Peach Upside-Down Cake

Peach Upside-Down Cake is a delicious dessert that celebrates the sweet and juicy flavor of peaches. Here is the recipe with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 3-4 fresh peaches (depending on size)
• 200 g of granulated sugar for the caramel
• 150 g of granulated sugar for the batter
• 200 g of soft butter (and a little extra for greasing the pan)
• 3 room-temperature eggs
• 200 g of all-purpose flour
• 1 packet of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• Lemon juice
• Powdered sugar (optional, for decoration)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Cut the peaches in half and remove the pit. Then, cut them into wedges and drizzle with a little lemon juice to prevent oxidation.
3. Prepare the caramel by pouring 200 g of sugar into a non-stick pan over medium heat. Let the sugar dissolve and turn golden, avoiding stirring to prevent it from crystallizing. Once it has reached a liquid consistency and an amber color, remove the pan from the heat and let it cool slightly.
4. Once the caramel has slightly cooled, carefully arrange the peach wedges on the surface of the caramel in the pan.
5. Prepare the cake batter: whip the soft butter with the remaining 150 g of sugar until you get a frothy mixture.
6. Add the eggs, one at a time, continuing to beat until well incorporated.
7. In a bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder and a pinch of salt. Add these dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture, stirring gently until all the ingredients are combined into a smooth batter.
8. Gently pour the batter into the pan over the peaches and caramel, leveling the surface with a spatula.
9. Bake in the oven for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
10. Let the cake cool for a few minutes, then gently invert it onto a serving plate.
11. If desired, before serving, you can sprinkle the cake with powdered sugar.

Trivia

The upside-down cake can be prepared with a variety of fruits, but peaches offer an incredible balance between sweetness and acidity, making the dessert particularly enticing during their season. The tradition of upside-down cakes with caramel and fruit dates back to the Middle Ages, when so-called ‘S upside-down’ cakes were prepared over open fires.

I hope you enjoy this delicious Italian dessert. Bon appétit!