upside down apple-molasses cake

Place a rack in the middle and heat oven to 350ºF.

Melt the butter. Whisk flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, mix molasses, egg, ginger and 1/4 cup sugar. Add sour cream and buttermilk. Whisk it all together. Then gradually mix in the dry ingredients. Once you get a smooth batter, add 3 tablespoons of the melted butter. Set aside.

Peel the apples. Cut thin slices about 1/2 inch thick. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar to the remaining butter. Cook over medium-high heat until sugar begins to caramelize 4-5 minutes. Add apples, stir to coat. Let them cook for 5-8 minutes. Then flip and cook again for 8-10 minutes till your house fills up with an amazing aroma. Make sure they don’t get too soft or they might break while flipping the cake.

Space apples evenly in an 8″ oven proof pan and then pour the batter. Bake it for 30-40 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes. Then flip carefully onto a plate. Serve warm or at room temp.

Source: Feb issue of Bon Appetit