Apple Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake

October 26, 2011 • Alaska from Scratch, Autumn, Cakes & Pies, Desserts, Holidays & Occasions, Recipes, Seasons, Winter

Weather: 34 degrees, sunshine.
What I’m listening to: Little Women Soundtrack

Dear Honey Crisp Apples, where have you been all of my life? Sometimes there are no words…

Only ooooooohs.

And ahhhhhs.

I’ve never seen a gingerbread so beautiful. Ever. Moist, appley, caramely,  gooey, but not-too-sweet, not-too-spicy perfection. Pass the freshly-whipped cream, please. Oh, and shut the front door before the neighbors all come running.

Apple Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen, originally from Philo Apple Farm, California

  • For Topping:
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2-3 large apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch wedges
  • For Gingerbread:
  • 1/2c butter, softened
  • 1/2c sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3c dark molasses
  • 1/3c honey
  • 1c buttermilk
  • 2 1/4c flour
  • 1t baking soda
  • 1/2t salt
  • 1t ground ginger
  • 1t cinnamon

!Topping:

Preheat oven to 325. Grease a 10 inch cake pan.

Melt butter in a small saucepan. Stir in brown sugar. Cook until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir in salt. Pour into bottom of cake pan.

Make circles of overlapping apple slices on top of the caramel.

!Gingerbread:

Using a mixer, blend butter and sugar until fluffy. Gradually add egg, molasses, honey, and buttermilk.

Stop mixing and add dry ingredients/spices. Mix until just combined.

Pour batter over apples. Bake 50-55 minutes until set.

Allow to cool 10-15 minutes before inverting onto serving plate (one with rims is ideal or place something under your serving plate to catch any caramel that runs).

Serve warm (best the same day) with whipped cream.