Apple Extreme Upside-Down Cake

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, cut up
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 6 small red baking apples, halved, stems removed, cored (1-1/4 to 1-1/2 lb.)
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• vanilla ice cream (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F

2. 2

   Place 1/3 cup butter in a 9x9x2-inch baking pan.

3. 3

   Place in oven 5 minutes or until butter melts.

4. 4

   Sprinkle brown sugar over butter; stir. Arrange 9 apple halves in mixture, cut sides down.

5. 5

   Bake in oven 10 to 15 minutes or until bubbly.

6. 6

   Meanwhile, peel remaining apples.

7. 7

   Coarsely shred; set aside.

8. 8

   In bowl combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ginger, and cinnamon.

9. 9

   Add shredded apple, milk, 1/4 cup butter, egg, and vanilla.

10. 10

    Beat with electric mixer on low until combined; beat on medium 1 minute. Spoon over apples, spread evenly (apple may be exposed; some butter may come to surface).

11. 11

    Bake 35 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.

12. 12

    Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes. Loosen edges; invert onto platter. Spoon any topping in pan over top.

13. 13

    Cool 20 minutes; serve with ice cream.

14. 14

    Makes 9 servings.