Stovetop Upside-Down Apple Cake
Single-apple skillet cake with caramelized fruit and raisins, baked entirely on the stovetop. Tender crumb from ground almonds and butter, warm spice from cinnamon. Finished by inverting onto a plate for a glossy, caramelized top.
Ingredients
- 1 apple, halved
- 2 tbsp raisins
- 3 tbsp golden syrup
- 2 eggs
- 2 oz sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 oz flour
- 1 ½ oz ground almondsadditional flour1:1grain substitutiontree_nuts-free
changes texture to less rich; removes tree nut allergen
Full guide → - 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 3 oz butter
Instructions
- 1
Cut apple in half; set one half aside. Core the other half and cut into pieces.
- 2
Add apple pieces and raisins to a pot with golden syrup. Caramelize for one minute.
- 3
Whisk eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract together. Sieve flour, ground almonds, cinnamon, and baking powder over the mixture and fold carefully to combine.
- 4
Melt butter in a pot or microwave. Stir melted butter into the batter until creamy.
- 5
Peel, core, and cut the reserved apple half into pieces. Fold into the batter.
- 6
Pour batter over the caramelized apples and raisins in the pot. Cook on low heat for 25 minutes.
- 7
Invert cake onto a plate using a cloth or oven gloves to handle the hot pot. Drizzle with additional golden syrup if desired.
Tips
Use a heavy-bottomed pot to ensure even heat distribution and prevent burning on the stovetop.
Watch the caramelization step closely; one minute is short and heat-dependent.
Fold the dry ingredients gently to maintain a tender crumb.
Low heat is critical—check occasionally to prevent the bottom from scorching.
Good to Know
Cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Reheat gently on stovetop or in microwave.
Prepare dry ingredients in advance. Cake is best served same day for optimal caramel texture.
Serve warm, optionally with cream or custard.
Common Mistakes
Do not exceed low heat during the 25-minute cook to avoid a burnt bottom.
Do not skip the caramelization step; it creates the signature top layer.
Do not invert immediately if still hot; wait 1-2 minutes to allow structure to set.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Nut-Free Alternatives
changes texture to less rich; removes tree nut allergen
Full guide →