Caramelized Apple Upside-Down Cake

Caramelized Apple Upside-Down Cake

 Ingredients

For the Caramelized Apples:
– 3 large apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter
– 1 cup brown sugar
– 1 tsp ground cinnamon
– 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

For the Cake Batter:
– 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 tsp baking powder
– 1/2 tsp baking soda
– 1/4 tsp salt
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 3/4 cup granulated sugar
– 2 large eggs
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1/2 cup buttermilk

 Instructions

1. **Prepare the Caramelized Apples:**
– Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
– In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is bubbly.
– Add the apple slices to the skillet and cook for about 5-7 minutes until they are tender and caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.

2. **Prepare the Cake Batter:**
– In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
– In a large bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
– Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
– Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.

3. **Assemble the Cake:**
– Grease a 9-inch round cake pan. Arrange the caramelized apple slices in a circular pattern on the bottom of the pan, pouring any remaining caramel sauce over the apples.
– Pour the cake batter over the apples and spread it evenly.

4. **Bake the Cake:**
– Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
– Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then invert it onto a serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.

5. **Enjoy:**
– This cake is delicious on its own, but you can also serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra treat.

Feel free to experiment with the recipe by adding your favorite spices or trying different types of apples. Enjoy your baking!