Cast Iron Fruit Cake Recipes

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE VII

Steps:

• Melt the butter over medium high heat in the iron skillet. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the brown sugar evenly to cover the butter. Next, arrange pineapple rings around the bottom of the pan, one layer deep. Place a maraschino cherry into the center of each pineapple ring. Prepare the cake mix as directed by the manufacturer, substitute some of the pineapple juice for some of the liquid in the directions. Pour the batter over the pineapple layer.
• Bake as directed by the cake mix directions. Cool for 10 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a plate. Do not let the cake cool too much or it will be stuck to the pan.

FRUIT SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron), and dust with flour. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With an electric mixer on medium, beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in egg. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk; beat until combined.
• Transfer batter to the prepared skillet; smooth top. Arrange plums on top, fanning the slices; sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake until golden brown and a cake tester into center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

CAST-IRON "FRUIT CAKE"

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Melt together the butter and brown sugar in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet on medium heat. When the sugar and butter have melted together stir in the blackberries, pineapple, thyme leaves and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the brown sugar begins to bubble, about 3 minutes. Once this happens turn the heat off.
• Prepare the cake mix as directed on the package and pour over the fruit. Bake until the cake is slightly golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the creme fraiche: Whisk the creme fraiche, sugar, vanilla bean seeds, lemon zest and salt in a medium bowl to stiff peaks.
• To serve: Serve slices of cake warm or at room temperature with dollops of vanilla creme fraiche.

PLUM SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8-inch ovenproof skillet(preferably cast-iron); dust with flour, tapping out excess.Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and1/2 teaspoon salt. Beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar with a mixeron medium speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg. Addflour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk.
• Pour batter into prepared skillet, and smooth topwith an offset spatula. Fan plums on top, and sprinkle withremaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until goldenbrown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes outclean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool slightly.

SKILLET STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet; line the bottom with a round of parchment paper.
• Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt for shortcake together in a large mixing bowl. Whisk buttermilk, egg yolk, and vanilla together in a glass measuring cup until evenly combined; set aside.
• Scatter the butter pieces over the flour mixture. Use a rubbing motion with your fingertips and cut the butter into the flour mixture to distribute. Create a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the center of the well. Use a rubber spatula to mix the flour into the buttermilk mixture to form a moist, shaggy dough.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared skillet. Smooth the dough to distribute evenly in the pan. Press the sliced strawberries gently into the surface.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and baked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes.
• To prepare the topping, stir together the quartered strawberries, sugar, and lemon zest in a medium mixing bowl to macerate.
• To prepare the whipped cream, combine whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla in a chilled mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat at medium speed until soft peaks form.
• Spoon the strawberries and juices over the shortcake. Serve with whipped cream.