Apple-Walnut Upside-Down Cake
Caramelized apple slices are the perfect complement to the rich walnut cake.
From EatingWell: September/October 1996
Yield: 10 servings
Active Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 3/4 hours
Ingredients
Apple Topping
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 cups thinly sliced peeled Golden Delicious apples, (3-4 apples)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Walnut cake
- 3/4 cup walnut halves, toasted (see Tip)
- 2/3 cup unsifted cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg whites
- 2/3 cup sugar, divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
- To make apple topping: Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 9-inch round cake pan with sides at least 2 inches high with cooking spray.
- Combine 3/4 cup sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally. Increase the heat to medium high and cook, without stirring, until the syrup turns a deep amber color, about 5 minutes. (Swirl the pan if the syrup is coloring unevenly.) Immediately pour the syrup into the prepared cake pan.
- Toss apple slices with lemon juice in a bowl. Evenly press the apples into the warm caramel and set aside.
- To make walnut cake: Combine walnuts, flour, baking powder and salt in a food processor; process until the walnuts are ground to a coarse meal.
- Beat 2 egg whites in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. One tablespoon at a time, beat in 1/3 cup sugar, continuing to beat until the egg whites are stiff and glossy; set aside.
- Beat 2 whole eggs with the remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a separate mixing bowl until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
- Whisk one-fourth of the reserved beaten egg whites into the whole-egg mixture. Sprinkle half of the dry ingredients over the top and fold in gently using a rubber spatula. Fold in the remaining beaten whites, followed by the remaining dry ingredients.
- Spread the batter over the fruit in the pan. Bake until the top springs back when lightly touched and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate, setting any stray apples back in place. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips & Notes
- Make Ahead Tip: Equipment: 9-inch cake pan with 2-inch high sides
- Tip: To toast walnuts: Spread nuts on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F, stirring once, until fragrant, 7 to 9 minutes.
Nutrition Per serving:
238 calories; 7 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 42 mg cholesterol; 42 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein; 1 g fiber; 139 mg sodium; 107 mg potassium.
3 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 2 other carbohydrate, 1 fat