Best Skillet Cake Recipes

GRANDMA'S SKILLET PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Melt 1 stick butter in the bottom of a cast iron skillet over medium heat, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter. Add pineapple slices on top of sugar in 1 decorative layer with a cherry in the middle of each pineapple ring. Set aside.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
• Cream sugar and butter together in a bowl. Add eggs and mix. Add flour mixture and milk in an alternating fashion. Add vanilla extract and mix well. Pour mixture evenly over pineapples in the skillet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cake is golden brown, about 40 minutes.
• Let cake cool in the skillet for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm.

APPLE SKILLET CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the apples: In a 10-inch sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the apples, brown sugar and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the apples soften slightly, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10-inch oven-proof skillet with butter.
• Make the cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl well, then beat in the vanilla.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg to combine. Add the flour mixture to the mixer and mix just until incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
• With a rubber spatula, gently fold the apple mixture (including all of the caramel-like liquid in the pan) into the batter. Mix just until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared skillet and spread into an even layer. Bake until the surface is evenly golden brown and appears set - a toothpick inserted into the center should have a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Place the caramels in a microwave-safe container. Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring, until the caramel is warm and fluid. (This mixture will cool quickly, so be sure to do it just before you mix the frosting.) Add the warm (not hot) caramel mixture and mix on medium speed until incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
• Add the cream and vanilla and mix to combine. The frosting should be smooth and very soft. Scoop the frosting onto the cooled cake, and spread into an even layer. Garnish with flaky salt just before serving.

APPLE GINGERBREAD SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place 1/4 cup butter in a 12-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet. Place in oven until butter is melted, 4-5 minutes; carefully swirl to coat evenly. Sprinkle with pecans and brown sugar; drizzle with molasses. Arrange apple slices in a single layer over sugar, cut side down., For gingerbread cake: in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg, then molasses. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, ginger, salt and cloves; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in hot water., Pour over apples. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. If desired, serve warm with applesauce.

PEACH UPSIDE-DOWN SKILLET CAKE WITH BOURBON WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. (This is in case the cake bubbles over during baking.)
• In a large bowl, toss the peaches with the lemon juice. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and baking soda.
• In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, cook 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the sugar melts and turns a deep amber color, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately add 2 tablespoons of the butter, stirring vigorously. The mixture may appear curdled and broken; don't worry, it will smooth out. Arrange the peach wedges in concentric circles over the sugar mixture, overlapping as needed to make them fit.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the remaining sugar, butter and the vanilla bean seeds (or vanilla extract) on medium speed until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add the sour cream and beat until blended. With the mixer running on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, beating just until blended and stopping to scrape bowl as needed. Spoon the batter over the peaches in the skillet and spread to cover.
• Place the skillet on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Make the whipped cream, if desired: In a large bowl, preferably metal, combine cream and bourbon. Refrigerate, along with a metal whisk or mixer attachments, for at least 15 minutes. Once chilled, whip the mixture until it holds soft peaks, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Let the cake cool in the skillet on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge to loosen. If you see liquid around the edges of the skillet, carefully pour off into a measuring cup and set aside. (It's O.K. if you don't have any excess liquid - it all depends on how juicy your fruit is.)
• Carefully invert the cake onto a serving plate and drizzle with any reserved liquid. Let cool about 10 minutes more, to set. Cut into wedges using a serrated knife and serve, topping each slice with whipped cream if you like.

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Add melted butter to 12-inch cast iron or ovenproof skillet. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter. Arrange 8 pineapple slices in bottom of skillet. Cut remaining slices in half; arrange around inside edge of skillet. Place 1 cherry in center of each whole and half pineapple slice.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, pineapple juice, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed until moistened; beat 2 minutes on high speed. Pour into skillet over fruit.
• Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until cake is golden brown and springs back when touched lightly in center.
• Cool cake in skillet 5 to 10 minutes. Run knife around edge of cake to loosen. Place heatproof plate upside down over skillet; turn plate and skillet over. Remove skillet. Serve cake warm.

SKILLET PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Melt butter in a 9- or 10-in. ovenproof skillet. Add brown sugar; mix well until sugar is melted. Drain pineapple, reserving 1/3 cup juice. Arrange about 8 pineapple slices in a single layer over sugar (refrigerate remaining slices for another use). Sprinkle pecans over pineapple; set aside. , In a large bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Blend in vanilla and reserved pineapple juice. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to batter and mix well. , In a small bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Spoon into skillet. , Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes (cover loosely with foil if cake browns too quickly). Let stand 10 minutes before inverting onto serving plate. Place cherries in center of pineapple slices.

BUTTERMILK STRAWBERRY SKILLET CAKE WITH STRAWBERRY WHIPPED CREAM AND JERRY'S SUGARED PECANS

Steps:

• For the buttermilk strawberry skillet cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 10-inch cast-iron skillet and dust with flour.
• Beat the butter and 3/4 cup of the sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat in the vanilla and egg. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl until combined. With the mixer running, add about a third of the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, then add about half of the buttermilk. Continue adding the flour and buttermilk in this manner, ending with the flour, mixing just until the batter comes together.
• Pour the batter into the prepared skillet and smooth the top. Place the strawberries on top of the cake batter, pressing down gently. Sprinkle the remaining 2 teaspoons sugar over top. Bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• For the strawberry whipped cream: Place a mixing bowl and whisk attachment into the freezer 15 minutes prior to using.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the cold whisk attachment, whip the cream until soft peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the jam and vanilla and continue whipping until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes more. (If not using immediately, cover and refrigerate.)
• Serve the cake with the whipped cream and Jerry's Sugared Pecans.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a large baking sheet with sides with aluminum foil. Pour the melted butter onto the lined sheet.
• In a large bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon and egg whites. Add the pecan halves and toss until they are fully coated.
• Spread the pecans onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring the pecans every 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

APPLE SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, flour, and salt; set aside. In a large ovenproof skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook apple slices, stirring occasionally, until soft, 6 to 8 minutes. Add brown sugar and cinnamon and cook until caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour in batter and transfer to oven. Bake until cake puffs, about 12 minutes. Sprinkle with raw sugar and return to oven until brown on top, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool slightly. Serve each slice with a dollop of Greek yogurt, if using.

TURTLE FUDGE SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 12-inch stainless steel, oven-safe skillet with shortening and flour, tapping out any excess flour.
• Combine cake mix, water, eggs, and oil in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour batter into the bottom of the prepared skillet.
• Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen and carefully invert onto a large round platter. Let cool, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine 1/2 of the caramel topping with the baking chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on high until chocolate is melted, about 30 to 60 seconds. Stir mixture until combined and smooth; carefully spread over the cake.
• Sprinkle cake with pecans and drizzle remaining caramel topping over top. Let stand until topping is set. Cut into wedges to serve.

BLUEBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a 10-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, melt cubed butter over medium-low heat; stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Remove from heat. Stir in orange juice; sprinkle with blueberries., In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, whisk egg, milk, melted butter and extract until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Pour over blueberries., Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-22 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Top as desired.

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE IN IRON SKILLET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Melt butter in iron skillet.
• Sprinkle brown sugar over butter.
• Arrange pineapple slices on top brown sugar/butter.
• Place cherries in center of slices.
• Beat remaining ingredients till well blended.
• Pour over pineapple in skillet and bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until tooth pick inserted comes out clean.
• Remove from oven and turn onto heat-proof plate.

BASIC SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a 9-inch cast iron skillet over low heat. Transfer 1/2 of the melted butter to a mixing bowl, leaving remaining butter in the skillet.
• Add sugar to the mixing bowl and beat with the melted butter until well blended. Add egg and mix until well beaten. Mix in flour and vanilla. Add milk, 2 tablespoons at a time, until mixture is the consistency of pancake batter. Pour batter into the skillet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the stovetop.

APPLE-CINNAMON-WALNUT SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10- or 12-inch cast-iron skillet with oil and set aside.
• Combine the flours, baking powder, flax meal, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl, and stir with a fork or whisk until well combined. Add the maple syrup, sparkling water, vanilla and oil and stir well with a fork to combine.
• Grate the apples with a box grater or a food processor with a grater attachment blade. Add the apples and walnuts to the batter and stir to combine.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared skillet and spread evenly. Bake until the top is lightly browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then slice into 8 wedges and serve.

PINEAPPLE SKILLET SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Topping: In a heavy 8" ovenproof skillet (cast iron) melt butter and add brown sugar.
• Arrange pineapple slices over mixture; place nut meats between slices and place a cherry in the center of each slice.
• Pour following batter over.
• Batter: Beat egg yolks until thick and lemon colored, add 1/2 cup of sugar, and continue beating.
• Add water, then fold in remaining cup of sugar sifted with flour, salt, and baking powder.
• Beat well and fold in egg whites.
• Pour over pineapple in skillet and bake in a moderate oven (325 degrees) 45 minutes.
• Cool, run knife around edge to loosen, and turn out on a large platter, pineapple side up.
• If desired, serve with whipped cream.

APPLE AND CHEDDAR SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar in a 9-inch oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to caramelize, 5 to 10 minutes. When mixture starts to simmer, add diced apples and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Gently press on the apples with a spatula until coated with sugar mixture and simmer, without stirring, until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Combine baking mix, milk, shredded Cheddar cheese, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl and stir until consistency is similar to a waffle batter. Spoon mixture evenly over the apples in the skillet; no need to be too precise as it will spread out while baking.
• Bake skillet in preheated oven until batter reaches a firm consistency and is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the stovetop until the caramelized sugar thickens a bit, about 5 minutes. Spoon servings onto individual plates, drizzle with caramel liquid, and serve while warm.

BUTTERMILK SKILLET CAKE WITH PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

Steps:

• 1. Preheat your oven to 375' F. Grease and flour an 8" over safe (ie: cast iron) skillet, along the bottom and up the sides. Joy says a 9" cake pan will work as well. Don't make up your mind yet....please.
• 2. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• 3. In another medium bowl, with a stand or hand mixer, cream together the granulated sugar and butter until fully incorporated, about 3 minutes.
• 4. Add the egg and yolk, one at a time, beating for 1 minute between the two.
• 5. Beat in the vanilla.
• 6. Now....with the mixer on low, add half of the flour. Beat until incorporated. Add the buttermilk, and beat again until incorporated. Finally, beat in the remaining flour until almost fully incorporated. Stop beating and continue with a spatula to fully incorporate the flour.
• 7. Pour / spoon the batter into your prepared pan.
• 8. Smooth the batter in the pan evenly. (Put a pan on the bottom rack. Just in case.) Bake for 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• 9. While things of unknown magnitude are going on in the oven....you should make the pralines: Combine the brown sugar, butter, cream and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a soft boil and let boil for 3 minutes. Keep an eye on it. It likes to get a little rambunctious....just stir it down.
• 10. After 3 minutes, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and nuts. Allow to set for about 20 minutes to thicken up a bit.
• 11. Once the cake is out of the oven, and while it's still warm pour the praline over the whole thing.

TRIPLE GINGER SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees, and lightly grease a 12-inch oven-safe skillet with unsalted butter.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the remaining butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the molasses, and grate the ginger using a fine grater into the mixing bowl. Mix until well combined, scraping the bowl as necessary, 1 minute more. Add the egg and mix to incorporate, about 30 seconds more.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon and salt to combine. Add half of the flour mixture to the mixer and mix on low speed to combine. Scrape the bowl well.
• Add the milk and mix to incorporate. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the crystallized ginger by hand.
• Pour the batter into the prepared skillet, and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle the surface with turbinado sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Let cool for 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, garnished with powdered sugar.

BUTTERMILK-POPPY SEED SKILLET CAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Place butter into a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Place skillet into an oven and turn on to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to allow butter to melt, 2 to 4 minutes.
• While butter melts, mix together flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom in a large bowl.
• When butter has fully melted, remove skillet from oven and gently swirl to coat bottom with butter. Pour melted butter over the dry ingredients, and set skillet aside. Stir melted butter into dry ingredients a few times to allow it to cool slightly. Add buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and almond extracts and mix just until batter has no dry clumps of flour in it.
• Pour batter into the skillet and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle halved strawberries evenly over the top and place skillet into the oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs, 55 to 60 minutes. If cake begins to over-brown at any point during baking process, turn the oven temperature down to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and continue to bake until done (baking time will vary with a lower oven temperature). Allow cake to cool before slicing.

SKILLET GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH EGGNOG ROYAL ICING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch round pan or skillet with butter and lightly coat with flour.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, crystallized ginger, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses and milk. Whisk in the egg and orange zest.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk until just combined and there are no more lumps. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 25 to 35 minutes, or until the edges look dark and the middle feels firm to the touch. Set the pan on a rack to cool.
• For the eggnog royal icing: Measure out half of the powdered sugar and place in the bowl of a stand mixer or mixing bowl, then add the egg white, rum, bourbon, vanilla, nutmeg, cloves, salt, cream of tartar and heavy cream. Mix at low speed with a paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, adding the remaining powdered sugar. Increase speed to medium and beat until thick and smooth. It should have the texture of a loose buttercream, thick and malleable.
• Pour the icing over the warm cake and spread evenly with a small spatula. Slice and serve.

FRUIT SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron), and dust with flour. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With an electric mixer on medium, beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in egg. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk; beat until combined.
• Transfer batter to the prepared skillet; smooth top. Arrange plums on top, fanning the slices; sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake until golden brown and a cake tester into center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.