Skillet Cake Recipes

FRUIT SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron), and dust with flour. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With an electric mixer on medium, beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in egg. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk; beat until combined.
• Transfer batter to the prepared skillet; smooth top. Arrange plums on top, fanning the slices; sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake until golden brown and a cake tester into center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

APPLE SKILLET CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the apples: In a 10-inch sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the apples, brown sugar and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the apples soften slightly, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10-inch oven-proof skillet with butter.
• Make the cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl well, then beat in the vanilla.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg to combine. Add the flour mixture to the mixer and mix just until incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
• With a rubber spatula, gently fold the apple mixture (including all of the caramel-like liquid in the pan) into the batter. Mix just until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared skillet and spread into an even layer. Bake until the surface is evenly golden brown and appears set - a toothpick inserted into the center should have a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Place the caramels in a microwave-safe container. Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring, until the caramel is warm and fluid. (This mixture will cool quickly, so be sure to do it just before you mix the frosting.) Add the warm (not hot) caramel mixture and mix on medium speed until incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
• Add the cream and vanilla and mix to combine. The frosting should be smooth and very soft. Scoop the frosting onto the cooled cake, and spread into an even layer. Garnish with flaky salt just before serving.

BASIC SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a 9-inch cast iron skillet over low heat. Transfer 1/2 of the melted butter to a mixing bowl, leaving remaining butter in the skillet.
• Add sugar to the mixing bowl and beat with the melted butter until well blended. Add egg and mix until well beaten. Mix in flour and vanilla. Add milk, 2 tablespoons at a time, until mixture is the consistency of pancake batter. Pour batter into the skillet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the stovetop.

PINEAPPLE-VANILLA SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Whisk together the orange juice, 1/2 cup water, honey and vanilla bean pod and seeds in a medium ovenproof skillet. Arrange the pineapple in the skillet. (It's OK if the skillet seems overcrowded; the pineapple will shrink as it cooks.) Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and cook until the pineapple is tender and the juices are reduced to a loose syrup and very bubbly, 12 to 15 minutes.
• While the pineapple cooks, pulse the flour and sugar in a food processor until combined. Add the butter, and pulse until the mixture is crumbly and moist. Add the egg, and process until the batter is combined and thick.
• Drop the batter in small mounds all over the pineapple, and roughly spread out with the back of a spoon. (It's OK if the pineapple isn't completely covered; the cake will spread as it bakes to cover.) Bake until the cake is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, and serve with ice cream.

APPLE SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, flour, and salt; set aside. In a large ovenproof skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook apple slices, stirring occasionally, until soft, 6 to 8 minutes. Add brown sugar and cinnamon and cook until caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour in batter and transfer to oven. Bake until cake puffs, about 12 minutes. Sprinkle with raw sugar and return to oven until brown on top, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool slightly. Serve each slice with a dollop of Greek yogurt, if using.