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Baking can easily be the most intimidating of skillsets in the kitchen. It takes precision and patience…and that’s before the decorating even starts. But if you are like me, and every now and then you have a craving for something sweet but simple, this blood orange upside down cake is the way to go! It is stunning, highlighting not only the piercing color of the fruit, but also its berry notes of sweetness. Blood oranges are in peak season December-April, so winter is the perfect time to make this cake. But if you are having trouble locating them, feel free to substitute with cara cara or naval oranges. Oh, and did I mention there is no post-baking icing, stacking, or piping involved!?
I will admit, despite some of my best, jaw-dropping recipes being desserts, I am not really a baking girly. Call me a free spirit in the kitchen, but measuring, weighing, and just plain old science are not my jam. I’d much rather wing it and cook based on feeling. Which is why I stay away from the most elegant of French pastries whenever I can. Until I tried this recipe!
Upside Down Blood Oranges
Now anyone who has made an upside down cake of any variety knows you start with the top of the cake first. And in the case of a blood orange upside down cake, that is no different. To begin, you will want to take a 9in springform pan. PLEASE don’t use anything larger, as the cake will be as flat and dry as a flapjack. And I quite frankly don’t have the math skills to help you calculate new measurements! Using 1 tbsp of unsalted butter, generously grease the bottom and sides of the pan. Feel free to add a 9in round cutout of parchment paper to the bottom of the pan and grease with more butter or cooking spray to ensure no sticking.
Next, sprinkle the 3 tbsp of turbinado sugar around the bottom and sides of the pan. If you are unfamiliar, turbinado sugar is a type of raw sugar that still has some of its natural molasses, giving it its brown color. It looks similar to light brown sugar, but the crystals are a lot larger. This will help caramelize the fruit and add a syrupy sweetness, like adding brown sugar in a pineapple upside down cake.
After the sugar is down, wash and thinly 2 blood oranges. Arrange the slices on top of the turbinado sugar in the pan. Feel free to cut some of the slices in half to line the edge of the pan. Take your time with this step, as the way the bottom of the pan looks will end up being the beautiful final look of your cake.
Cake Batter
Now that the “upside down” portion of the cake is all set, it is time to make the cake batter. To start, in a microwave safe bowl, melt 7 tbsp of unsalted butter. Once melted, mix in 3 rounded tbsp of plain greek yogurt and set aside. While the butter mixture cools , beat together 2 large eggs, 2/3 cup of granulated sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract, until the mixture is pale yellow.
Next, gently mix the 3/4 cup +1 tbsp of all purpose flour into the egg mixture, along with 1/2 tsp of baking powder and a pinch of salt. Mix in the butter-yogurt mixture next until combined, along with the zest of one blood orange. Pour the batter over the orange slices in the springform pan, using a rubber spatula to spread the batter in an even layer from edge to edge.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean. Feel free to check around 25 minutes to ensure the cake is not browning too quickly. Once cooked, let the cake cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from the springform pan and inverting onto a cake tray or cooling rack.
Cut the cake into 8 slices and serve with vanilla ice cream or even a spiced whipped cream. This blood orange upside down cake is the perfect dessert for a cozy winter weekend, or even been a show-stopper at a dinner party. It is simple to make for even the novice baker, but comes out so stunning, nobody will ever know it took only 35 minutes!
Want More Simple Desserts?
- Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicles
- Grinch Cookies
- Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
- Flourless Marshmallow Brownies
- Blueberry Muffin Cake
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch Marshmallow Cookies
Blood Orange Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
- 1 stick (8tsp) unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp turbinado sugar
- 2 blood oranges
- 3 ½ rounded tbsp plain greek yogurt
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup + 1tbsp all purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt (about ¼ tsp)
- zest from 1 blood orange
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°
- Take 1 tbsp of unsalted butter and grease the bottom and sides of a 9in springform pan. (Feel free to add a 9in round cutout of parchment paper to the bottom of the pan and grease with more butter or cooking spray to ensure no sticking).
- Sprinkle the turbinado sugar around the bottom of the pan, being sure some sticks to the greased sides of the pan as well
- Wash and thinly your blood oranges, and arrange the slices on top of the turbinado sugar in the pan. Feel free to cut some of the slices in half to line the edge of the pan.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the remaining 7 tbsp of unsalted butter. Once melted, mix in the greek yogurt and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together eggs, sugar and vanilla until the mixture is a pale yellow color.
- Gently mix the flour into the egg mixture, along with the baking powder and salt.
- Mix in the butter-yogurt mixture until combined, along with the zest of one blood orange, and pour the batter over the orange slices in the springform pan, using a rubber spatula to spread the batter in an even layer from edge to edge.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean. Feel free to check around the 25 minute mark to ensure the top of the cake is not browning too quickly.
- Let the cake cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from the springform pan and inverting onto a cake tray or cooling rack.
- Cut into 8 slices and serve with vanilla ice cream or even a spiced whipped cream.
