Nectarine Upside-Down Cake with Salted Caramel
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 8 servings
- Calories
- 456
- Total Fat
- 16
- Saturated Fat
- 8
- Carbohydrates
- 75
- Dietary Fiber
- 2
- Sugar
- 51
- Protein
- 6
- Cholesterol
- 78
- Sodium
- 478
- Total: 1 hr 35 min
- Prep: 25 min
- Inactive: 15 min
- Cook: 55 min
Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon fine salt
4 nectarines, cut into 1/2-inch wedges (about 1 1/4 pounds)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fand coat a 9-inch-square cake pan with cooking spray. Combine 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon fine salt and 1 1/2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan and stir until the mixture looks like wet sand. Cook over medium-high heat, gently swirling the pan occasionally but not stirring, until light amber, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately pour into the prepared cake pan (the caramel hardens quickly). Arrange the nectarines over the caramel in 4 rows; set the pan aside.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon fine salt in a bowl. Beat the butter and the remaining 1 cup sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour, and mix until just incorporated. Pour the batter over the nectarines and spread evenly.
- Transfer to the oven and bake until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil if the cake is browning too quickly.) Let sit 15 minutes, then invert onto a platter and let cool completely. Sprinkle with sea salt.