Nigella’s Apple Upside Down Cake is made with fresh apples, butter, brown sugar, and a simple cake batter. It serves 6-8 people and takes about 55-60 minutes to prepare and bake, perfect for a sweet and comforting dessert.
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🤎 Why You’ll Love This Apple Upside Down Cake Recipe:
- Delicious Caramelized Apples: The apples caramelize in butter and brown sugar, creating a rich, gooey topping that’s packed with flavor.
- Moist and Tender Cake: The cake beneath is soft and moist, providing a perfect balance to the sweet apple topping.
- Easy to Make: Despite its impressive appearance, this recipe is straightforward and easy to follow, making it accessible for bakers of all skill levels.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: This cake is versatile enough for a casual family dinner yet elegant enough for special occasions and holidays.
- Delightful Texture: The combination of tender cake and soft, caramelized apples offers a wonderful contrast in textures that’s very satisfying.
- Beautiful Presentation: The upside-down design makes for a stunning presentation right out of the pan, no additional decoration needed.
❓ What Is Nigella Apple Upside Down Cake Recipe?
Nigella’s Apple Upside Down Cake recipe features a luscious caramelized apple topping atop a moist vanilla sponge. Made with fresh apples, brown sugar, and aromatic spices, it’s a simple yet impressive dessert perfect for any occasion.
🍎 Nigella Apple Upside Down Cake Ingredients
For the Apple Topping:
- 3 medium apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the Cake:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
🥧 How To Make Nigella Apple Upside Down Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a 9-inch round cake pan, melt the butter over low heat on the stove. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, stirring until the sugar is melted and the mixture is bubbly.
- Remove from heat and arrange the apple slices neatly over the sugar mixture. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Stir until just combined. Pour the cake batter over the apple layer in the cake pan, spreading evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate.
- This cake can be served warm or at room temperature. It pairs beautifully with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
💭 Recipe Tips
- Select the Right Apples: Using a mix of tart and sweet apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp provides a balanced flavor. Ensure the apples are thinly sliced for even cooking and a pleasing texture.
- Ensure Even Caramelization: When melting the butter and brown sugar in the cake pan, make sure the mixture is evenly spread before adding the apples. This creates a uniformly delicious caramelized layer.
- Prevent Overmixing: When combining the cake batter, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake because it develops the gluten too much.
- Check for Doneness: Since oven temperatures can vary, start checking the cake a few minutes before the recommended baking time ends. A toothpick should come out clean when it’s done.
- Proper Cooling: Allowing the cake to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan makes it easier to invert without falling apart. However, don’t let it cool too long, or the caramel may harden and stick to the pan.
- Inverting the Cake: Place a plate over the top of the cake pan and use oven mitts to flip it quickly and carefully. Lift the pan off slowly to allow the topping to settle nicely on the cake.
🍨 What To Serve With Apple Upside Down Cake?
Serve Apple Upside Down Cake with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful contrast of flavors and textures, a drizzle of caramel sauce adds an extra touch of sweetness.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Apple Upside Down Cake?
- Room Temperature: Store leftover Apple Upside Down Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: For longer storage refrigerate leftover Apple Upside Down Cake in an airtight container or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap it will keep well for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: To store for an extended period wrapleftover Apple Upside Down Cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil freeze for up to 3 months.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Apple Upside Down Cake?
- In The Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) place leftovers slices of Apple Upside Down Cake on a baking sheet and cover loosely with foil heat for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
- In The Microwave: Place individual slices of Apple Upside Down Cake on a microwave-safe plate and heat on medium power for 20-30 seconds or until warmed to your liking.
FAQs
What kind of apples should I use for Apple Upside Down Cake?
Using firm, tart apples like Granny Smiths or slightly sweet varieties like Honeycrisp works best they hold their shape well and provide a nice contrast to the sweet topping.
Can I use canned or pre-cooked apples for the topping?
While fresh apples are recommended for the best texture and flavor, you can use canned apple slices or pre-cooked apples in a pinch. Just ensure they’re well-drained before arranging them on the bottom of the cake pan.
Is Apple Upside Down Cake gluten-free?
Traditional recipes use all-purpose flour, but you can make it gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour blend. Ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free as well.
What if Apple Upside Down Cake turns out too dry?
If the Apple Upside Down Cake is dry, it may have been overbaked to prevent this, check for doneness a few minutes earlier than the recipe suggests, as oven temperatures can vary.
How do I know when Apple Upside Down Cake is done baking?
Apple Upside Down Cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Avoid overbaking to prevent the cake from drying out.
Can I make Apple Upside Down Cake in advance?
Yes, you can make it a day ahead let it cool completely, then cover and store it in the refrigerator. Warm it in the oven before serving for the best taste and texture.
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Nigella Apple Upside Down Cake Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Slice (approximately 240g)
- Calories: 320
- Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sodium: 230mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 52g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 35g
- Protein: 3g
Nigella Apple Upside Down Cake
Description
Nigella’s Apple Upside Down Cake is made with fresh apples, butter, brown sugar, and a simple cake batter. It serves 6-8 people and takes about 55-60 minutes to prepare and bake, perfect for a sweet and comforting dessert.
Ingredients
For the Apple Topping:
For the Cake:
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a 9-inch round cake pan, melt the butter over low heat on the stove. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, stirring until the sugar is melted and the mixture is bubbly.
- Remove from heat and arrange the apple slices neatly over the sugar mixture. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Stir until just combined. Pour the cake batter over the apple layer in the cake pan, spreading evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate.
- This cake can be served warm or at room temperature. It pairs beautifully with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- Select the Right Apples: Using a mix of tart and sweet apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp provides a balanced flavor. Ensure the apples are thinly sliced for even cooking and a pleasing texture.
- Ensure Even Caramelization: When melting the butter and brown sugar in the cake pan, make sure the mixture is evenly spread before adding the apples. This creates a uniformly delicious caramelized layer.
- Prevent Overmixing: When combining the cake batter, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake because it develops the gluten too much.
- Check for Doneness: Since oven temperatures can vary, start checking the cake a few minutes before the recommended baking time ends. A toothpick should come out clean when it’s done.
- Proper Cooling: Allowing the cake to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan makes it easier to invert without falling apart. However, don’t let it cool too long, or the caramel may harden and stick to the pan.
- Inverting the Cake: Place a plate over the top of the cake pan and use oven mitts to flip it quickly and carefully. Lift the pan off slowly to allow the topping to settle nicely on the cake.