Description
This Brown Butter Apple Upside-Down Cake is a delightful fall dessert featuring tender apple slices caramelized with brown sugar and nutty browned butter. The moist, spiced cake base complements the rich topping perfectly, making it an easy yet elegant treat to serve warm or at room temperature.
Ingredients
Scale
Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 2 large apples (peeled, cored, and thinly sliced)
Batter
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Make Brown Sugar Topping: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of butter until it starts to brown and gives off a nutty aroma, about 4–5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the packed brown sugar until fully combined, then pour and spread this mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
- Arrange Apples: Place the thinly sliced apples in a circular pattern over the brown sugar mixture in the pan, creating an attractive upside-down topping.
- Bake Brown Butter: In a separate saucepan, brown the remaining ½ cup of butter over medium heat, allowing it to develop a rich flavor. Let the brown butter cool slightly before using.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the slightly cooled browned butter with granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt.
- Combine Batter: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two batches, alternating with the milk. Stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Assemble Cake: Pour the batter evenly over the apple slices in the pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Bake Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully invert the cake onto a serving plate so the apple layer is on top. Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- For added depth of flavor, incorporate a pinch of nutmeg or a splash of apple brandy into the batter.
- Choose firm apple varieties such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith to ensure they hold their shape during baking.
- Pair the cake with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.
