Upside Down Orange Cake

A cast iron skillet makes this Upside Down Orange Cake super easy to whip together and caramelizes the Valencia orange slices, peel and all!

I know, I know. Isn’t it horrible of me to post a dessert recipe? Especially after professing about my own resolution to stay away from this stuff??? But, seriously, we had family visiting this weekend and not everyone is on a diet! I love taking advantage of sharing the calories with family and friends so I don’t stuff my face with my own baked goodies. Especially when I make an Upside-Down Orange Cake!

I admit that I have a weakness for desserts, especially cakes and cookies. YUM!

I totally go ga-ga for fruity desserts (although chocolate isn’t too far behind).

I am still plowing through my endless supply of Valencia oranges, and knew an Upside-Down Orange Cake was needed to share for a family party.

This cake is really, REALLY simple. It’s easy to mix together and assemble. By using thin-skinned Valencia oranges, you don’t have to peel the oranges that are cooking and caramelizing on the bottom of the cast-iron skillet. This was super important to me. The fewer the steps, the better!

You start with a hot cast iron pan, melting butter and browned sugar. Oh yeah, we are off to fabulous start! Layer in your slices of oranges as beautifully as you can with the smell of melted butter and sugar tinkling your senses.

Then pour the orange scented cake batter over your buttery, sugary slices of orange goodness. Pop it in the oven to continue baking and try not to drool while your kitchen fills up with even more orange smells tantalizing you.

The cake is light and fluffy and really bursting with orange flavor, from freshly squeezed orange juice (WITH pulp, thank you) and lots and lots of orange zest. The marmalade-like orange slices on top really finish that orange-love going around. No bitter taste, whatsoever.

I can’t seem to get enough of this stuff!

Orange Upside Down Cake

Author:

Laura Bashar

By using thin-skinned Valencia oranges, you don't need to remove the peel on your orange slices. They will soften and sweeten as they cook, almost like marmalade. Recipe by Laura Bashar of Family Spice

Ingredients:

• 2 TBS butter, unsalted
• 2 TBS brown sugar, light, packed
• 2 Valencia oranges
• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup thick plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 TBS orange zest
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 eggs, large

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Using a 9-inch cast iron skillet, heat over medium-high heat and melt:
• 2 TBS butter, unsalted
3. When butter is bubbling and just starts to brown, stir in:
• 2 TBS brown sugar, light , packed
4. Cook until sugar has dissolved into the butter and starts to melt, then remove from heat. Spread sugar mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan.
5. Thinly slice:
• 2 Valencia oranges
6. Arrange orange slices over the brown sugar into desired pattern and set aside.
7. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together:
• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
8. In a large bowl, mix together until combined:
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup thick plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 TBS orange zest
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 eggs, large
9. In batches, mix flour mixture into yogurt mixture and stir until combined.
10. Pour cake batter evenly over the orange slices in your cast iron pan.
11. Place cake in the oven and cook for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
12. Allow cake to cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
13. Run a knife blade along the sides of the cake to insure a clean removal.
14. Place serving plate over the cast iron skillet and carefully invert the cake. Keep the skillet on the plate until the cake falls into the plate.
15. Remove skillet and allow cake to cool to room temperature, about 30 more minutes before serving.

Notes:

Cooking Tips: Thick Greek yogurt, like the Fage brand, is used in this recipe. If you do can not find thick yogurt, drain your regular yogurt with a cheese cloth or coffee filter until it becomes thick like sour cream.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Yield: 8 servings

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

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