Upside-down apple cake

 

Ingredients:

For the Topping:

3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

1/2 cup unsalted butter

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

For the Cake:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup buttermilk (or regular milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar)

Directions:

Step 1: Prepare the Topping

Melt Butter and Sugar: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth.

Arrange Apples: Pour the butter and sugar mixture into the bottom of a greased 9-inch round cake pan. Arrange the apple slices in a circular pattern on top of the sugar mixture, slightly overlapping them.

Step 2: Make the Cake Batter

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Sift Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.

Alternate Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.

Step 3: Assemble and Bake

Pour Batter Over Apples: Carefully spoon the cake batter over the arranged apples, spreading it evenly with a spatula.

Bake: Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool and Invert: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then run a knife around the edges to loosen it. Invert the cake onto a serving plate, allowing the caramelized apples to shine on top.

How to Prepare:

Storage: Store the cake at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Serving Suggestion: Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream to enhance the flavor of the caramelized apples.

Preparation Time:

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40-45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings:

Yields: 8-10 servings