Kid Territory:Recipes: Umbrella Bird Upside-Down Cupcakes

Yes, umbrella birds really do exist! Umbrella birds are black birds the size of crows. They live in the rain forests of South and Central America. They get their name from the unique covering of forward-facing black feathers on top of their head that are shaped like an umbrella. Fresh fruit is their favorite snack. I think the umbrella bird would like our pineapple cupcakes.

This recipe takes a little more work and an adult to help, but it's deliciously worth it!

Ingredients

tablespoons melted margarine or butter

egg

16-oz. can of pineapple slices

teaspoon vanilla

2/3 

cup brown sugar

1 1/4 

cups flour

1/3 

cup shortening

teaspoon baking powder

cup sugar

teaspoon salt

12 

paper parasols (umbrellas)


Preheat oven to 350° F. Evenly divide melted margarine into a 12-cup muffin tin. Drain pineapple slices, saving one cup of drained syrup. Put pineapple slices into the melted butter on the bottom of each muffin section. Place crumbled brown sugar on top of each pineapple slice. In a bowl, mix together sugar and shortening. Add egg and vanilla. Beat together. In another bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add this mixture to the first bowl of ingredients. Stir well, while adding one cup of the extra pineapple juice. Once thoroughly mixed, spread this mixture over the pineapple slices in the muffin tin.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cupcakes cool for five to ten minutes. Flip upside down on serving plate, and add a colorful paper umbrella to each. Enjoy!

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Animal Bytes: Birds, Central America, South America, Tropical Rain Forest