Pineapple Upside-Down Layer Cake

3/4 cup butter, softened and divided
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 (8 ounce) cans crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/4 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/8 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Frosting (below)

Melt 1/2 cup butter; pour evenly into two 9-inch round cake pans. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter. Top sugar in each pan evenly with pineapple and pecans. Set pans aside.

Beat remaining 1/4 cup butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to shortening mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract. Sppoon batter evenly over pineapple mixture in prepared pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; invert onto wire racks to cool completely.

Place 1 cake layer, pineapple side up, on a serving plate. Spread top with 1/2 cup Whipped Cream Frosting. Place remaining layer, pineapple side up, on top. Spread top and sides of cake with remaining Whipped Cream Frosting.

Whipped Cream Frosting:
2 cups whipping cream
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat whipping cream at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until foamy; gradually add brown sugar and vanilla extract, beating until soft peaks form.