As we settle further into autumn’s crisp air and changing leaves, we instinctively turn to cozy desserts for celebrating the season. This fall, we’re giving a staple upside-down cake a candy-inspired update: introducing our Pecan Praline Upside-Down Cake featuring Schermer Pecans. The buttery, fluffy cake absorbs every drop of the crunchy, caramelly pecan topping—and it tastes even better the next day. Schermer Pecans are hand-selected, shelled, and delivered straight from their trees to your table for maximum flavor, freshness, and crunch, making this skillet cake so much more than the sum of its parts. You won’t want to miss it!
Pecan Praline Upside-Down Cake
This recipe has the perfect mix of moist, fluffy cake and nutty, crunchy topping.
Servings 1 (10-inch) cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (220 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs (150 grams), room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) vanilla extract
- 1 2/3 cups (208 grams) self-rising flour
- 1/2 cup (120 grams) whole buttermilk, room temperature
Topping
- 3/4 cup (89 grams) roughly chopped toasted Schermer Pecans
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) finely chopped toasted Schermer Pecans
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (110 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (85 grams) light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.5 grams) kosher salt
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
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For topping: In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, bring pecans, butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice, and salt to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently until sugar dissolves; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
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For cake: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and brown sugar at medium speed until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour to butter mixture in three additions alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition.
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Spray sides of skillet with baking spray with flour. Spoon batter onto topping, gently smoothing top with an offset spatula. Place skillet on a baking sheet.
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Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Place a serving plate on cake; carefully invert cake on plate. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.