After all that searching, I finally found a recipe calling for ingredients on hand -- Peach-Cherry Upside Down Cake.
The original cake is from allrecipes.com, and this is a case where I’m glad I didn’t read the reviews before jumping in and making the recipe. A few people said the cake was too sweet and one said it had no flavor. That would have definitely put me off had I read it, but luckily the cake was neither too sweet and very flavorful -- and I didn’t even use the orange zest. I did add a half teaspoon of vanilla and that really helped.
Please take a look at the allrecipes version to compare, but I’ve re-typed the recipe as I made it using no zest and added vanilla. I also used fresh peaches. I think the people who said it was too sweet might have been using canned. And finally, make sure you put something under the pan because it will bubble over and leak a bit.
Final review. If you like cooked fruit, this should make you happy because there’s a big ratio of cooked fruit to actual cake. The layer of cake is very thin and dense and the overall dessert is extremely moist to the point like a baked pudding. If you like more cake, less fruit, and like your cake a little bit dryer, than try a different recipe. After I made this, I looked at a bunch of other peach upside down cakes and was pretty surprised at how many variations there are on such a simple cake.
Peach-Cherry Upside Down Cake
4 tablespoons softened butter (I used unsalted)
½ cup packed brown sugar
2-3 fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
½ cup fresh cherries, cut in half
⅓ cup shortening
½ cup granulated sugar – scant, don’t go over
1 large egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 ¼ cups cake flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup orange juice (if you have some, add ½ tsp. zest as well)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.(175 degrees C)
Rub softened butter over inside of an 8x2 inch round metal cake pan, coating as thoroughly as possible. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
Arrange the peach slices in circles over the sugar. Press the cherries in, cut side up.
Cream the shortening and sugar together thoroughly. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt together in a separate bow. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with the juice and stir just until mixed. Pour over the fruit.
Set a foil covered pan on lower rack to catch any drips, then place cake on center rack and cook for 42-50 minutes or until edges are browned and cake appears set.
Let cake cool in pan for 5 minutes, then invert. I dis this by placing a flat cookie sheet flush against the top of the cake, holding them both together with hot pads and turning. Tap the cake and it should come out.
P says
Just made this and OMG so delicious. I added a few blueberries into the batter and W O W! Both my boyfriend and I loved it! Thank you!
Sara says
I made this yesterday with peaches and blueberries - I halved the recipe and baked in a loaf pan. Also, I made some modifications to make it a bit lighter based on a cooking light upside down cake recipe (used less butter and sugar in the topping and a bit less shortening in the cake). It was great! Very moist and the orange flavor came through well.
Lisa Ernst says
This looks beautiful! I'll have to give this recipe a try when I want to do another upside down cake. I like a high fruit to cake ratio.
Country Cookin' Mama says
That looks delish! If I have any extra peaches leftover from making peach cobbler I'll have to try this!
Katrina says
Ooh, that looks really good right now. Just got home after driving with the boys ALL day today and eating junk in the car until I'm sick just to stay awake. I was REALLY tired today. Well, here we are safe and sound. The peaches look really good!
Sarah says
Looks delicious! Both of my parents love cooked fruit desserts, so I'll have to make this for them before I head back to school.
Also, love the new site layout!
Bev says
That is so pretty! I'll bet it tastes as good as it looks!
Sue says
Nice use of the peaches. The stone fruits probably mingled nicely!
LilSis says
That looks really, really good! I love using fresh fruit whenever possible! Good that your peaches didn't go to waste!
snooky doodle says
what a nice cake! Full of summer fruit! Awesome
VeggieGirl says
Perfect peach creation!
Lisa says
I love fruity cakes. This looks so good! Your new website design looks great.