Upsidedownapricotcaramelcrunchcake Recipes

CARAMEL PEACH UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch cake pan, line bottom with parchment paper and brush the paper with butter.
• Caramel peaches: Combine the sugar, corn syrup, allspice and water in a medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high, and continue to cook, without stirring, until the mixture becomes an amber caramel, about 5 minutes. Pour the caramel into the prepared pan and set aside to cool.
• Halve and pit the peaches, but leave their skins on. Cut each half into 3 wedges. Arrange the wedges in concentric circles in the pan. Set aside while you make the cake batter.
• Cake: Whisk the all-purpose flour, white corn flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Slowly mix the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a hand-held electric mixer. Increase the speed to high, and continue beating until the butter is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at time, waiting for each to be fully incorporated before adding the next.
• While mixing at a low speed, add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the sour cream in 2 additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Increase the speed to medium and mix briefly to make a smooth batter. Pour the batter over the peaches and smooth over.
• Bake the cake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 to 45 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack, about 20 minutes.
• Run a knife around the edge of the pan to release the cake. Carefully invert the cake onto a serving plate and remove the parchment paper. Serve warm or at room temperature with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
• Serving suggestions: Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

UPSIDE-DOWN APRICOT CARAMEL CRUNCH CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line a 13x9 inch baking pan with foil and grease foil. Set aside.
• Drain apricot halves, reserving juice in a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Add enough apricot nectar to the reserved juice to equal the amount of water called for on the boxed mix (probably around 1 1/4 cups - if you don't have enough, add water to make up the difference). Set liquid aside.
• Cut apricot halves into 1/2-inch-thick slices; set aside.
• Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over bottom of the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle almonds over brown sugar. Arrange apricot slices on top of almonds; set aside.
• Prepare cake mix according to package directions, using the eggs and oil as instructed on the box, except add 1/2 cup oats into dry cake mix and substitute apricot juice mixture for the water called for in directions.
• Pour batter evenly over apricot slices and almonds in pan, being careful not to disturb apricots and almonds.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Carefully invert onto a large serving platter; remove foil.
• Drizzle warm cake with caramel ice cream topping. If desired, top each serving with sweetened whipped cream or ice cream.

CARAMEL CRUNCH CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Mix cake flour and sugar together; add egg yolks, water, lemon juice and vanilla and beat until smooth.
• In a large bowl beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt until a fine foam forms through.
• Gradually add sugar and continue beating until meringue is firm and stands in peaks.
• Fold batter gently into meringue until just blended; do not stir.
• Gently spoon batter into ungreased tube pan.
• Cut through batter with a knife to break up bubbles and level mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven for 50-55 minutes or until top springs back when touched.
• Remove from oven; immediately turn over and place tube over neck of funnel or bottle to cool.
• Let stand until cool, then loosen with spatula and place on plate.
• Split cake into four layers.
• While cake is baking, combine sugar, coffee and syrup in a deep saucepan; stir and bring to a boil and cook until hard crack stage or 310 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Remove from heat and immediately add soda and stir vigorously just until topping thickens and pulls away from sides of pan.
• Immediately pour into ungreased shallow metal pan.
• Do not stir or spread; let cool without moving.
• Knock out of pan and crush into coarse crumbs between sheets of waxed paper with rolling pin.
• Whip cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff.
• Spread half of cream between layers and remainder on top and sides.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Just before serving, cover cake with crushed caramel candy.