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Peach Upside Down Cake

Moist and flavorful this peach upside down cake is full of sweet flavor from caramelized peaches that are baked on a homemade soft and tender cake! Served warm out of the oven with a scoop of ice cream, it’s the best summertime dessert. 

Cake on a white plate.


 

While I usually love my fruit crunchy, like a good crisp apple in the fall, this peach upside down cake with its fresh caramelized peaches and soft tender cake has me appreciating summertime fruit in a whole new way!

This summer cake recipe is easy to make and the fruit on the top is just stunning! The presentation only rivals the taste, which is moist, buttery, soft and sweet. This cake even inspired me to make a fall upside down apple cake

From the browned butter juicy peaches to the spongy cake with a slight almond taste, you are going to love the pure melt-in-your-mouth texture that will become a summertime staple to make in your own kitchen as it has in mine.

What is an Upside-Down Cake?

If you have never had an upside down cake before, this cake actually dates back hundreds of years when they would line a cast iron skillet with fruit and then pour cake batter on the top. 

Once done, the cake was then flipped so the cake part was on the bottom and the fruit on the top. 

As it baked the juicy fruit infused the cake with delicious flavor and then when flipped it became a beautiful presentation not to mention all the delicious caramelized taste. One of the most classic examples of this type of cake is the pineapple upside down cake

A slice of cake on a plate.

Ingredients for Upside Down Peach Cake

  • Butter: Salted butter is great for the syrupy peach topping while unsalted butter is preferred for the cake batter. 
  • Sugars: You will need brown sugar for the peach topping and granulated sugar for the cake portion. 
  • Peaches: You will need 3 or 4 small fresh peaches or 1 small can of peaches drained. 
  • Extract: I prefer almond extract in the cake but you can use vanilla extract if you would like.
  • Egg: One egg adds binding and moisture to the cake. 
  • Cake flour: This type of flour will produce a cake that has a soft and tender crumb. 
  • Baking powder: This adds both lift and rise and is a staple in baked goods.
  • Salt: This is used in the cake batter to enhance the taste. If you only have salted butter, you may need only a pinch. 
  • Milk: This gives the cake an even more tender crumb! You can use buttermilk if you would like a tangier cake. 
Ingredients for the recipe.

Fresh vs. Frozen or Canned Peaches

While fresh peaches will provide the best taste, frozen peaches or canned peaches can be used which is a great way to make this peach upside cake year round.

To use frozen peaches, defrost and drain completely before using so you don’t introduce additional moisture which could lead to a soggy cake. 

Canned peaches will also need to be drained completely before using in the cake. You will need one small can of peaches to replace the fresh peach slices. 

How to Make Peach Upside Down Cake

Next, make your peach layer. On the bottom of the cake pan place the softened butter, add the brown sugar and mix well. Spread it evenly across the bottom of the pan then lightly press the sliced peaches into the mixture.

The crumbed mixture and peaches on the bottom of the pan.

To make your cake layer, first whisk together your dry ingredients to remove any lumps then set aside.

The whisked dry ingredients in the white bowl.

Then in a medium bowl, cream the butter, sugar and almond extract with an electric mixer. Add the egg and continue to beat until light and fluffy.

Beating the butter, sugar and eggs.

Last, alternate adding your dry ingredients with the milk beating on low speed until combined.

Adding the milk and dry to the creamed mixture.

Spoon your cake batter evenly over the peaches.

Batter in the pan before baking.

Bake the upside down peach cake until down. Cool for 5 minutes and then flip your upside cake unto a plate. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

After baking in the pan and on a plate.

Notes, Tips and Variations

  • Warm flavor: For additional flavor add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the brown sugar and butter mixture. 
  • Nuts: Walnuts, pecans or sliced almonds would all be delicious and add some texture! You can add some to the cake batter, layer with the fresh peaches or add on top after baking. 
  • Other fruit: Don’t let peaches stop you! Try this upside down cake with nectarines, pears, plums, apples or pineapple.
  • How to release the cake from the pan: First, run a knife along the edge of the pan then turn the pan upside down over a plate and it should release easily onto the plate. If you have waited too long and your cake is sticking, place it back in the oven for a few minutes to loosen the caramelized fruit. 
  • Homemade cake flour: To make your own cake flour, place one cup of all purpose flour into a bowl, remove 2 tablespoons and replace it with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Whisk well to combine.

Storage

Store leftover peach upside down cake in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can also freeze leftover cake wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to one month! While the cake may be more moist when thawed and the peaches browner in color, it will still taste delicious. 

The cake on a white plate.

Recipe FAQs

What Should I Top this Cake With? 

Serve a slice of your warm upside down cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream! For the ultimate treat, make your own homemade whipped cream and peach ice cream

How to Soften Fresh Peaches for Cake?

To soften fresh peaches faster, put them in a paper bag and then leave them on the counter for a day. A fresh peach will have a slight give when you gently squeeze it. 

What is the Best Baking Pan for an Upside Down Cake?

While historically this was made in a cast iron skillet, I find it much easier to use a 7-8 inch springform cake pan. You could also use a round sized cake pan or square cake pan, although I like the higher sides of the springform pan.

Should I Flip the Cake While It’s Hot or Cold?

Neither! If you flip it while it’s too hot you risk it falling apart and if it is too cold it will have caramelized too much and be stuck to the pan. The best is to wait 5-10 minutes before flipping your cake onto a serving plate. 

I hope you enjoy this Peach Upside Down Dessert as much as we did, and a dessert served with a little ice cream is a dessert no one can refuse. Enjoy!

A slice of cake on a plate with a scoop of ice cream.

More Summertime Desserts to Try

A slice of cake on a plate with a scoop of ice cream.

Peach Upside Down Cake

Rosemary Molloy
Moist and flavorful, this peach upside down cake is full of sweet flavor from caramelized peaches that are baked on a homemade soft and tender cake!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 440 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

BOTTOM LAYER

  • ¼ cup butter (softened)
  • ½ cup + 1 tablespoon brown sugar (lightly packed) (92 grams total, if you double the recipe then double this amount)
  • 18-23 slices of peaches (3 or 4 peaches or 1 small can drained)

CAKE LAYER

  • ¼ cup butter unsalted (softened)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon almond flavouring (or vanilla if you prefer)
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • 1 cup cake/pastry flour
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (if you use salted butter then add a pinch of salt)
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons milk (90 grams total, if you double the recipe then double this amount)

Instructions
 

  • Pre-Heat oven to 350°F (180°C), grease and flour or spray a 7-8 inch (20 cm) spring form cake pan or regular pan, you can also line the pan with parchment paper.

BOTTOM LAYER

  • On the bottom of cake pan place the softened butter, add the brown sugar and mix well, spread evenly, lightly press peach slices into the mixture.

CAKE LAYER

  • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  • In a medium bowl cream butter, sugar and almond flavouring, add the egg and beat until light and fluffy, add the dry ingredients alternately with milk, beat on low until combined.
  • Spoon and spread evenly over peach slices.  Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes.  Let cool 5 minutes and then flip onto a cake plate, serve warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if desired.  Enjoy!

Notes

To make homemade cake flour – place one cup of all purpose flour in a bowl, remove 2 tablespoons and replace with 2 tablespoons of corn starch. Whisk well or sift to combine well and remove lumps.
Store leftover peach upside down cake in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can also freeze leftover cake wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to one month! While the cake may be more moist when thawed and the peaches browner in color, it will still taste delicious.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 190mg | Potassium: 946mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 62g | Vitamin A: 1800IU | Vitamin C: 28.5mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 1.5mg
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!

Updated from June 10, 2017.

65 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Thanks so much for this recipe and the explanation of how to make cake flour. I never buy it because I only use the regular flour for baking and gravies. I hope to make this next week – and I do have both vanilla and almond extract so will use the almond. Thanks again

4.70 from 76 votes (57 ratings without comment)

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