Chef Johns Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Use a 10-inch (measure across the bottom) cast iron pan. (although this cake can be made in a round cake pan, it is better if you use cast iron).
• Drain pineapple slices and place on paper towels to absorb moisture. (you will need 8 whole slices; the other 6 will be cut in half).
• Whisk or stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together just to blend; set aside.
• In a separate bowl, stir the vanilla into the creme fraiche or sour cream; set aside.
• Melt 2 oz of butter in the cast iron pan.
• Add the brown sugar and bourbon (if using) and cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the sugar melts.
• Place 1 whole pineapple slice in the center of the pan and 7 whole slices surrounding it.
• Place the half slices side by side against the sides of the pan, the two cut edges down touching the brown sugar.
• Place pecan halves in the middle of each pineapple slice and in the gaps between the fruit.
• Place remaining butter (4 oz.) and the granulated sugar in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or use a hand-held mixer, and beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
• The butter and sugar must be beaten until light and fluffy; don't rush it- the process can take 3 to 4 minutes with a heavy-duty mixer and 6 to 8 minutes with a hand-held mixer.
• Reduce speed to medium adding eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Working with a rubber spatula, carefully fold in dry ingredients and creme fraiche alternately- 3 additions of dry ingredients, 2 of creme fraiche. (you will end up with a thick batter).
• Spoon batter over pineapple and smooth the top by spreading the batter with an offset spatula.
• Put the cast iron pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean (test in a couple places to be certain).
• As soon as the cake is removed from the oven, turn it out onto a round plate large enough to hold the cake.
• If any of the fruit sticks to the skillet, use a small spatula to place it back on the cake.
• NOTE: The cake can be kept wrapped in plastic at room temperature overnight.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt butter in ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly in pan. Arrange pineapple slices on brown sugar. Place maraschino cherry halves, cut side up, in center of pineapple slices.
• Prepare cake mix following package directions for Basic Recipe. Pour batter evenly over fruit in pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 43 to 48 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pan. Invert onto heat resistant serving plate.
• Poke holes into cake, pour drained pineapple juice over cake.