Apple Upside Down Cake

5 from 6 votes

Apple Upside Down Cake is a delicious homemade cake recipe made in a cast iron skillet with both fresh apples and applesauce and a cinnamon spice glaze.

Prep Time20

Cook Time50

Total Time1 10

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: Krissy Allori

Equipment

Mixing Bowls

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter cut into thick slices
3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
2 small Granny Smith apples
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch of salt optional and to taste
1 large egg
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Using a 9” cast iron skillet, melt 1/2 cup unsalted butter over medium heat until bubbly. Sprinkle 3/4 cup light brown sugar evenly over melted butter. Do not stir, but allow to sit over heat for just a minute until it starts to dissolve. Remove from heat.
Peel the 2 small Granny Smith apples, cut them in half, and remove the seeds and stem portion. Set them face down on a cutting board and cut the halves into thin slices while maintaining the original shape. Gently place these apple slices in a circular spoke pattern in the butter and brown sugar mixture.
To make the cake batter, combine the 1 cup all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 pinch of salt in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
Separately, mix together 1 large egg, 3/4 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup applesauce, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. Add this wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir just to combine. Do not over mix – this will be very similar to pancake batter.
Pour over apple pieces taking care not to change their position.
Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before inverting onto plate.

Notes

Recipe makes one cake.
Store in airtight container.
Best if eaten within 1-2 days as apples will brown over time.

Nutrition