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The Spruce / Morgan Walker
When you hear the words "upside-down cake," they are usually in the context of a pineapple and maraschino cherry confection. But you can make the classic dessert with other types of fruit, including peaches, plums, and pears can be used.
This peach upside-down cake is fast and easy to prepare because it starts with a cake mix. The irresistible dessert is soaked with sweet fruit juices and topped with caramelized brown sugar for a moist treat. It can be baked in one rectangular cake pan or two 8-inch round cake pans.
How did the upside-down cake become embedded in the culinary repertoire of nearly every home cook? Bakers have been cooking cakes "upside-down" in cast-iron skillets and flipping them out onto a serving platter for hundreds of years, but it wasn't until the mid-1800s that they got the name "spider cakes" because the cast-iron skillets were known as "spiders."
With the advent of canned fruit by the Dole company in the early 20th century, in particular, pineapple cut into perfect rings, the upside-down cake really took off. Topped with maraschino cherries for a pop of color, canned fruit became the convenient, preferred way to make upside-down cakes.
Ingredients
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1/2 cup melted, unsalted butter, or vegetable oil
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1 cup packed brown sugar
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1 (28-ounce) can peach slices
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Halved Maraschino cherries, optional
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2 large eggs
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1 package yellow cake mix
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Whipped cream, for garnish
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
The Spruce / Morgan Walker
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Pour the melted butter or oil into a 9x13x2-inch baking pan or divide the butter between two (8-inch) round cake pans.
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Sprinkle brown sugar evenly in the pan(s).
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Drain the peaches, reserving the syrup.
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Arrange the sliced peaches and some maraschino cherry halves, if using, over the brown sugar.
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Add enough water to the reserved peach syrup to make 1 1/3 cups of liquid. Add this liquid to a medium bowl, along with the eggs and the cake mix.
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Beat as directed on the cake mix package. Pour the batter over the fruit.
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Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Let stand in the pan for 5 minutes and then turn upside down onto a cake dish or large platter. Serve warm with whipped cream. Enjoy!
The Spruce / Morgan Walker
Tips
- If you are concerned about the cake sticking to the pan, line the bottom of the 9x13 cake pan with a rectangle of parchment or the two cake pans with circles of parchment paper before adding any ingredients.
Recipe Variations
- Yellow cake works best for this recipe, but a white cake mix also works well.
- Substitute a (28-ounce) can of pineapple rings or sliced pears for the peaches or use fresh, unpeeled sliced plums or nectarines.
How to Store and Freeze
- Peach upside cake can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Go ahead and freeze it if you'd like. Just know that the peaches might discolor a bit, but it's a good excuse to put whipped cream on top. Place in an airtight freezer container or bag. It will last for up to one month in the freezer.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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495 | Calories |
15g | Fat |
88g | Carbs |
5g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 6 to 8 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 495 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 15g | 19% |
Saturated Fat 9g | 43% |
Cholesterol 77mg | 26% |
Sodium 507mg | 22% |
Total Carbohydrate 88g | 32% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 7% |
Total Sugars 61g | |
Protein 5g | |
Vitamin C 4mg | 18% |
Calcium 173mg | 13% |
Iron 2mg | 11% |
Potassium 209mg | 4% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |