Sri Lankan Caramelized Pineapple-Upside Down Cake

Ingredients and Weight:

For the cake: - 1 cup (120g) plain flour - 1/2 teaspoon (3g) baking powder - 1/2 teaspoon (3g) baking soda - 1/4 teaspoon (1g) salt - 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened - 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar - 2 large eggs - 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract - 1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk or sour cream

For the pineapple topping: - 1 pineapple (about 2 pounds), peeled, cored, and sliced into rings - 1 cup (200g) firmly packed light brown sugar - 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted - 1/4 cup (60ml) pineapple juice

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 40-45 minutes

Difficulty Level: 2 (beginner-friendly)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch (23cm) round cake pan.

For the pineapple topping: 2. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, melted butter, and pineapple juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and slightly bubbling. 3. Arrange the pineapple slices in the prepared cake pan. Pour the caramel sauce over the pineapple.

For the cake: 4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 5. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. 6. Alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk or sour cream to the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat until just combined. 7. Pour the cake batter over the pineapple topping.

Baking: 8. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 9. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a serving plate.

Nutritional Information:

Per serving (1/8 of cake): - Calories: 350 - Fat: 17g - Carbohydrates: 45g - Protein: 4g

Dish Characteristics:

• Moist and tender cake with a slightly dense texture
• Sweet and tangy caramelized pineapple topping
• Perfect for special occasions or as a dessert

User Comments:

• "This cake is absolutely delicious! The pineapple topping is the perfect balance of sweet and tart."
• "The cake is not too sweet, which I appreciate. It's a great way to end a meal."
• "I love the caramelized pineapple on top. It's so flavorful!"
• "This cake is so easy to make and always turns out perfectly."
• "I'm not usually a fan of pineapple upside-down cake, but this recipe changed my mind!"

Special Precautions and Tips:

• Use ripe pineapple for the best flavor.
• If you don't have pineapple juice, you can use orange juice instead.
• Let the cake cool for 10 minutes before inverting it to prevent the pineapple from slipping off.
• Serve the cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.