Every family recipe collection has a few pages that show clear signs of time – slightly stained, folded at the corners and often opened. Those are usually the recipes that were prepared the most. Among them you can often find grandma’s upside-down apple cake, a simple yet unforgettable dessert.
This cake was never saved only for holidays or celebrations. Instead, it appeared on the table whenever fresh apples were available and someone in the family needed a little sweet comfort. The aroma of baked apples and cinnamon coming from the oven was enough to bring everyone into the kitchen.
In earlier times, kitchens did not have electric mixers or complicated ingredients. Nevertheless, grandmothers managed to create wonderful desserts using only a few basic items. With caramelized apples, a soft sponge batter and a hint of cinnamon, they prepared cakes that people still remember years later.
What truly makes grandma’s upside-down apple cake special is not its decoration but the feeling it brings. As the cake is flipped onto a plate and the caramelized apples appear on top, the kitchen fills with a warm, nostalgic scent that reminds many of home and family moments.
Ingredients
For the apple layer
- 3 large apples (preferably slightly sour varieties such as Granny Smith)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter (or margarine)
For the sponge batter
- 3 eggs
- 120 g sugar
- 1 packet vanilla sugar
- 100 ml milk
- 100 ml oil
- 150 g flour
- 1 baking powder
Preparation
Step 1 – Prepare the apples
Start by peeling the apples and slicing them into thin pieces.
In a pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add sugar and cinnamon and stir gently until the sugar begins to caramelize. Then add the apple slices and cook them for about five minutes, just until they soften slightly.
Step 2 – Prepare the baking pan
Grease a baking pan (around 26 cm in diameter) with a little butter. Arrange the caramelized apples evenly across the bottom and pour the remaining caramel over them.
Step 3 – Prepare the sponge batter
In a bowl, beat the eggs together with sugar and vanilla sugar until the mixture becomes light and foamy.
Next, add the oil and milk and mix briefly. After that, gradually add the flour mixed with baking powder. Stir everything together until you obtain a smooth batter.
Step 4 – Bake the cake
Pour the batter evenly over the apples in the baking pan.
Bake the cake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 30–35 minutes. To check if it is done, insert a toothpick into the center – if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
Allow the cake to rest for about 10 minutes, then carefully flip it onto a serving plate so that the apple layer appears on top.
Grandma’s Tip
If you want the cake to be even more aromatic and juicy, sprinkle a little lemon juice and a spoonful of rum over the apples before baking. This small addition gives the dessert a richer fragrance and enhances the flavor.