Description
Sweet nostalgia meets modern baking with this classic Apple Upside Down Cake, blending caramelized fruit and tender crumb. Warm spices and buttery layers invite you to savor a comforting slice of homemade dessert perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients (Fruits and Base):
- 2 Golden Delicious apples, sliced into 1/2-inch wedges
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
Baking and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) melted unsalted butter
Topping and Coating Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Prepare a 9-inch cake pan by generously coating with butter, lining with parchment paper, and creating a delectable base layer of caramelized brown sugar and butter.
- Carefully arrange thinly sliced apples in an elegant, overlapping pattern across the pan’s bottom, ensuring complete coverage of the sugary foundation.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients including flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt, whisking to eliminate any potential lumps.
- In a separate vessel, vigorously whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until thoroughly blended and smooth.
- Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry mixture, creating a uniform batter, then incorporate melted butter with smooth, deliberate strokes.
- Delicately pour the prepared batter over the arranged apple slices, ensuring even distribution across the pan.
- Slide the pan into a preheated oven at 350°F, baking for approximately 55 minutes until a golden-brown crust forms and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to rest and cool for 30 minutes, developing its rich flavors and structural integrity.
- Confidently invert the cake onto a serving plate, carefully peeling away the parchment paper to reveal the glistening apple arrangement.
- Prepare a complementary glaze, drizzling it artfully over the cooled cake just before presenting to enhance its visual appeal and add a final touch of sweetness.
Notes
- Prevent apple browning by tossing sliced apples in lemon juice before arranging in the pan.
- Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and balanced sweetness.
- Ensure even apple layer by overlapping slices carefully and creating a consistent pattern for beautiful presentation.
- Make the cake gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend, keeping the same measurement.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 55 mins
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 295 kcal
- Sugar: 31 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg