These next two posts are my creations of upside down cake with the fruit also in the cake.  So this applesauce upside-down cake has an applesauce spice cake with the apples caramelized over the top.

I started with my applesauce muffin recipe adapting it as a cake recipe. 

 [recipe difficulty=”medium”] 

• 1 ¼ cups applesauce (if sweetened cut down on the brown sugar)
• 3/4  cup brown sugar
• ½  cup olive oil
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup buttermilk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½  teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½  teaspoon ground allspice
• ½ teaspoon ground clove
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Topping:

1.  Using a 9 inch cast iron skillet melt the butter and add the sugar.
2.  Arrange that apples cut side up in a decorative way over the melted butter and sugar. You can crowd them since they will shrink when cooked.
3.  Cook undisturbed for 25-45 minutes or until the apples are tender,  and the are light brown. Make sure not to burn the apples.

Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, Beat eggs first and then  add the applesauce, sugar, oil, and buttermilk; beat well.
3.  Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and mix in cinnamon,  allspice, cloves and salt. Add to the applesauce mixture but don’t over stir.
4. Add vanilla.
5. Pour batter over the cooked apples, making sure to spread evenly almost to the edge.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the cake comes out clean.
7. Cool cake for 5 minutes and then carefully reverse it unto a platter.

[/recipe]