CHEF JOHN'S PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Chef John's Pineapple Upside-Down Cake image

This iconic American dessert looks like a simple, rustic fruit cobbler when it comes out of the oven, all browned and bubbling, but a few minutes later, when it's turned over and that gloriously caramelized surface is revealed, it becomes so much more.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Desserts Fruit Dessert Recipes Pineapple Dessert Recipes

Time 1h20m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

¼ cup butter
¾ cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon pineapple juice
1 tablespoon dark rum
½ small fresh pineapple - peeled, cored, and sliced
½ cup butter
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup white sugar
1 egg
½ cup cold milk

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Melt 1/4 cup butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in brown sugar, pineapple juice, and dark rum. Cook over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is bubbling, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and spread pineapple slices in a layer over the brown sugar mixture, completely covering the mixture. Set skillet aside.
Melt 1/2 cup butter in small skillet over low heat until the butter begins to brown and release a nutty fragrance, about 5 minutes. Watch carefully, butter burns easily. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
Whisk together flour, cardamom, salt, baking powder, and white sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in egg and cold milk until just combined. Pour in melted butter and stir to mix thoroughly.
Pour batter over the pineapple slices in the skillet; spread evenly to cover.
Bake in preheated oven until the cake begins to bubble around the edges, the top is browned, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in the skillet for 10 minutes.
Loosen the cake from the skillet by running a knife around the inside edge of the cake. Invert a large plate over the top of the skillet and flip over, releasing the cake to show the pineapple slices on top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 263.1 calories, Carbohydrate 35.9 g, Cholesterol 46.8 mg, Fat 12.3 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 7.6 g, Sodium 274.2 mg, Sugar 23.3 g