Upside Down Apple Cranberry Cake
Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 47 mins | Course: Dessert | Serves: 10
Fall for this upside-down caramelized apple cranberry cake with a cinnamon whipped cream (or top with ice cream). Inspired by Annalise Sandberg at https://www.completelydelicious.com/caramel-apple-upside-cake/
Caramel Apples:
½ cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
3 granny or other apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
½ tsp salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup cranberries
Cake:
1 ½ cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 Tbsp apple or pumpkin pie spice
½ cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup cranberries
Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 9-inch cake pan and set aside.
In a large microwave-safe bowl, microwave the butter and brown sugar for 2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Add salt, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla. Pour into the prepared cake pan. The butter may separate, and this is okay. Place the apple slices in a spiral pattern all the way around the cake pan’s outer edge, with another concentric layer in the center. Sprinkle with cranberries.
In a stand mixer, add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, apple or pumpkin pie spice, and butter. Stir at medium-low speed until the mixture is combined and the butter has coated the flour mixture. Add eggs, vanilla, cream, and cranberries. Turn the mixer on medium-low for about 1 minute, the dough will be lightly creamed. Spread evenly over the apples and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown on top and a toothpick tester comes out batter-free, or registers a minimum of 200° when tested with an instant thermometer.
Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the cake pan’s rim. Turn over onto a plate or serving platter with a rimmed edge. Serve with ice cream or cinnamon whipped cream as desired.
Cinnamon Whipped Cream:
1 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp sugar (or cinnamon maple syrup if in season @costco)
½ tsp cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla
Whip cream and sugar to medium peaks, add cinnamon and vanilla, and continue to whip to medium-stiff peaks.
