Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Pineapple upside down cake was a real treat when I was a kid. The vanilla favor of the cake combined with the citrus flavor and texture of the pineapple and the gooeyness of the brown sugar all combine to give a perfect comfort food for your taste buds.
Prepare 30 minutes plus 2 hours of cooling time
Bake 40-45 minutes
Serves 8 -10
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 fresh pineapple, halved lengthwise cored and peeled
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2/3 cup well-shaken buttermilk
1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350 F
2. Sift together flour, baking powder and soda and salt into a bowl.
3. Cut pineapple crosswise into l/4-inch-thick wedges.
4. Butter a 9-inch round cake pan (2 inches deep) lightly on side and generously on bottom of pan using 1/2 stick butter.
5. Sprinkle all of brown sugar evenly over bottom and arrange pineapple over it, starting in center of pan and overlapping slices slightly.
6. Beat together remaining stick butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, then add eggs l at a time beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk in batches beginning and ending with flour and mixing just until batter is smooth.
7. Spread batter evenly over pineapple and bake until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool 15 minutes in pan in a rack, then invert cake onto a plate and remove pan. Cool to room temperature.
