A delicious and easy -- and stunning -- vegan Peach Upside-Down Cake. It's quite low in fat and there's no better way to get your daily serving of fruit. 😉
It must look like I am OD'ing on sugar right now because this is my third sweet and baked recipe in a row, but what can I say? I had these perfectly ripe peaches sitting in my pantry, and I needed to do something about them before they started to spoil. Since I'm not a big fan of eating fruit on its own, I just had to bake them into something delicous AND pretty: like a Peach Upside-Down Cake, a classic from America's south.
This cake is really, really simple to make and although it does have a fair amount of sugar, it's fairly low in fat. Plus all that fruit (it also has applesauce in it) makes it, I daresay, not unhealthy.
One of the great joys of eating this cake are the contrasting textures created by the gooey caramel at the bottom of the pan, the smooth, silky peaches, and the tender cake. Like a lot of dishes originating from the south, this one screams classic comfort food. At the same time it's beautiful enough to show off with.
Upside-down cakes are traditionally made in cast-iron skillets, so if you have a 9-inch skillet, use it. If not, use an 8- or 9-inch cake pan.
I need to run, but not before I give you the recipe. It's Thursday already, and the weekend's in sight! Hooray!
Try these vegan dessert recipes
- Vegan Skillet Apple Pie
- Vegan Peach and Plum Crisp
- Vegan Tarte Tatin
- Slab Apple Pie with Salted Caramel Pecan Drizzle
- Vegan Banana Upside Down Cake (gluten-free)
- Vegan Rhubarb Ginger Upside Down Cake
Peach Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
- 4-5 peaches (halved, pitted, then each half cut into four slices)
- 2 tablespoon vegan butter
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup nondairy milk
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Measure out ½ cup of the nondairy milk, add the vinegar to it, and set aside to curdle, at least 5 minutes.
- Melt the butter in a 9-inch cast-iron skillet. If using a cake pan, place the vegan butter in the pan and place it inside a preheated 350-degree oven until the butter melts. Tilt the skillet or pan so that the butter coats the sides.
- Sprinkle the sugar to evenly cover the bottom of the pan. Arrange the peaches in a decorative pattern at the bottom of the skillet or pan. If you're not a patient person or like a more freestyle look, you can just scatter them around in an even, single layer.
- Whisk together the all purpose flour, cinnamon, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a smaller bowl, mix together the oil, applesauce, vanilla and the curdled nondairy milk.
- Add the wet mixture to the dry in three batches, mixing well after each addition and scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Pour the batter evenly to cover the peach slices. Place in the preheated 350-degree oven and bake 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Remove the skillet or pan from the oven, making sure to use oven mitts, and cool for 5 minutes on a rack before unmolding.
- To unmold, place a serving platter, face-down, on the skillet or pan. Make sure you have your oven mitts on and check by tilting the pan that the cake has loosened from the sides of the skillet. If not, run a knife along the edge.Now turn the skillet upside-down in a quick motion and tap slighly if needed to loosen the cake. Carefully lift up the skillet. Voila!Spoon any of the gooey, caramel-y juices remaining in the skillet on top of the cake, and enjoy warm or at room temperature.
Susan
This was delicious! My daughter is allergic to eggs, so we are always looking for recipes that make desserts we love safe for her. This cake was moist, not dense, not too rich, and delicious! I did sub white whole wheat flour for the regular flour, but even then the cake wasn't too heavy. Thank you for the recipe!
Renee
This turned out really delicious and looked gorgeous! I wish I had ate more of it the first night after I had made it because it was ruined by the next day. I've never made an upside-down cake before and didn't know it needed to be refrigerated. By the next day it had mold on it 🙁
Liza
Absolutely phenomenal cake!!! Thank you so much for all your wonderful recipes, Vaishali.
Miri
What an absolute beauty of a cake - how did you even bring yourself to cut into it! 🙂
Stephanie
Beautiful cake!! I'll be getting some peaches from a local farm soon and I will add this cake to my list of things to make with peaches!!
Peace, Stephanie
Parita
The cake looks beautiful, it often happens with me as i cant resist the temptation of buying fresh fruits available so cheap and then having no choice i make desserts with them 🙂
Divya Vikram
Cake looks divine Vaishali.
Red Chillies
I love cakes with fruit in it and this looks pretty good. I have been meaning to try upside down cake for a long time now, but haven't tried it yet. Looks good.
Vaishali
Pooja, thanks. Not sure what you mean about the Foodbuzz, though....?
Pavani, Gita, Vegandinners, Soma, Hema, Thanks!
Sharmila, the vinegar curdles the soymilk without heating. You do have to let it sit a few minutes.
Uma, Ann: Thanks!
Maddy: Thanks for your kind words. You sound like a kindred soul, and I'm glad you enjoyed reading the blog. Here's to conscious living-- may our tribe increase! 🙂
Divya, Thanks!
Divya Kudua
Lovely looking cake Vaishali...I love upside down cakes and usually make the ever-popular Pineapple version.Peach is a fantastic alternative..yummy yummy!!
Maddy
Vaishali!
I love love LOVE your blog.. I cannot say enough 🙂 Being a bengali, I was raised hard-core non veg, and converted to vegetarianism (not entirely vegan yet but I aspire to be) after realizing the heinousness behind farming practices and the slaughtering of animals for food and (quoting you) "the needlessness of it all".
Your blog is a wonderful space, your write-ups, your recipes are amazing! I have read each one of your entries and I'm hooked. I'm going to visit regularly. I too, like many other converts have recently realized that there are SO many wonderful vegetarian/vegan choices... I enjoy cooking more than ever before and its one of the best decisions I've made for myself. Thanks to you and all the other inspirations I have.
Btw, I've already tried some of your recipes and they were such a HIT! I'm waiting for a party to make your Mango Cheesecake 😛 Looks so yumm and its vegan! what could be better?
Thanks a LOT for this wonderful blog. Thanks a lot for being soo inspiring. Its great to live a conscious life - I'm glad there are people like you 🙂
Ann
Ha,I was thinking Vaishali,you are into too much sugar these days..haha..but happens sometime..
Hey,I have one upside-down cake recipe with me too.havent tried yet..But your baking looks perfect..professional..
And really can imagine the taste of "contrasting textures" you mentioned..WHat a delight !!
Uma
mmm. tempting cake!! looks fantabulous 🙂
Sharmila
Ooooh Vaishali! What snaps! and the cake sounds great too! The soy milk will curdle just like that? No heating? Am just curious. 🙂
Hema
I am not a big fan of pastries but your cake wants me to grab it all..
Soma
Don't feel guilty Vaishali;-) I have been doing the same thing! I bought peaches for 99 cents a lb (the stores every week put one fruit for sale for 99 cents a lb most of the times).. don't know how much i got.. had fresh, had grilled then peach pie, yet to post.. of all the cakes, i like the fruity ones the best... beautiful.
vegan dinners
Holy Cow Vaishali! It really looks amazing!! I have been wanting to make a plum upside down cake for some reason lately. I will try your recipe with plums instead of peaches. It should be good but with peaches it looks really nice.
Best. Maria
Gita
That slice of cake is awfully good...feeling like grabbing that plate rightaway 🙂 I am not a big fan of peaches but this cake with the caramalized topping is really tempting me.
Pavani
You are sure running on Sugar High here Vaishali. But when you add fruit and make it vegan, its not that bad.. is it?? 😀
Pooja
Aww this looks so good! Makes me speechless! Wish I could have a slice! And congrats for your blog being featured in foodbuzz. Keep rocking 🙂