Aloha, fellow bakers!

In this week’s blog, we examine one of the latest trends in baking, and right now tropical-inspired baked goods are enjoying their 15 minutes of fame. So whether you’ve got an upcoming potluck invitation to a Hawaiian luau or not, you can’t go wrong with the following:

Pineapple Upside-Down Loaf. This classic cake is as easy as, well, pie. Start with melted butter and brown sugar in the bottom of a loaf pan. Top with a couple of fresh pineapples arranged around juicy cherries, then pour your favorite cake batter on top. After it bakes, turn it over and serve.  

Piña Colada Cupcakes. Happiness is a refreshingly delicious Piña Colada Cupcake (and maybe a real Piña Colada and “The Piña Colada Song” playing in the background). Your batter will contain coconut milk, coconut extract, pineapple juice and crushed pineapple. Top with fluffy buttercream and those aforementioned juicy cherries. Oh, and those little paper parasols.

Mango Muffins. Fresh and ripe mangos should occupy pride of place in your muffin batter. Why? The moist and tasty end product is studded with uber-healthy, uber-delicious mango chunks. Some health experts argue that a mango a day is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Passion Fruit Treats. This tropical delight may have the best name of all the fruits. And it’s much more than a fancy name; passion fruit has been revered since ancient times for its health benefits. Familiarize yourself with this exotic and intriguing fruit by including it in your loaf cakes, cupcakes and muffins.