Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This old-fashioned upside down cake recipe features pineapple slices that are browned in butter in the bottom of the skillet and then topped with a rich cake batter. This recipe also offers an “express” version that uses cake mix.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2/3 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple slices, undrained
• 9 maraschino cherries
• 2 large eggs, separated
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (optional)

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a 9-inch cast-iron skillet. Spread brown sugar evenly over bottom of skillet. Drain pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup juice; set juice aside. Arrange pineapple slices in a single layer over brown sugar mixture, and place a cherry in center of each pineapple ring; set skillet aside.
2. Beat egg yolks at medium speed with an electric mixer until thick and lemon-colored; gradually add granulated sugar, beating well.
3. Heat reserved pineapple juice in a small saucepan over low heat. Gradually add juice mixture to the yolk mixture, beating until blended.
4. Combine all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder; add dry ingredients to the yolk mixture, beating at low speed with electric mixer until blended.
5. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold egg whites into batter. Spoon batter evenly over pineapple slices.
6. Bake at 325° for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool cake in skillet 30 minutes; invert cake onto a serving plate. Serve warm or cold with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.
7. Express Pineapple Upside-Down Cake: Follow original recipe directions for first 4 ingredients. Substitute 1 (9-ounce) package golden yellow cake mix for next 5 ingredients. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, substituting 1/2 cup pineapple juice for 1/2 cup water. Spoon batter over prepared pineapple slices as directed. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
8. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Jiffy Golden Yellow Cake Mix.

Southern Living
MARCH 2003