PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN GINGERBREAD CAKE

Steps:

• For topping: Preheat oven to 350°F Melt 1/4 cup butter in 10-inch-diameter cast-iron skillet or other heavy ovenproof skillet (preferably nonstick) over medium heat. Add 2/3 cup brown sugar and stir until mixture begins to form thick mass, about 4 minutes. Continue cooking, without stirring, until butter mixture spreads and covers bottom of skillet and bubbles appear all over surface, about 6 minutes longer. Remove skillet from heat. Arrange pineapple chunks close together in concentric circles atop sugar mixture in skillet.
• For cake: Sift first 8 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat molasses, golden brown sugar, melted butter, eggs and vanilla extract in large bowl until well blended, about 2 minutes.
• Add half of dry ingredients, then whole milk, then remaining half of dry ingredients, beating until well blended after each addition.
• Beat in crystallized ginger. Spread batter evenly over pineapple in skillet.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
• Cool cake in skillet 5 minutes. Run small knife around sides of skillet to loosen cake.
• Place platter over cake in skillet; invert cake onto platter. Cool cake at least 1 hour. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with whipped cream.