Upside Down Cakes are such simple and classic desserts. Get this recipe for a beautiful nectarine upside down cake that you are sure to love.
Life sometimes happens in waves. Periods where you learn of so many family and friends who are sick, who have suffered a loss, who just need a pick me up.
Then, the wave seems to swell again taking us all high on a crest full of graduations, marriages, births, and other major happy events.
I allow myself to get so caught up in my own wave riding that I sometimes don’t think to raise my head and notice those around me that may be holding on just as tightly to their boards as they can, just praying for the seas to calm for a moment.
Yesterday, after I dropped Little Buddy off for Lego camp, I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things that we needed – the usual of milk, oatmeal, and fruit that we seem to go through the quickest.
As I rounded the corner, I saw a dear family friend whose husband is suffering from cancer. I asked how they were doing, which immediately brought tears to her eyes. Her reply, “we’re hanging on and trying to make the most of every day.”
So much emotion in that one simple sentence. It was filled to the rim and overflowing.
After giving my friend a tight hug and telling her we were praying for them both, we each quietly continued on our journey – me to the oatmeal and her to the checkout counter.
As I reached the produce section, I noticed wet dots across my shirt and felt the warmth of tears streaming down my face.
Who was I to simply walk away?
I first smelled the nectarines before my eyes would even uncloud from the tears enough for me to see them. Bright, tender, and one of his favorite fruits, I remembered.
Picking through the display, I found five of the prettiest nectarines and carefully placed them in my cart. I knew I might not be able to cure their hurt, but I could definitely show them I cared in the most basic, loving way that I knew.
As I delivered it to their home later in the afternoon, I realized that I received more in the making than I could have possibly ever given.
Here’s the recipe for my Nectarine Upside Down Cake:
Nectarine Upside Down Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons (113 g) butter, melted
- 1/2 cup (106.5 g) brown sugar
- 5 (780 g) nectarines, peeled and sliced into 1 1/2 inch thick wedges
- 1 cup (227 g) buttermilk
- 2 large (100 g) eggs
- 1 cup (198 g) sugar
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.3 g) kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Pour 1/2 of melted butter into cast iron skillet or round cake pan.
- Swirl pan until bottom and sides are well-coated with butter to prevent cake from sticking.
- Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the melted butter in the skillet or cake pan.
- Place nectarine slices on top of the brown sugar.
- In a separate bowl, combine buttermilk, the remainder of your melted butter, eggs, sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Whisk together until well-combined.
- Pour evenly over the nectarine and brown sugar layer in the skillet or cake pan.
- Place in the oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour or until toothpick or skewer inserted in the center comes our clean. You can follow my tips for how to tell when your cake is done.
- Allow to stand for about 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cake stand.
- When ready to transfer, place cake stand on top of skillet then carefully flip to where the nectarine upside down cake comes out onto the cake stand.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Upside Down Cakes are easy to prepare and make wonderful desserts to serve for simple weeknight meals, special occasions, and when camping or tailgating.
A versatile recipe, you can easily substitute other stone fruits such as peaches, apricots, or even plums for this recipe. I also enjoy using apples, pears, and have even been known to use quince when we lived in our first house that had a quince tree just bursting with fruit each year.
Using favorite fruits as they are in season makes this a perfect recipe to keep handy.
What a beautiful post…..it shows what a beautiful person you are!! Your thoughtfulness brought a little ray of sunshine into their life. Thank you for being YOU. The cake looks amazing, and I will absolutely make it this weekend. Thanks!
Such a beautiful post, Robyn. You brought tears to my eyes, thanks for the reminder that we all need to slow down a bit! And this cake is really, really stunning!
What an incredible heart you have, your gesture probably meant more than you could ever know.
I first clicked on this from my email because I was intrigued to see a photo of the nectarines but, like so many times, was drawn into the story and felt something reconnect from a time that someone brought ME a treat when we were “getting the most from every day.” Thanks for the reminder that we should never walk away from an opportunity to do kindness.♥
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Donna. I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.
This kind of recipe is what I am looking for especially I am trying to bake this weekend.. Anyway, thank you for the idea here and this is a help..
Yay! I hope you enjoy it, Andie!
THAT is one lovely post, Robyn. You are such a beautiful person. I haven’t baked with nectarines, but have been enjoying them so much lately. I think it’s time to start!
Oh yes, Brenda! You’d definitely love this cake and baking with nectarines! They just scream summer.
What a beautifully written post… and, an equally beautiful cake. I, too, am looking forward to participating in Amanda’s event!
Thank you so much, Jen.
You are so kind hearted! I made peach upside down cake a few weeks ago and I know I would love it with nectarines.
Oh yum, Missy! I know that cake has to be amazing!
You are so incredibly kind! And I will most definitely join in.
Btw this cakes looks amazing. There’s so many peaches all wonderfully sugared up!
This cake makes me think of everything great about summer. It’s a definite favorite!
Such a difficult and sad situation. I hope this cake brightened their day even just a bit.
Thank you, Rachel. I hope it did just a little bit, too.