You’re going to flip over this homemade Citrus Upside-Down Sheet Cake that’s ooey-gooey, tender and buttery!
With the amount of citrus filling the bins at the super market these days, I couldn’t resist making this colorful fruit the star of today’s show! Blood oranges, navel oranges, ruby red grapefruits, clementines….so many gorgeous choices!
Question: Have you noticed lately all of the beautiful upside-down cakes, especially citrus, occupying the inter-webs? They’re making me pine for upside-down cake!
It’s been forever since I’ve made pineapple upside-down cake. It. was. time!
INGREDIENTS FOR CITRUS UPSIDE-DOWN SHEET CAKE:
-
- Unsalted butter
- Light brown sugar
- Oranges and grapefruit (I used blood oranges, ruby red grapefruits and navel oranges)
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Vegetable oil
- Vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING THIS CAKE:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 13 x 9 metal baking pan with nonstick baking spray and flour.
- For the topping (which is actually the bottom of the cake while baking): Pour melted butter in the prepared pan. Evenly sprinkle with brown sugar and then arrange peeled citrus slices on the brown sugar.
- For the cake: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla to the flour mixture.
- Using an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat for 1 minute until blended. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl with a spatula. Beat on medium speed for 1 more minute.
- Carefully pour batter over citrus and spread evenly.
- Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Immediately run a knife around edge of pan.
- Place a large platter over pan and, pressing platter and pan together, invert cake onto platter (I used the bottom side of a cookie sheet). Replace any topping that may have stuck to the pan.
- Let cool for 15 minutes and serve warm, or cool completely and serve at room temperature.
COOK’S NOTES:
- When readying the citrus, it’s easiest to slice the fruit with the peel on, then gently remove the peel and pith by cutting it off with a knife.
- Don’t be afraid to show the cake who’s boss when it comes time to flipping (after baking). Gentle but assertive is the name of the flipping game!
- I used different citrus for the purpose of color, but feel free to use [any] one or more of your favorites.
- This cake lives up to its ooey-gooey nature; so if you like tender brown-sugary delicious crumb – you’ve come to the right place!
- This upside-down cake will look beautiful on your holiday brunch table! #Easteriscoming
Sweet. Tart. Ooey. Gooey. Delicious….worth repeating. 😉
If you decide to give this recipe a whirl – I’d love your feedback and photos! Tag @ciaochowbambina on Instagram, or share to my Pinterest and Facebook page!
MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES USING CITRUS:
One Pan Roasted Citrus Glazed Salmon with Brussels Sprouts
BUON APPETITO!
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Citrus Upside-Down Sheet Cake
- Category: Dessert
Description
You are going to flip over this homemade Citrus Upside-Down Sheet Cake that is ooey-gooey, tender and buttery!
Ingredients
Topping
2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 cup packed light brown sugar
5 – 6 oranges and grapefruit, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds (I used blood oranges, ruby red grapefruits and navel oranges)
Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 13 x 9 metal baking pan with nonstick baking spray and flour.
For the topping: Pour melted butter in the prepared pan. Evenly sprinkle with brown sugar and then arrange the peeled citrus slices on the brown sugar.
For the cake: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla to the flour mixture.
Using an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat for 1 minute until blended. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl with a spatula. Beat on medium speed for 1 more minute.
Carefully pour batter over citrus and spread evenly.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
Immediately run a knife around edge of pan.
Place a large platter over pan and, pressing platter and pan together, invert cake onto platter (I used the bottom side of a cookie sheet). Replace any topping that may have stuck to the pan.
Let cool for 15 minutes and serve warm, or cool completely and serve at room temperature.
This is my kind of bouquet, Annie! Just look at all of those gorgeous colors! And we’re all about citrus right now so this is a timely treat! Have a lovely weekend, my friend!
Thank you, Marissa! Can’t get enough citrus these days!
Yum, yum, yum, Annie – I love this cake. The citrus topping is amazing – so colorful and pretty! It’s perfect for these dreary winter days – a little colorful pick me up!
That is the sound I make while munching on this cake – yumyumyum!! Thank you, friend!
Annie, this cake is absolutely gorgeous! The colors are stunning! I somehow missed the citrus upside down cakes on the web, but yours sure got my attention. It’s lovely!
Thank you so much, Kelly!!
It is citrus harvest season in our town and this would be a terrific way to use some of the just picked fruit. Love the color!
These colors make my eyes happy! Thanks, friend!
This is so bright and fresh! What a beautiful presentation and team of flavors, I love that you included grapefruit. Pinned! 🙂 Take care.
Don’t you just love grapefruit? Thanks, friend!
This cake is a great looking cake, so full of flavors with all those citrus fruits. All those fruits are in peak season too!
They sure are! Can’t beat a fruit in season!!
This looks absolutely stunning – I love the colours of the citrus, and I am a huge fan of any recipe that has citrus as a feature. I will be enjoying this soon, without a doubt!
Hi Alexandra! That is music to my ears! Thank you! Enjoy!
I’m swooning! This cake looks so soft and moist – all the heart eyes! I have been noticing all of the upside down cakes trending lately. Yours is a welcome addition!
Awh! Thanks, pal! Can’t resist a good cake!
Stunning and easy to make on top of that. Looks like I’ve no excuse:) Pinned!
No excuse! none. zip. niente.
This upside down cake is a beauty Annie! I’ve been devouring all things citrus for weeks, and the mix of citrus fruit in this one is just perfect! I love that first shot in your post too!
Thank you, friend! Nothing like citrus to help get us through the cold days!
I too can’t resist the gorgeous citrus fruits now at the markets. They brighten up these cold winter days. This upside down cake must taste as good as it looks!
This does taste prettyyy good, if I do say so myself! 😉 Thank you, my friend! Have a lovely day!
This cake is an absolute stunner! I’m gaping at the pictures. If there’s a better way to celebrate citrus, I can’t imagine what it is!
Upside-down cakes have a way of collecting all the heart eyes! Thank you, my friend!!
Wow! So pretty and no doubt delicious 🙂 I’m all about the citrus right now, too. Can’t stop dreaming up things to do with it. Putting this one on the list, for sure!
Citrus cakes always make me happy! Thanks, friend! Enjoy!
Oh my goodness! This is gorgeous!!! Citrus to me says sunshine and right now I could use a huge dose of sunshine….which translates to a huge slice of cake! 🙂
Cake = Sunshine! I couldn’t agree more! Thanks, my friend!
Nothing better than a citrus cake to brighten up the winter Annie! The colors! Just beautiful! And I’m sure, just as delicious! Need to add to my baking list for sure!
This one’s a keeper! So simple and presentational! We love it! Thanks, Mary Ann!
This has got to be the prettiest cake!! I just had to stare at it for a little bit before moving on. So pretty, Annie!! This certainly would brighten anyone’s day, especially in the middle of winter! Pinned! Happy Monday to ya 😉 XOXO
Thank you! You can’t go wrong with citrus! Baked or fresh – always so bright and pretty! Happy Monday! XOXO