Mango Upside Down Cake with Macadamia Nut

By SippitySup

Mango and macadamia nuts transform a traditional upside down cake into a tropical delight in this recipe adapted from David Lebovitz.

Ingredients

• 11 tablespoon unsalted butter (160g), divided
• 3/4 cup packed (170g) light brown sugar
• 2 cup mango, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 3/4 cup (150g) sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cup (210g) flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, preferably aluminum-free
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (125ml) whole milk, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup (200g) toasted macadamia nuts, roughly chopped

Preparation

Step 1

You have some latitude with the fruits that you use. Just make sure that whatever you use covers the bottom in a substantial layer, around double-thickness, since the fruit will cook down while baking and settle nicely into place. Berries, nuts and such are good nestled in the gaps between the slices or cubes of fruits.

Melt 3 tablespoons (45g) of butter in a cast iron skillet. Add the brown sugar and cook while stirring, until the sugar is melted and begins to bubble. Remove from heat and let cool.

Once cool, arrange the fruit in an even layer along the bottom of a 10-inch cake pan, or similarly sized cast iron skillet.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a large mixing bowl beat 8 tablespoons (115g) of butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time, until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Stir in half of the flour mixture, then the milk, then the remaining dry ingredients. Do not over mix: stir just until the flour is barely incorporated into the batter. Add the nuts and mix lightly to incorporate.

Spread the batter over the fruit, then bake for 45 minutes to one hour (depending on the pan, and the thickness of the batter.) The cake is ready when it begins to pull away from the sides of the pan and the center feels just set.

Remove from oven, let cool about 20 minutes, then place a cake plate on top, and wearing oven mitts, flip the cake out on to the plate, taking care, as there may be some hot caramel that might escape.

Serving: Upside Down Cake is best served warm, perhaps with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. It can be made in advance, left in the pan, and rewarmed in the cake pan or skillet right before serving. It’s also very good rewarmed in a microwave, and served immediately.