Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake
Christina Schmidhofer
Louise Galen's upside-down cake has the classic version's gooey caramel but is less sweet because it's made with rhubarb and crème fraîche.
Prep and cook time: About 1 1/4 hours
How to Make It
Step 1
In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the rhubarb, lemon peel, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
Step 2
In a 10-inch frying pan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter; add brown sugar, bourbon, and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice; stir often until caramel has thickened and is medium brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Spread in a buttered 9-inch round cake pan (with 2-in.-tall sides).
Step 3
Arrange pecans over caramel. Scatter rhubarb mixture on top.
Step 4
In a bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat remaining 1/2 cup butter and 3/4 cup granulated sugar until blended. Beat in eggs until smooth. Beat in baking powder, vanilla, and salt, half the crème fraîche, then half the flour; repeat with remaining crème fraîche and flour. Drop spoonfuls of batter over rhubarb; spread smooth.
Step 5
Bake in a 350° oven until cake is golden on top and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool on a rack 15 minutes.
Step 6
Run a knife between cake and pan sides. Invert onto a plate. Serve warm.
PenelopeRB's Review
Delicious! I had to make a few substitutions as this was a spur of the moment baking project. I used limes and a bit of lemonade instead of lemons, sour cream and a tad of vanilla yogurt in place of crème fraîche, and Whiskey in place of Bourbon. This is an easy, very tasty cake. The crumb is moist but not heavy, and tangy. I cut down the sugar by about a 1/4 cup. It took about 46 minutes to bake, at Boulder Co altitude. Great warm, with some vanilla ice cream.
cynthiatalbot's Review