Caramel and fruit in the belly of the cake

Question: What is the easiest way to make a simple cake into a rich, melt-in-mouth wonder??



Answer: Make a caramel base for the cake and then turn it over after baking for a rich topping!!!





Simple eh?! :)).. That's exactly what I did with my pineapple upside down cake. And to make it even simpler, I used the yellow cake mix from Pillsbury. By the way, a little note of the ready made cake mixes - I have tried the Betty Crocker range and the Duncan Hines too, but I find Pillsbury the best. The cake comes out fluffy and well done every time! Dependable - that's what I like in my cake mixes! :D.. else how is it any better than me making my own batter with a little less of this and more of that ??!! :))


Anyway, back to the current cake, I made a nice base of caramel from light brown sugar (brown sugar adds a richer color to the caramel while not being too stickily sweet) and butter. Oh yes! Butter! We are making it rich aren't we?! :))


As the cake bakes, the caramel seeps into the cake adding flavor and making it really nice and moist. And not only that, the baking sugar crusts the pineapples in the cake to a nice texture! When I turned over the cake, it had a lovely deep golden coating.



Every bite was filled with a lovely smooth flavor and I am going back for more!!! ;-))





Pineapple Upside-down Cake with Caramel Frosting


Topping
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
1 can of sliced pineapples


Cake
2/3 packet Pillsbury moist yellow cake mix



Melt the butter in a heavy bottomed pan. Mix in the brown sugar and stir continuously till it mixes in completely and the mixture bubbles. This will take around 4-5 minutes. Pour the caramel into a 10 inch buttered baking pan. Line the pineapple slices on the caramel. Let cool for 5 minutes.


Meanwhile, make the cake mixture according t0 the instructions on the box. Pour the mixture over the caramel and fruit slices. Set to bake until cake passes the toothpick test.


Let the cake rest for 15-20 minutes and then turn it over onto a cake dish. At this point, it will be hard to keep your hands off the cake, but let it cool to almost room temperature and serve.