STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Strawberry-Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake image

This humble dessert would never win a beauty contest when pitted against a towering layer cake swirled with frosting, but what it lacks in looks, it makes up in flavor and simplicity of preparation. The cake itself is light yet moist and soaks up the juice released by the strawberries and rhubarb while baking. Sliced almonds add a gentle crunch. It can be a bit tricky to unmold, so don't forget to line the pan with parchment and grease it generously with butter.

Provided by Molly O'Neill

Categories cakes, dessert

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

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Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 1 to 2 teaspoons for greasing the pan
3/4 cup light-brown sugar
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1 pint strawberries (about 12 ounces), stemmed, hulled and halved
3 cups rhubarb, trimmed, cut across into 1/4-inch-thick slices, blanched for 2 minutes and drained well
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-inch round pan (at least 2 inches deep) with parchment paper and grease the parchment with 1 to 2 teaspoons softened butter. To make the topping, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Add the brown sugar to the remaining butter and cook until the sugar is melted, stirring until smooth. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Scatter the almonds over the brown-sugar mixture. Arrange the strawberries over the almonds in concentric circles, cut-side up. Top with the rhubarb and set aside.
To make the cake, using an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Combine the vanilla with the milk. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
Spread the batter over the fruit in the pan. Bake until the cake springs back when touched in the center, about 1 hour. (Cover the cake with foil if the top browns too much before the cake is done.) Remove the cake from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Turn out onto a cake plate. Replace any fruit that sticks to the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 372, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 51 grams, Fat 17 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 214 milligrams, Sugar 33 grams, TransFat 1 gram