There are some things that really really make me happy. Like a good book or a walk in the park just after a light drizzle in the morning. Or having lunch with a friend you haven't met in a while. It's these simple things that brighten up everyday life- simple things that we sometimes don't see. The simple pleasures of life that are more often that not, taken for granted. 

This apple upside down cake is one of those simple pleasures of life. It's sort of like a copycat of a traditional pineapple upside down cake (that I uh actually haven't tried baking before hehe oops) but with the warmth and familiarity of apples and cinnamon and caramel and vanilla. All my favourite fall flavours. 

The idea for an upside down cake is simple- you slice up some fruits, make a buttery sugary caramel, pour it into a greased and lined cake tin, top with your sliced fruits, and then make a cake batter and pour it over. Once it's baked, you serve it upside down, fruits side up, to reveal that beautiful golden brown caramelised fruit top. It's delicious and gorgeous too! 

Happy baking! 

Recipe adapted from Laura in the Kitchen 

Caramel:

1/4 cup unsalted butter 

2/3 cup brown sugar 

Cake: 

2 large/ 3 small apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

1 tsp lemon juice 

1 1/3 cup plain flour 

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

1 tsp baking powder 

1/4 tsp salt 

1/8 tsp grated nutmeg 

1/2 tsp grated orange zest 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 

2 eggs 

1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

1/2 cup whole milk

2/3 cup granulated sugar 

Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius. Grease and line an 8 by 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. 

Combine sliced apples and lemon juice and set aside while you prepare the caramel. 

In a small saucepan over medium height, combine butter and brown sugar, stirring, until the mixture starts to bubble. Pour into the baking pan. Arrange apple slices on top in a decorative pattern, then set aside while you prepare the cake batter. 

Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. 

In a separate large bowl, cream the butter and sugar till pale and creamy. Add the vanilla, orange zest and the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is well incorporated. 

Add half of the flour and half of the milk, mixing slowly to incorporate, then add the remaining flour and milk, folding it in till incorporated. 

Pour into the baking pan, on top of the apples and smooth it out. 

Bake 55-60 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minfues before inverting to a serving plate to serve.