Heavenly Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake with Cinnamon Recipe

Sweet aromas waft through kitchens as this caramel pecan upside-down cake with cinnamon promises a delightful dessert experience.

Warm, gooey caramel mingles perfectly with toasted pecans in this irresistible treat.

Rich layers of tender cake emerge beneath a golden, glossy topping that sparkles with buttery goodness.

Cinnamon adds a subtle warmth that dances across each decadent bite.

The recipe blends classic Southern comfort with elegant baking technique.

Crunchy pecans provide a delightful textural contrast against the silky caramel.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 7

Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake With Cinnamon Ingredients

• Butter: Provides rich, silky foundation for caramel with creamy depth.
• Brown Sugar: Delivers deep, molasses-like sweetness and creates luxurious caramel texture.
• Heavy Cream: Smooths and enriches caramel, ensuring glossy, velvety consistency.

• All-Purpose Flour: Builds sturdy cake structure with tender crumb.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Creates perfect rise and lightness in cake texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity and balances sweetness.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, aromatic spice that complements pecan and caramel notes.

• Butter: Ensures tender, moist cake with exceptional flavor.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness and moisture to cake.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and contribute to cake's rich, smooth texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Introduces elegant, sophisticated background flavor.
• Buttermilk: Delivers tangy undertone and helps create incredibly soft crumb.
• Pecan Halves: Adds delightful crunch and nutty richness to caramel topping.

Tools To Flip And Bake Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake With Cinnamon

• 9-inch round cake pan: Essential for creating the perfect upside-down cake with caramel pecan topping.
• Small saucepan: Ideal for melting butter and creating smooth, bubbly caramel mixture.
• Medium bowl: Perfect for mixing dry ingredients like flour, baking powder, and spices.
• Large bowl: Necessary for creaming butter and sugar, and mixing cake batter.
• Whisk: Great for blending dry ingredients and ensuring smooth consistency.
• Spatula: Helpful for smoothing batter and scraping sides of bowls.
• Toothpick: Crucial for checking cake doneness by inserting into the center.
• Knife: Useful for running around cake edges before inverting.
• Serving plate: Needed for presenting the beautiful upside-down cake.

How To Bake Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake With Cinnamon Flawlessly

• Caramel Magic

Melt butter in a saucepan over gentle heat. Stir brown sugar and cream together until they dance into a smooth, glossy mixture. Pour this liquid gold into a cake pan, creating a glistening base. Sprinkle pecan halves across the surface like a delicate landscape.

• Batter Bliss

Warm the oven to a cozy 350F. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. In another vessel, blend butter and sugars until they transform into a fluffy cloud. Introduce eggs one by one, followed by a splash of vanilla. Gently fold dry ingredients into the creamy mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Stop mixing the moment ingredients become friends.

• Baking Adventure

Gently cascade batter over the pecan-studded caramel. Smooth the top with a soft touch. Slide the pan into the oven’s warm embrace for 35-40 minutes. The cake is ready when a toothpick emerges clean and triumphant.

• Serving Ceremony

Allow the cake to rest in the pan for ten minutes. Trace a knife around the edges, then confidently flip onto a serving plate. Let it cool completely before revealing its delicious hidden layer.

Fun Swaps For Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake With Cinnamon

• Pecan Perfection Tricks: Keep Your Cake Delightful
• Toasting Tip: Gently toast pecans in a dry skillet before arranging them in the pan to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra crunch to your caramel layer.
• Moisture Magic: Don't overmix the batter – stop stirring as soon as ingredients are combined to ensure a tender, soft cake texture that melts in your mouth.
• Caramel Care: Watch your caramel mixture closely while cooking to prevent burning; it should be golden and bubbling but not dark brown.
• Gluten-Free Swap: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend to make this dessert accessible for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute butter with coconut oil and use almond milk mixed with apple cider vinegar instead of buttermilk for a lactose-free version that doesn't compromise on richness.

Serving Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake With Cinnamon With Style

• Rustic Dessert Companion: Pair this caramel pecan cake with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a decadent contrast between warm cake and cold, creamy sweetness.
• Festive Coffee Break: Serve alongside a steaming mug of cinnamon-spiced coffee or a rich espresso to enhance the cake's warm, nutty undertones and complement its sweet caramel notes.
• Brunch Showstopper: Present this cake as a stunning centerpiece during weekend brunches, garnishing with fresh mint leaves or a light dusting of powdered sugar to add elegant visual appeal.
• Seasonal Gift Idea: Wrap individual slices in parchment paper and tie with twine for a homemade gift that celebrates the warmth of cinnamon and the richness of pecans.

Tips To Store Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake With Cinnamon

• Quick Refrigeration Secrets: Store leftover cake in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 4 days, keeping the delightful caramel and pecan texture intact.
• Freeze and Savor Later: Wrap individual cake slices in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container to enjoy for 2-3 months without losing moisture or flavor.
• Room Temperature Magic: Keep the cake at room temperature for 1-2 days if serving soon, ensuring the caramel stays soft and pecans remain wonderfully crunchy.
• Make-Ahead Brilliance: Prepare the cake a day before your event, allowing flavors to meld and caramel to develop a deeper, richer profile that will impress your guests.

Indulgent Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake With Cinnamon Recipe

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4.6 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Rich caramel pecan upside-down cake marries classic Southern comfort with sweet cinnamon warmth. Pecans and golden caramel create a delightful dessert you’ll crave after one heavenly bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ½ cups (180g / 6.3 oz) pecan halves
• 1 cup (200g / 7 oz) light brown sugar, packed (for topping)
• ½ cup (115g / 4 oz) unsalted butter (for topping)
• 1 ½ cups (190g / 6.7 oz) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (150g / 5.3 oz) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (115g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened (for cake)
• ½ cup (120ml / 4 fl oz) buttermilk
• ¼ cup (50g / 1.8 oz) light brown sugar, packed (for cake)
• ¼ cup (60ml / 2 fl oz) heavy cream
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Caramel Preparation: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in brown sugar and heavy cream until a silky, bubbling caramel forms. Pour the golden mixture into a greased cake pan, creating an enticing base layer.
2. Pecan Arrangement: Distribute pecan halves evenly across the caramel surface, ensuring a visually appealing topping that will emerge when the cake is inverted.
3. Oven Preheating: Warm the oven to 350F (175C), creating the ideal baking environment.
4. Dry Ingredient Blending: Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl, creating a uniform dry ingredient mixture.
5. Butter-Sugar Creaming: Whip butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and voluminous, indicating proper aeration.
6. Wet Ingredient Integration: Add eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract, blending until smooth and homogeneous.
7. Batter Creation: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Mix minimally to maintain the batter’s delicate texture.
8. Pan Filling: Carefully spoon batter over the pecan-caramel base, smoothing the surface for even distribution.
9. Baking and Testing: Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
10. Cooling and Inverting: Rest the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then loosen edges with a knife. Confidently invert onto a serving plate, revealing the glistening pecan topping.
11. Final Resting: Allow the cake to cool completely, enabling flavors to meld and caramel to set before serving this decadent dessert.

Notes

• Perfect Caramel Consistency: Watch the caramel closely while whisking to prevent burning; aim for a golden-amber color with smooth, glossy texture.
• Prevent Pecan Burning: Toast pecans lightly before arranging to enhance nutty flavor and prevent them from becoming bitter during baking.
• Batter Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing the batter to maintain a tender, light cake texture; stop mixing as soon as ingredients are just combined.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter, eggs, and buttermilk are at room temperature for smoother blending and more even cake rise.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 37g
• Sodium: 250mg
• Fat: 24g
• Saturated Fat: 15g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 53g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 90mg