Fresh Apple Upside-Down Cake

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, softened and divided
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1 cup toasted chopped pecans, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions

Prep: 20 min., Cook: 7 min., Bake: 30 min., Cool: 5 min. Tart apples that hold their shape when cooked, such as Granny Smith, are best for this recipe. A small paring knife makes quick work of peeling the fruit.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat; add 1 cup sugar, and cook, stirring often, 2 minutes or until sugar is melted and begins to turn golden. Add apple slices, and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes or until apples have softened slightly and juices are thickened and syrupy. Remove skillet from heat, and sprinkle apple mixture with 1/2 cup pecans. Set aside.

Beat remaining 1/2 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add remaining 1 cup sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Stir together flour, baking powder, and cinnamon; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beating at low speed just until blended, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup pecans. Spoon batter evenly over apple mixture in skillet.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in skillet 5 minutes; invert onto serving plate.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Southern Living, OCTOBER 2005