Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This is my first attempt at baking Pineapple Upside-Down Cake and I was extremely pleased with the end result. I had adapted this recipe from Thomas Keller’s “ad hoc at home” cookbook. The cake turned out nice and soft, moist, and had just the right sweetness.


Recipe adapted from Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients

Pan Schmear
8 Tbsp (1 Stick; 4 oz) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
1 ½ Tbsp Honey
½ tsp Dark Rum
1 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
¼ tsp Vanilla Paste or Pure Vanilla Extract
Sea Salt

1 Gold (Extra-Sweet) Pineapple

Cake
1 1/3 Cups Cake Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
8 Tbsp (1 Stick; 4 oz) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
½ Cup Plus 2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
½ tsp Vanilla Paste or Pure Vanilla Extract
2 Large Eggs
1 Tbsp Plus 1 tsp Milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 350˚F.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, combine the butter, honey, rum, brown sugar, and vanilla and beat until smooth and well blended. Spread 1/3 cup of the schmear over the bottom of a 9-inch silicone cake pan. Sprinkle lightly with salt. (The remaining schmear can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 1 month; bring to room temperature before using.)

Cut the top and bottom from the pineapple and cut away the peel. Cut the pineapple lengthwise into quarters, and cut off the core from each section. Cut each piece crosswise into ¼-inch thick slices. Beginning at the perimeter of the pan, make an overlapping ring of pineapple slices with the curved side facing out. Make a second ring inside the first one, overlapping the slices in the opposite direction, working toward the center of the pan.

Sift the flour and baking powder together; set aside.

Put the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle and mix on low speed to combine, then beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until light and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary. Mix in the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until the first one is incorporated before adding the second and scraping down the sides as necessary. Beat in the milk. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, beating until combined.

Pour the batter into the pan and spread over the pineapple. Bake for 15 minutes. Rotate the pan for even browning and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, until a cake tester or wooden skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a cooling rack for 20 to 40 minutes.

Run a knife around the edges of the cake, invert onto a serving platter, and serve warm. (Leftover can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.)

Serves 8