Pineapple Upside Down Cake

My son loves pineapple so he requested a pineapple upside-down cake for his birthday, so I made him one from scratch. Then we topped his cake with tiny marvel characters. 

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

Caramel-

3 tablespoons butter

½ cup light brown sugar

1 can sliced pineapple in pineapple juice

Maraschino cherries (I placed cherries everywhere they would fit)

Cake-

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup applesauce

½ cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350.  Spray a 10 inch springboard pan or 9 inch cake pan with nonstick baking spray.
2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the brown sugar and mix.
3. Spread the sugar mixture over the base of the cake pan.
4. Press the pineapple rings and cherries into the sugar mixture.
5. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
6. Mix applesauce, sugar, egg, and vanilla in a stand mixer. Blend in the flour mixture milk alternating flour and milk.  Mix until just combined.
7. Pour the batter carefully into the cake pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Make sure the cake is cooked in the center before attempting to flip.
8. Use a knife to carefully loosen the cake from the sides of the cake pan. 
9. Place a serving dish on the top of the cake and invert.
10. Enjoy!