Apple Upside-Down Cornmeal Cakes

Delicious individual upside-down cakes featuring tender Gala apples and walnuts on a cornmeal cake base. These warm, rustic cakes combine the sweetness of caramelized apples with the hearty texture of cornmeal, perfect served with whipped cream.

6 servings
52 min

Ingredients

  • ¾ stick unsalted butter
  • 3 whole Gala apples
  • cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup yellow cornmeal
  • cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 whole large egg
  • ¾ cup whole milk
  • 1 serving whipped cream
  • 1 pan muffin pan

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 425°F. Butter muffin cups. Peel and core apples, then cut into 1/3-inch dice.

    10 min

  2. 2.

    Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook apples, brown sugar, and lemon juice, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced to a glaze and apples are tender, 5 to 6 minutes.

    6 min

  3. 3.

    Stir in walnuts and divide apple mixture among muffin cups.

    3 min

  4. 4.

    Pulse together flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add remaining 4 tablespoons butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    Whisk together egg and milk in a large bowl. Add flour mixture and whisk until just combined.

    3 min

  6. 6.

    Divide batter among muffin cups and bake until golden and a wooden pick or skewer inserted into center of a cake comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes.

    20 min

  7. 7.

    Run a paring knife around edge of each cake to loosen. Invert rack over muffin cups, then invert cakes onto rack. Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream.

    5 min

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