Name: Chef John's Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 0.25 cup butter; 0.75 cup light brown sugar; 1 tablespoon pineapple juice; 1 tablespoon dark rum; 0.5 small fresh pineapple - peeled, cored, and sliced; 0.5 cup butter; 1.5 cups all-purpose flour; 0.125 teaspoon ground cardamom; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 0.5 cup white sugar; 1 egg; 0.5 cup cold milk

Chef John's Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

4.0

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108 Reviews

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This iconic American dessert looks like a simple, rustic fruit cobbler when it comes out of the oven, all browned and bubbling, but a few minutes later, when it's turned over and that gloriously caramelized surface is revealed, it becomes so much more.

Recipe by Chef John

Updated on June 18, 2020

Prep Time:

15 mins

Cook Time:

45 mins

Additional Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

1 hrs 20 mins

Servings:

Yield:

1 12-inch cake

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

¼ cup butter
¾ cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon pineapple juice
1 tablespoon dark rum (Optional)
½ small fresh pineapple - peeled, cored, and sliced
½ cup butter
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup white sugar
1 egg
½ cup cold milk

Directions

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.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

263	Calories
12g	Fat
36g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 263
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12g	16%
Saturated Fat 8g	38%
Cholesterol 47mg	16%
Sodium 274mg	12%
Total Carbohydrate 36g	13%
Dietary Fiber 1g	2%
Total Sugars 23g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 5mg	25%
Calcium 78mg	6%
Iron 1mg	6%
Potassium 72mg	2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.