You’re in for a treat! 🍍 These Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecakes are the perfect bite-sized desserts — sweet, tangy pineapple on top of a creamy cheesecake base with a buttery graham crust. They’re impressive, easy to make, and great for parties or summer gatherings.
🧁 Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecakes
Ingredients
For the topping:
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 12 maraschino cherries
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained well
For the crust:
- 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For the cheesecake:
- 2 (8 oz) blocks cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or grease well.
- Make the topping:
- In a small bowl, mix melted butter and brown sugar.
- Spoon about 1 teaspoon into the bottom of each muffin cup.
- Add 1 teaspoon of well-drained crushed pineapple on top.
- Press 1 cherry in the center of each cup.
- Make the crust:
- In a bowl, combine graham crumbs, sugar, and melted butter.
- Press about 1 tablespoon of mixture into each muffin cup, on top of the pineapple.
- Make the cheesecake filling:
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla, sour cream, and salt until creamy.
- Spoon the batter evenly over the crusts, filling each cup nearly to the top.
- Bake:
- Bake for 20–22 minutes, or until centers are just set and no longer jiggly.
- Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and carefully remove.
- Chill:
- Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or overnight).
- Serve:
- Invert cheesecakes onto a serving plate so the pineapple-cherry layer is on top.
- Remove liners before or after inverting, depending on your preference.
🌟 Tips:
- Drain pineapple thoroughly to avoid soggy bottoms.
- Add a splash of rum extract or coconut flakes to the crust for a tropical twist.
- These freeze beautifully—just thaw before serving.