For this recipe, we prefer to use a 9-inch cake pan with sides that are at least 2 inches high. Alternatively, a 10-inch ovensafe skillet (cast iron or stainless steel) can be used to both cook the pineapple and bake the cake. If using a skillet instead of a cake pan, cool the juices directly in the skillet while making the batter; it’s OK if the skillet is warm when the batter is added. You can substitute 1 20-ounce can of chunk pineapple in 100% pineapple juice, drained, for the fresh pineapple. You can use either dark or golden Figs.

Pineapple Upside Down Fig Cake

A cast iron pineapple upside down cake ensures even baking with golden figs. Flipping over the upside down fig cake yields a glimmering golden cake.

Nutrition

Servings people

Ingredients

Pineapple Topping

2 lbs fresh pineapple cut into 1/2" chunks
1 1/2 cups Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Figs stemmed and quartered
1 cup light brown sugar packed
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cake

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp table salt
8 tbsp unsalted butter softened but still cool
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs large, at room temperature
1 egg white at room temperature
1/2 cup whole milk at room temperature

Instructions

Lightly spray 9-inch round, 2-inch deep cake pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

For the Pineapple Topping

Combine pineapple, figs and brown sugar in 10-inch skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally during first 5 minutes, until pineapple is translucent and has light brown hue, 15 to 18 minutes. Empty fruit and juices into mesh strainer or colander set over medium bowl. Return juices to skillet, leaving pineapple and figs in strainer (you should have about 2 cups cooked fruit). Simmer juices over medium heat until thickened, beginning to darken, and mixture forms large bubbles, 6 to 8 minutes, adding any more juices released by fruit to skillet after about 4 minutes. Off heat, whisk in butter and vanilla; pour caramel mixture into prepared cake pan. Set aside while preparing cake. (Fruit will continue to release liquid as it sits; do not add this liquid to already-reduced juice mixture.)

For the Cake

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl; set aside.
In bowl of standing mixer fitted with flat beater, cream butter and sugar at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, add vanilla, and beat to combine; one at a time, add whole eggs then egg white, beating well and scraping down bowl after each addition. Reduce speed to low; add about one-third of flour mixture and beat until incorporated. Add half of milk and beat until incorporated; repeat, adding half of remaining flour mixture and remaining milk, and finish with remaining flour. Give final stir with rubber spatula, scraping bottom and sides of bowl to ensure that batter is combined. Batter will be thick.

To Bake

Working quickly, distribute cooked pineapple and figs in cake pan in even layer, gently pressing fruit into caramel. Using rubber spatula, drop mounds of batter over fruit, then spread batter over fruit and to sides of pan. Tap pan lightly against work surface to release any air bubbles. Bake until cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on wire rack, then place inverted serving platter over cake pan. Invert cake pan and platter together; lift off cake pan. Cool to room temperature, about 2 hours; then cut into pieces and serve.