I love Pineapple. Whether it be on pizza, in curry (yes there is a curry with pineapple), juice or just on its own. Here is a wonderfully sweet and delicious Pineapple upside down cake that is a hit at any party.
Topping:
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons of light brown raw sugar
a tin of pineapple slices in syrup
red cherries, optional
a baking dish measuring 8 or 9 inches square
Grease the baking dish with the butter, thinly greased on the sides but thickly buttered with the remaining butter on the base of the baking dish. Scatter evenly the raw sugar and 1/4 cup of the thick pineapple syrup from the can. Then proceed to arrange a few of the pineapple slices on the bottom of the buttered baking dish. Place the cherries in the pineapple hole centre or decorate them about the pineapple. Set aside other pineapple slices.
Cake layer:
150g sugar
200g self-raising flour
180g butter, softened at room temperature
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
pinch of salt
half a cup chopped up pineapple (drain off syrup but reserve 3 tablespoons for the cake)
Cream the butter and sugar with electric whisk until it is pale about 3 minutes. Then add the eggs, one at a time and beat well after each addition into the creamed mixture.
Add the vanilla essence, syrup, pineapple bits and salt. Mix for 10 seconds. Fold the flour into the creamed mixture with a metal or wooden spoon until it is well combined.
Transfer the batter to the baking dish by putting spoonfuls of batter all over into the dish so as not to move the fruit about. Spread the batter with the back of spoon to level it evenly.
Bake in a pre-heated oven 170 C/350 F for 45 minutes.
When the cake is removed from the oven, let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes in the tin to settle.
Then place a flat plate over the baking dish and invert it (flip it over) while it is still hot.
The cake should leave the tin easily and go to the plate. Let it cool for ten minutes more before cutting into it.
Note: It is important not to leave the cake cooling in the baking dish too long because
of the sugar at the bottom. Once it hardens upon cooling, it will stick to the baking dish.
So take the cake out of the baking dish while it is still hot.