Description
Ina Garten’s legendary pineapple upside down cake combines caramelized fruit with buttery golden cake. Classic American dessert delivers sweet tropical pleasure you’ll savor to the last delicious crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 7 slices canned pineapple
- ½ cup (120 ml/113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) reserved pineapple juice
- ½ cup (100 g) firmly packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml/57 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tsps baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 13 candied cherries
Instructions
- Pan Preparation: Grease a 9-inch round baking pan with nonstick spray or softened butter to ensure effortless cake release.
- Caramel Foundation: Whisk melted butter and brown sugar, creating a rich caramel layer spread evenly across the pan’s bottom.
- Fruit Arrangement: Strategically position pineapple slices in a decorative pattern, placing one slice in the center and nestling maraschino cherries within each ring and between slices.
- Dry Ingredient Blend: Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, and ground cloves in a mixing bowl, thoroughly mixing the spices and dry components.
- Wet Ingredient Fusion: Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then integrate eggs individually, ensuring complete incorporation before adding wet ingredients.
- Batter Creation: Gently fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture, alternating with heavy cream and pineapple juice until a smooth, consistent batter develops.
- Baking Process: Pour batter evenly over the arranged fruit layer, then bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 55-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cake Release: Cool the cake in the pan for 5 minutes, then loosen edges with a metal spatula and invert onto a serving plate, carefully removing the baking pan.
- Serving Suggestion: Present the warm cake immediately, optionally topping with a luxurious dollop of freshly whipped cream for added decadence.
Notes
- Prep Pan Perfectly: Use parchment paper alongside cooking spray for foolproof cake release and crisp caramel edges.
- Check Cake Doneness: Test with a toothpick in multiple spots to ensure even baking, as ovens vary in temperature and performance.
- Room Temperature Matters: Bring eggs, butter, and cream to room temperature before mixing to create a smoother, more consistent cake batter.
- Handle Caramel Carefully: Work quickly when spreading butter and brown sugar to prevent burning and achieve an even, golden caramel base.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg