Discover the Tropical Twist: Pineapple Upside Down Cornbread Muffins

Difficulty: Easy
Yield: 12 muffins
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 of 12 muffins): Calories 106, Total Fat 3 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Carbs 17 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 6 g, Protein 2 g, Cholesterol 21 mg, Sodium 176 mg
Total Time: 1 hour
Active Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Pineapple Topping:

Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing muffin tin
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups fresh pineapple, diced into 1/2-inch chunks

Cornbread Muffins:

1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup fine yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Flaky sea salt, to sprinkle on top

Instructions

Imagine flipping over warm, golden muffins to reveal a caramelized pineapple crownirresistible, right? Whip up these easy, crowd-pleasing treats that blend sweet tropical flavors with cozy cornbread goodness. Perfect for brunches or snacks!

Preheat your oven to 450F. Lightly coat a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray.
In a skillet over medium-low heat, melt together 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon until bubbling. Stir in 2 cups diced fresh pineapple and cook until the liquid nearly evaporates and the caramel deepens, about 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk 1/2 cup boiling water into 1/2 cup fine yellow cornmeal to form a thick paste. Stir in 3/4 cup buttermilk until smooth, then blend in 1 large egg. Gently fold in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda until just combined.
Evenly place 2-3 pineapple chunks in the bottom of each muffin cup. Fill cups with batter to about three-quarters full.
Bake for 15 minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then loosen with a paring knife and invert onto a plate for that stunning upside-down reveal. Finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and serve warmpure bliss in every bite!