Description
Delightful caramel pecan upside-down cake with cinnamon offers a rich Southern dessert experience. Warm spices and nutty pecans create a memorable sweet treat that beckons you to savor each indulgent bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) pecan halves
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (115 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (115 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) heavy cream
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Caramel Preparation: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in brown sugar and heavy cream until the mixture transforms into a glossy, bubbling caramel sauce.
- Pan Setup: Grease a 9-inch cake pan and pour the caramel evenly, meticulously arranging pecan halves in a decorative pattern across the bottom.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C), creating an ideal baking environment.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl, whisking thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
- Batter Foundation: Cream butter with granulated and brown sugars until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, creating a voluminous base.
- Liquid Integration: Incorporate eggs one at a time, blending completely, then add vanilla extract to elevate the flavor profile.
- Batter Composition: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with buttermilk and maintaining a delicate mixing technique to preserve the batter’s airiness.
- Cake Assembly: Pour the batter over the caramel and pecan base, smoothing the surface with a spatula for an even finish.
- Baking and Cooling: Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Rest the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate to showcase the caramelized pecan topping.
- Final Presentation: Allow the cake to cool completely, letting the flavors meld and settle before serving the decadent dessert.
Notes
- Prevent Caramel Burning: Watch the caramel mixture closely during melting to avoid scorching; stir continuously and use medium-low heat for smooth, golden results.
- Pecan Placement Perfection: Arrange pecans in a single, decorative layer before pouring caramel to ensure even distribution and a professional-looking finish.
- Avoid Overmixing Batter: Gently fold dry and wet ingredients just until combined; overmixing can lead to a dense, tough cake texture that lacks the desired lightness.
- Temperature Matters: Let ingredients like eggs, butter, and buttermilk reach room temperature before mixing to ensure better incorporation and a more consistent cake texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 61 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg