-star-block-party-9.html
I am loving this idea. And I think the one that grew through the hole is cool – looks like you planned it that way, like a flower. :)
Yum! As long as they were delicious I'm sure it doesn't matter what they look like :-) Thanks so much for sharing this at The Fun In Functional!
This looks scrumptious!! I love baking in canning jars. They make such lovely single serving vessles. I'm a new follower from All Star Blog Party. I'd love for you to pay me a visit and follow me back at http://lifeofblocks.blogspot.com/ Thanks!
This looks SO good! I will definitely be trying it! New follower from GFC hop.
This looks so good. I have a link party, and I would love it if you would link this post. You can find it at
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/07/face-cleansing-oil-and-wednesdays.html
It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party.
I hope to see you there. Have a great Day.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
I love it! I think they look great! I'd eat one in a heart beat. I would love if you could link up to Thursday Food Fest at http://www.theeaseofreeze.com. I open tonight at 7pm! Hope to see you! Sarah
First of all, happy belated birthday to your mom!!! Secondly, any dessert that tastes good cannot be a fail!! Sorry :-) Also, I think they look great as well!
cuuute cakes!
Just started following from GFC Blog Hop. http://myinspiredlifewithfibromyalgia.blogspot.com/
Sometimes when a plan doesn't work exactly, it can still be a good thing. These looks so cute just the way they are. Thanks for sharing at the All Star Block Party.
These look amazing, great…now I want cake!
Dropping by from the linky party!
Looks so yummy! And Mom looks really happy! Thanks for sharing at the All Star Block Party.
Holly
These look AMAZING!!!!
soooo cute! they look delicious :) i love love love your blog!
p.s. i'm your newest follower :)
xo brie
http://www.sophistifunkblog.blogspot.com
Those are SO adorable and look delish too!! Stopping by from the GFC blog hop and am now your newest follower:) Hope you can come check out Crazy Mama Drama !
http://crazy-mama-drama.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crazy-Mama-Drama/259491484156846
Wow looks amazing! New to blogging and found you through blog hop! I love your blog! I am your newest follower :)
http://thebees3.blogspot.com/
These look really good! How fun to have a picnic in the park every year for her birthday!
Stopping by and following from the blog hop. :)
YUMMO! :D
I think they are very clever! It would have been nice to put lids on them for transport but I still think they look adorable. Glad yo had a great weekend! You look so much like your mom.:)
They look so yummy, and what a great idea!
Even if they were a semi-fail (which I still think they look AMAZING) they sound SO delicious! I want to try this recipe!
Found you through the GFC Hop – thanks for hosting!
Umm, YUM! These look delish! I'm your newest follower from the blog hop! Can't wait to see more!
New follower from the blog hop! these look amazing!!! cant wait to see more posts! love your blog!
Kayla @ Inspired Kreations
Looks amazingly yummy!!
These look cute- I'm sure your mom thought they were great!
I thought they looked cute. Whenever I make something that doesn't look the way I planned, I dub it 'rustic'. Glad they tasted great which is, of course, the main thing. Nice photo of your mom.
These look yummy, Adrianne! I love the idea of making them in those little jars. Hope your mom had a great day :)
Those look so good! Newest follower from the GFC hop! :)
-Nicole @ http://meandthem00n.blogspot.com
I just found your blog through the GFC blog hop. I must say that this post alone is reason to stick around and read more. I adore that you are willing to share your not-so-successful projects with the world. Blogging sometimes gets me down. I feel like I don't measure up to all the other perfect, beautiful, organized, stylish moms out there. I think we need more posts like this one: it's beautiful, humorous, shares a great recipe idea, but isn't the phony perfection that makes me feel so inadequate. I'm so glad to have found you!
These look delish. I'm not sure exactly what makes cakes in jars seem so much more special, but they do! Thanks for sharing. Now following you from the GFC hop.
These look so cute! Especially those jars, where can I find them?? They are too cute too pass up!
Also I'm your newest follower :)
Love & Whimsy
These look yummy! Visiting from jugglingactmama.blogspot.com from the GFC Blog Hop – hope you’ll come visit me too :)
Hello Adrianne,
As long as your mini pineapple cakes taste yummy, that is what’s important. I am sure that your Mom loved them. Happy Belated Birthday Mom. ;o)
Smiles, Paula