I thought upside down was one word. I was wrong.
You knew it wasn’t one word. You’re smarter than me.
Let’s learn a lesson… because I just learned it, and I want to share it with you.
Upside down is two words when you write something like “Oh crap… that pie just landed on the floor upside down!” Adverb nation. Wait… right?
Upside-down is hyphenated when it’s used as an adjective like, “Oh crap… Joy is totally obsessed with strawberries right now, and that Strawberry Upside-down Cake looks major.” Upside-down describes the cake… working overtime in adjective land.
… And this… this is why I’m not an English teacher.
Class dismissed.
I shoved this cake in my mouth on Sunday morning as I was rushing off to church.
I wasn’t late.
Ok… I wasn’t that late.
My point is that this cake is super easy to throw together on a Sunday morning.
And! It’s best eaten warm (when you’re in a hurry).
The cake batter is a simple brown sugar and sour cream cake. It’s sweet and moist, with a delicate but sturdy crumb. How’s that for food words?
Easy, uncomplicated, summer weekend dessert.
If you wanted to experiment with other berries for this recipe, I’d totally support you!
Strawberry Upside-down Cake with Cardamom
makes: one 8-inch cake
For the Topping:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup sliced strawberries
For the Cake:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
2/3 cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
I used an 8-inch round with 3-inch tall sides. You can also use a 9-inch round with 2-inch sides.
Place butter in the cake pan and place in the oven. When butter is melted, remove pan from the oven. Using two pot holders, tilt the pan around and around, coating the sides of the pan with butter. Once sides are coated, set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and brown sugar on medium speed. Cream until slightly pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Stop mixer, scrape down the bowl with a spatula, and add egg and vanilla extract. Beat for 1 minute.
Turn the mixer off, scrape the bowl, and add the dry ingredients. Beat on low speed while adding the sour cream. Beat until the batter just comes together. Batter will be pretty thick. Remove the bowl from the mixer and finish incorporating ingredients with a spatula.
Sprinkle 1/4 cup brown sugar into the melted butter in the cake pan. Sprinkle strawberry slices over the butter and sugar in a single layer. Spoon batter over the strawberries and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cake rest for 10 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the cake and inverting the cake onto a cake plate. Serve warm with sweetened sour or whipped cream.
Maris (In Good Taste)
Upside down or right side up this cake is amazing!
Clare Hampshire UK
Well Wimbledon starts soon and I am always looking for a new twist on stawberrys. Sorry I know you are a long way from London so just to explain in the UK Winbledon Tennis Championships are synonymous with strawberry season.
Lucia
Dear Joy!
Here raspberries are too many for my family. Some are even getting rotten without being picked.
What do you think about a raspeberry upside-down tart?
irene
mmmh this cake looks fantastic!
Kathryn
I love the idea of combining the sweet taste of strawberries with cardamom and I can imagine this cake holds up really well to the ‘goo’ of the fruit. Yum! Thanks Joy.
Musketnuss @ I really take the cake
This looks absolutely great. I want strawberries right now! Thanks for the recipe.
leaf (the indolent cook)
Love upside-down cakes and this looks great. I’ve been on a baking spree so hope to make one soon!
Valeria
oh i like it! I like cardamom in sweet stuff, i tried a cardamom coffee crème brulée and it was delcious. have to try this one, maybe with different berries because (alas) i’m allergic to strawberries :(
Joy
This looks friggin amazing. Mhmm scrumptious.
Michelle
Holy friggan’ delicious.
The Hungry Traveler
Mmmmm, like strawberry shortcake without the last minute composition! I’m always afraid to bake with strawberries because I’m afraid they’ll make everything too wet…is this the solution, putting them on top instead of in the cake? Would it work with blueberries too? I have made several blueberry coffee cake-type things and they never seemed to get all the way done on the inside because the blueberries leaked and made the batter all wet, then they fell apart later on even though the tops and edges were done. Still tasty, but looked a mess! Maybe this is the solution?
Paula at Dishing The Divine
I’m pretty sure that cardamom makes everything better. :) i was late to church, too. I was busy photographing hamburger buns as I rushed out the door. :) Such is the life of a food blogger on her way to an after-church-bbq. :)
Hannah at FleurDeLicious
Upside-down cakes are everywhere right now, but cardamom makes this totes unique and fantastic-sounding (I should also not be an English teacher). I want some of this cake for breakfast tomorrow! Alsooo that cake batter looks like absolute heaven. And strawberries! I love the look of the sliced strawberries! It’s blackberry time here in Texas…might sub in some of those.
Katie
Sold. I’m making this tomorrow.
P.S. This is a legitimate reason to be late for church.
Vanessa
My sister wants somethings raspberry for her birthday Tuesday. Is cardamom a good spice with raspberries?
Samantha Angela
Cardamom is awesome with pretty much any fruit.
Vanessa
Good to know!