Upside Down Apple Cake
Hmmm…did I happen to mention that I count dessert as a side? By the end of all that Thanksgiving planning it’s hard to even think about dessert… so we’re starting with it. I gave my kid a choice of several different dessert ideas and he picked upside down apple cake. I’m not sure if it was the apples or the “upside down” that enticed him, but I was quite pleased with his decision.
Squeezing the lemon is one of his very favorite cooking activities. This lemon was particularly difficult. The look on my kid’s face is priceless.
While he was layering the apples, I turned my back for a moment and my kid decided to sneak a slice of apple. He forgot we had tossed them in lemon and couldn’t hide his sour face when I turned back around. That made us both giggle.
The cake requires that you cool it completely before slicing. My kid is at school and hasn’t had the chance to try it yet, but I have. I’m deeply in love. He better get home soon before I eat the entire cake! Now for the recipe…
Upside Down Apple Cake Recipe
Adapted from page 456 of The America’s Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook.
Thanksgiving Planning: Make 1 day ahead
Prep Time: 15 mins Cooking Time: 35 to 40 minutes
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3 granny smith apples (peeled, cored + sliced in wedges)
juice of 1/2 lemon
brown sugar for sprinkling
2 tablespoons almond meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs (room temp)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted + cooled)
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Toss apple slices in lemon juice. Place a tablespoon of butter in a 9 inch round pan and place in the oven for a minute or two until butter melts. Once melted, remove from oven and sprinkle brown sugar to lightly cover the entire bottom of pan. Arrange slices of apples in concentric circles on top of the sugar. Set aside.
In a small bowl whisk together almond meal, salt, flour and baking powder. In a large bowl, whisk the granulated sugar, brown sugar and eggs together until thick. Whisk in the melted butter a little bit at a time. Then add the yogurt and vanilla. Whisk until combined add flour mixture 1/2 at a time and whisk until just combined.
Spoon batter over the apples and use a spatula to gently smooth out evenly in the pan. Pick the pan up 1/2 inch off the counter and carefully drop it down to settle the batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Let the cake cool for exactly 10 minutes and place a platter over the top of the pan and invert the cake onto the plate. Let the cake sit for exactly 1 minute before lifting up the pan. Let cool completely before slicing (about 2 hours). Voila! A gorgeous apple pie alternative is served.
Don’t forget to comment on one of our Thanksgiving sides recipes this week to be entered to win the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor. If you want more chances to win, come back each day and enter another comment. (Only one comment per Thanksgiving side recipe please.) The giveaway starts 11/9 and will close at midnight on 11/16 and the winner will be selected at random from all the comments received. Can’t wait to hear from you!
Fine print: This giveaway is intended for play in the United States. Giveaway must be shipped to a valid address within the 50 United States. Void where prohibited by law.
Speaking of contests. One of our readers suggested we enter this cake into this apple cook off. What a cute idea!
posted by Rebecca // Nov 9th, 2010 // Dessert
50 Comments »
Looks yummy! A Swedish friend of mine always makes a Swedish cake like this for parties and everyone looks forward to it!
I stumbled upon your blog a few weeks ago and have since added it to my iGoogle homepage. I have a 16-month-old son and look forward to being able to cook with him. I love apples so I'm sure your Upside Down Apple Cake is wonderful.
I'm not a huge fan of fruit in desserts but for this I would make a major exception – YUM!
I am definitely going to try this–one question, though. Can I make almond meal just by crushing raw almonds in a food processor to a fine texture, or is there something else involved?
yes! you can make almond meal that way. use 1/4 cup slivered, toasted almonds. process in food processor (or a clean coffee grinder) until very finely ground.yes! you can make almond meal that way. use 1/4 cup slivered, toasted almonds. process in food processor until very finely ground. seems that mini prep is the perfect tool! be sure to let us know how it turns out.
I LOVE that you consider dessert a side dish! It looks so tasty and pretty!
sounds delicious. Love the look on his face!
Awesome alternative to a traditional Apple pie , Gracias !!
I am with you! Desserts are a side. I love your blog!
I am having my mother-in-law coming into town and I know she would love this! I also have to make something for my neighbor who is having back surgery…I think this would be a favorite!!!!
I make my famous apple pie every thanksgiving…but I almost want to give it up this year to try this instead….hmm…decisions…maybe I'll make two?!
We are all fans of apples and the cake makes it even better!
I just made your beef & bowtie stew last night. Good call on the bowties; I never would have thought of that. Will have to try this cake soon!
this sounds delicious!
I was full, but after seeing this recipe, I am now starving. Maybe it's the thought of using almond meal with apples in a cake. Drool.
Love the recipe and pictures! I am definitely going to try this out for txgiving!
Can't wait to make this. My boys are going to love it
Oh this looks like so much fun to make with my step son! I am trying to find ways of including him in making meals and being excited to do so. This looks like there are multiple steps that would be fun for him to do. Thanks for the wonderful side idea.
Just finished a horrible day at work. How I would love to squeeze the heck out of a lemon like your little guy, and then have a slice of delicious cake….
I just found your website and am anxious to see if the 'cooking cure' works on my picky eater. i'm already picking a few of your recipes to try! thank you!
this looks to die for! where did you find your lemon squeezer? been looking for one like it but haven't found quite the right one yet.
Yum! Yum! Yum! Can’t wait to try this
one!!
What an elegant looking dessert. I'm going to try this one asap.
That looks like an amazingly yummy dessert! I bet my little one would love squeezing the lemons too, such a fun job!
This looks delicious! Would love to win the mini food processor!!
I've never thought much of pineapple upside down cake, but apple upside down…I must make this!
This looks delicious – I am new to your website but will be exploring it with my kids!
This looks delicious! How much would it change if you left the almond meal out?
oh yummmy!!!! i want to make this!!!
This made my day! Easy and beautiful!
I LOVE when you post apple recipes! I think you should devote an entire week to apples just like you did with pumpkins. =)
I agree–what a priceless expression of your son juicing that lemon! Great recipe, and one that I will probably try!
I've been trying to think of a new dessert for Thanksgiving this year as an addition to the usual Pumpkin Pie. (We've got a big family and need a few dessert options). I think this is going to be the winner this year! Great post!
If I can track down almond meal, I'm totally making this! Thanks for the giveaway!
Yum! I work with a group of 3-5 year olds, and we have made many of your recipes! We especially loved the pumpkin pie granola, and I think the upside down apple pie will also be a hit.
You can make your own almond meal by putting 1/4 cup of toasted slivered almonds in a food processor (or clean coffee grinder) and processing until fine. Or, in a pinch you can use 3/4 teaspoon of almond extract instead. Not as good but better than leaving out the awesome almond flavor.
Love your boy's expression! It makes it all the funnier that he has a tattoo on his forearm (temporary, I'm guessing).
ooh! cake as a side dish! brilliant! ;D
Oh no I am mid recipe and can't find how much baking powder to use. It is listed in the recipe but not the ingredients.
1 teaspoon.
Thanks so much.
I wonder if you entered Da's apple contest already. This looks PERFECT to win. http://www.kitchencorners.com/2010/11/november-co...
Definitely gonna try this… it looks awesome.
The apples during fall are the best and I am looking forward to trying this recipe. Sounds delicious. My four year old daughter will be excited to try this one.
I'm so excited you joined the cook off. Your cake looks super yummy!
turns out my son will eat anything if its made into bread or pie.. i dont know anyone who wouldnt want to eat this, haha.
I was wondering what almond meal was. Thanks for the clarification.
I will definitely try this one:)
Made my first upside down pineapple cake a few weeks ago. It wasn't kid friendly though, it had passionfruit rum in it! But I think I like the idea of apples better for fall…
I love that you let him choose!