Upside-Down Skillet Cakes

By Patricia S. York

The more you delve into culinary history, the more you learn that many of our beloved recipes and traditions seem to have originated as marketing campaigns. Our favorite pecan pie recipes were printed on corn syrup bottle labels, and the Doctor Bird, or Hummingbird Cake, recipe came to us via a pamphlet from the Jamaica Tourist Board. Bundt pan sales jumped exponentially after the Tunnel of Fudge Bundt cake placed second in the 1966 Pillsbury Bake-Off, and now practically every baker has a Bundt pan and a favorite Bundt cake recipe.  In 1925, the Hawaiian Pineapple Company sponsored a contest calling for pineapple recipes. The company ran an ad about the flood of pineapple upside-down cake recipes it had received, and the skillet cake’s popularity skyrocketed. And as if you need another reason to love your cast-iron skillet, it can turn out a beautifully caramelized upside-down cake like nothing else.  An upside-down cake is also a good cake for a novice baker to try, as it is very easy. Check out this selection of skillet cakes and you will see they are as incredibly simple as they are seasonal and delicious.  Pop one of these recipes in the oven and make a pot of coffee. Once the enticing aromas start floating through the house, family will come running. 

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Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake

This easy recipe, based on the classic New Orleans dessert, is perfect for drop-in holiday guests or a ladies brunch.

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Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Recipe: Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This top-rated upside-down cake features pineapple slices browned in butter in the bottom of the skillet and then topped with a rich cake batter. If you are short on time, try the express version of the recipe that uses cake mix.

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Pineapple Upside-Down Carrot Cake

Recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Carrot Cake

Is it a Carrot Cake with pineapples, or a Pineapple Cake with carrots? Either way, you will enjoy this upside-down cake brimming with the flavors of browned butter, spices, pineapples and carrots. 

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Peach Upside-Down Cake

JENNIFER DAVICK

Recipe: Peach Upside-Down Cake

If you are a fan of peach cobbler, you will love this Peach Upside-Down Cake. Be sure to use cake flour and NOT self-rising flour, as that flour already has the leavening ingredients mixed in.

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Upside-Down Caramelized Apple Cake

Jennifer R. Davick

Recipe: Upside-Down Caramelized Apple Cake

The favorite flavors of fall are baked up into this incredibly delicious upside-down cake. Grab a spoon, because you will want to scoop out all the syrupy goodness at the bottom of the pan.

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Bananas Foster Upside-Down Coffee Cake

Recipe: Bananas Foster Upside-Down Coffee Cake

This indulgent coffee cake recipe was inspired by the classic New Orleans dessert and features sautéed bananas, pecans, and a splash of rum. It also has the added convenience of a baking mix, enhanced with cinnamon, sugar, eggs, and sour cream.

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Pineapple-Upside Down Cake

JENNIFER DAVICK

Recipe: Pineapple-Upside Down Cake

This delicious dessert is great for a fall get-together. The flavors of the caramel and pineapple are perfect together.

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Blackberry-Apple Upside-Down Cake

Recipe: Blackberry-Apple Upside-Down Cake

A single cake pan, some apples, blackberries and a few pantry staples are all you need to create this delicious cake. If you use frozen berries, add them to the batter straight from the freezer so they won’t get mushy.

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Honey-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Recipe: Honey-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Honey is a nice substitute for the usual sugar, and cornmeal gives the cake batter a richer texture.

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