Kid-friendly Zany Last Minute Upside-Down Pineapple Pancakes Recipe - Sticky Fingers Cooking
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Recipe: Zany Last Minute Upside-Down Pineapple Pancakes

Recipe: Zany Last Minute Upside-Down Pineapple Pancakes

Zany Last Minute Upside-Down Pineapple Pancakes

by Erin Fletter
Photo by Eo naya/Shutterstock.com
prep time
15 minutes
cook time
6 minutes
makes
4-6 servings

Fun Food Story

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Zany Last Minute Upside-Down Pineapple Pancakes

I love creating pancakes inspired by my favorite cakes and desserts. What could go wrong when fluffy pancakes meet healthy, delicious pineapples? Just a little magic! Classic pineapple upside-down cake gets a fun, healthy breakfast twist in these vegan pineapple upside-down pancakes. I made these pancakes with my daughters when the first bite of fall arrived. We wanted to hold onto summer just a little longer. There's just something about pineapple that makes you feel like you're somewhere tropical. These pineapple upside-down pancakes are light and fluffy inside, with a caramelized pineapple crust outside. This recipe is also great when you don't have fresh ingredients and can quickly grab items from your pantry or grocery store shelves!

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Chef Erin, Food-Geek-in-Chief

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

  • chop :

    to cut something into small, rough pieces using a blade.

  • fold :

    to gently and slowly mix a light ingredient into a heavier ingredient so as not to lose air and to keep the mixture tender, such as incorporating whipped egg whites into a cake batter or folding blueberries into pancake batter; folding is a gentler action than mixing or whisking.

  • knife skills :

    Bear Claw (growl), Pinch, Plank, and Bridge (look out for trolls)

  • skim :

    to remove fat, scum, or foam that rises to the surface of a cooking liquid.

  • whisk :

    to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.

Equipment Checklist

  • Skillet
  • Can opener
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Dry measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Whisk
  • Small bowl
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Heat-resistant spatula or pancake turner
scale
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Ingredients

Zany Last Minute Upside-Down Pineapple Pancakes

  • 1 1/4 C all-purpose flour **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY sub gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour)**
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 C canned full-fat coconut milk (save cream at top of can for coconut cream recipe, if making)
  • 1 T brown sugar/honey/maple syrup (or 1 stevia packet)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor—check label)**
  • 1 T pineapple juice from canned pineapple rings
  • 1/2 20-oz can pineapple rings (in their own juice, not syrup)
  • 1 to 2 T vegetable oil, for cooking

Food Allergen Substitutions

Zany Last Minute Upside-Down Pineapple Pancakes

  • Gluten/Wheat: Substitute gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour. Use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor.
  • Soy: Substitute canola oil or other nut-free high-smoking point oil for vegetable oil.

Instructions

Zany Last Minute Upside-Down Pineapple Pancakes

1.
drain + chop

First, drain the pineapple juice from the can of pineapples into a liquid measuring cup for Step 3. Next, have kids chop 1/2 can of pineapple rings into very, very small bits and set aside for Step 4.

2.
measure + combine

Have kids measure and combine 1 1/4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small mixing bowl.

3.
skim + measure + whisk

Skim off the cream from the top of a can of coconut milk and set aside in a small bowl for the Sweet Coconut Cream, if making. Have kids measure and add 1 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon brown sugar or other sweetener, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon pineapple juice in a large mixing bowl and whisk.

4.
fold + add

Gently stir or fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, then gently fold in the chopped pineapple.

5.
grease + cook

Heat a skillet over medium heat on your stovetop. Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in the pan. Once the oil is hot, pour about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the batter on the griddle to make silver dollar-sized pancakes. Cook on one side for 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly golden brown, then flip and cook the other side for another minute. Repeat until no batter remains.

6.
serve + enjoy

Serve upside down, of course, with Sweet Coconut Cream and Downside-Up Pineapple Smoothies. Enjoy!

Surprise Ingredient: Pineapple!

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Photo by 9comeback/Shutterstock.com

Hi! I’m Pineapple!

"When you see me, you can't help but think of a tropical paradise! I'm Pineapple, possibly the queen of tropical flavors—I even wear a crown! Of leaves, that is. Try slicing me and making a pineapple upside-down cake, or grill me to serve with pork or seafood. Also, I pair well with another tropical favorite, Coconut, in salads, desserts, and drinks!"

History & Etymology

  • Pineapple is one of the world's favorite tropical fruits. The wild pineapple plant is native to South America, originating in a river drainage area between southern Brazil and Paraguay. There is evidence that indigenous people cultivated and used it in Peru as early as 1200 to 800 BCE. The Aztecs and Mayas grew it in Mexico sometime between 200 BCE and 700 CE.
  • Spanish and Portuguese explorers eventually discovered pineapple and introduced it to European and other countries in the east. In 1493, during Columbus' exploration of the Caribbean Islands, he came across pineapples growing on the island of Guadalupe. 
  • The Spanish may have introduced the pineapple to Hawaii. Today, one-third of the world's pineapple comes from Hawaii.
  • The botanical name for pineapple is "Ananas comosus." It was called "ananas" by an indigenous South American people. European explorers may have called it pineapple because of its resemblance to the pine cone. The English word "pineapple" was first written down in the 17th century. Several languages still have the word "ananas" for pineapple.

Anatomy

  • Pineapples are the only edible members of the bromeliad family of plants.
  • The pineapple is not a single fruit but a multiple or collective fruit, with a cluster of 100 to 200 tiny fruitlets or berries.
  • A pineapple plant produces only one pineapple. The fruit grows slowly and can take up to two years to reach full size.
  • Unripe pineapples are incredibly sour and can be quite toxic. Pineapples do not ripen after harvesting, but they might turn more yellow if they were green. 
  • You can grow a pineapple at home! If you want to give it a try, twist off the crown of a store-bought pineapple, allow it to dry for a few days, and then plant it.

How to Pick, Buy, & Eat

  • Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapples, breaks down proteins, which means you can use pineapple or pineapple juice as a meat tenderizer. For this reason, you can't add fresh pineapple to jelly or jello because it will break down the gelatin. To prevent this, you can boil pineapple chunks in their juice or use canned pineapple, which was heated during the canning process.
  • If you find yourself on a sailing trip in the tropics without any powdered cleanser, you could use pineapple juice mixed with sand instead.

Nutrition

  • Pineapples are good for you! They are an excellent source of vitamin C, which aids the body's immune system and wound healing, and manganese, which assists with bone formation and nutrient metabolism. In addition, the pineapple's natural enzymes help you digest all of your food!

 

History of Upside-Down Cake!

Photo by MW Photography/Adobe Stock
  • The concept of baking a cake upside down began centuries ago, and those first upside-down cakes were cooked in cast iron skillets. 
  • It was easy for home cooks to add fruit and sugar to the bottom of the skillet with a simple cake batter on top, then place the skillet over the cook fire. They would then flip the cake over onto a plate, displaying the delicious fruit with its juice seeping into the cake. 
  • The story goes that homemakers could use this upside-down technique because several other pantry items had been developed, giving them time to make a pretty and delicious cake.
  • Traditional Upside-Down Cakes include the American Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, French Tarte Tatin, and Brazilian Bolo de Banana.

Let's Learn About the United States!

Photo by JeniFoto/Shutterstock.com (July 4th Picnic)
  • Most of the United States of America (USA) is in North America. It shares its northern border with Canada and its southern border with Mexico. It consists of 50 states, 1 federal district, 5 territories, 9 Minor Outlying Islands, and 326 Indian reservations. 
  • The country's total area is 3,796,742 square miles, globally the third largest after Russia and Canada. The US population is over 333 million, making it the third most populous country in the world, after China and India.
  • The United States of America declared itself an independent nation from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, by issuing the Declaration of Independence.
  • The Revolutionary War between the US and Great Britain was fought from 1775-1783. We only had 13 colonies at that time! On September 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and declared that the new nation would be called the United States. 
  • The 13 colonies became states after each ratified the constitution of the new United States, with Delaware being the first on December 7, 1787.  
  • The 13 stripes on the US flag represent those first 13 colonies, and the 50 stars represent our 50 states. The red color of the flag symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes innocence and purity, and blue symbolizes vigilance and justice.
  • Before settling in Washington DC, a federal district, the nation's capital resided in New York City and then Philadelphia for a short time. New York City is the largest city in the US and is considered its financial center. 
  • The US does not have a recognized official language! However, English is effectively the national language. 
  • The American dollar is the national currency. The nickname for a dollar, "buck," comes from colonial times when people traded goods for buckskins!
  • Because the United States is so large, there is a wide variety of climates and types of geography. The Mississippi/Missouri River, running primarily north to south, is the fourth-longest river system in the world. On the east side of the Mississippi are the Appalachian Mountains, the Adirondack Mountains, and the East Coast, next to the Atlantic Ocean. 
  • On the west side of the Mississippi are the flat Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains (or Rockies), and the West Coast, next to the Pacific Ocean, with several more mountain ranges in coastal states, such as the Sierras and the Cascades. Between the coasts and the north and south borders are several forests, lakes (including the Great Lakes), rivers, swamps, deserts, and volcanos. 
  • Several animals are unique to the US, such as the American bison (or American buffalo), the bald eagle, the California condor, the American black bear, the groundhog, the American alligator, and the pronghorn (or American antelope). 
  • The US has 63 national parks. The Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and the Grand Canyon, with the Colorado River flowing through it, are among the most well-known and visited.
  • Cuisine in the US was influenced early on by the indigenous people of North America who lived there before Europeans arrived. They introduced beans, corn, potatoes, squash, berries, fish, turkey, venison, dried meats, and more to the new settlers. Other influences include the widely varied foods and dishes of enslaved people from Africa and immigrants from Asia, Europe, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands. 

What's It Like to Be a Kid in the United States?

  • Education is compulsory in the US, and kids may go to a public or private school or be home-schooled. Most schools do not require students to wear uniforms, but some private schools do. The school year runs from mid-August or the beginning of September to the end of May or the middle of June.
  • Kids generally start school at about five years old in kindergarten or earlier in preschool and continue through 12th grade in high school. After that, many go on to university, community college, or technical school. 
  • Spanish, French, and German are the most popular foreign languages kids learn in US schools. 
  • Kids may participate in many different school and after-school sports, including baseball, soccer, American football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, and track and field. In grade school, kids may join in playground games like hopscotch, four-square, kickball, tetherball, jump rope, or tag.
  • There are several fun activities that American kids enjoy doing with their friends and families, such as picnicking, hiking, going to the beach or swimming, or going to children's and natural history museums, zoos and wild animal parks, amusement parks, water parks, state parks, or national parks. Popular amusement parks include Disneyland, Disney World, Legoland, Six Flags, and Universal Studios.
  • On Independence Day or the 4th of July, kids enjoy a day off from school, picnicking, and watching fireworks with their families. 
  • Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday in November when students get 2 to 5 days off school. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are popular December holidays, and there are 2 or 3 weeks of winter vacation. Easter is celebrated in March, April, or May, and kids enjoy a week of spring recess around that time.  
  • Barbecued hot dogs or hamburgers, watermelon, apple pie, and ice cream are popular kid foods for 4th of July celebrations. Turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie are traditional Thanksgiving foods. Birthday parties with cake and ice cream are very important celebrations for kids in the United States!

That's Berry Funny

What's the best pancake topping? 

More pancakes!

That's Berry Funny

Did you hear about the angry pancake?

He just flipped.

That's Berry Funny

What kind of fruit do trees like the most?

Pine-apple!

Lettuce Joke Around

What dinosaur loves pancakes? 

A tri-syrup-tops!

The Yolk's On You

How do you make a pancake smile? 

Butter him up!

Lettuce Joke Around

When is an apple not an apple? 

When it’s a pineapple!

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