CHERRY-CHOCOLATE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Cherry-Chocolate Upside-Down Cake image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories dessert

Time 1h35m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 pounds cherries, pitted
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine 3/4 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons water in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet; stir until the mixture looks like wet sand. Cook over medium-high heat, gently swirling the pan occasionally but not stirring, until light amber, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Toss the cherries with the lemon juice and arrange over the caramel; set the skillet aside.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and the remaining 1 cup sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour, and mix until just incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour the batter over the cherries and spread evenly.
Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil if the cake is browning too quickly.) Let sit 15 minutes, then invert onto a platter and let cool completely.