Monday, February 16, 2015

Blueberry Upside-Down Cake



I blame the weather. I know I have no right to complain about the weather when Sheila is digging out from under eight feet of snow. I should be grateful that we haven't been socked by snow three weeks in a row. But it's 10 degrees here! Less than that with the wind chill! Now it wouldn't be a problem for me, except that I was supposed to start a diet. I haven't. And I blame the weather! Why is it that when it's coooold, I want to eat warm comforting food? Heavy stews, mac and cheese, puddings and coffeecakes?

So on Saturday, when we were taking a quick walk, we discussed food. And blueberry coffeecake won. It was what we craved! So I took a quick look through Pinterest, where it's fun to shop for recipes. And I found this Blueberry Upside-Down Cake recipe, which originally came from Canadian Living Magazine. Figures. They get some mighty cold weather in Canada!

This is a super easy recipe. If you don't bake much, or if your child wants to bake something, this recipe would be a great choice. It's hard to imagine where you might go wrong. Plus, there are steps like melting butter in the microwave and spreading the blueberries that any child could do easily.

The cake can be eaten warm or cold. When served warm, I would add a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream. I don't think that's necessary when it's eaten cold.

I measured the two cups of blueberries, and they came to exactly one 10-ounce bag of frozen blueberries. I used the optional cinnamon, which seems like quite a lot but was just right. I suspect it would be equally good with cardamom instead of cinnamon.


Blueberry Upside-Down Cake
from Canadian Living Magazine 1983

9x9 or 7.5x11 inch baking pan

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups blueberries (10 ounce bag frozen)
1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 1/3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350.

Place the brown sugar directly into the baking pan. Melt the 1/4 cup butter, pour it over the brown sugar and mix. Scatter the blueberries on top of the sugar. Sprinkle with lemon juice.

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Stir with a fork to combine and set aside. Beat the 1/2 cup butter with the 3/4 cup sugar until light. Beat in the egg and the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture in small amounts, alternating with the milk until everything is combined. Pour over the blueberries and bake at 350 for 45 - 50 minutes.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn over onto a large flat plate.

Mix melted butter and brown sugar right in the pan!
Spread the blueberries.
Makes a nice thick batter!
     
Spread on top of the blueberries.
Okay, so it cracked. No problem because that's the bottom! No one will know!
Let rest for 10 minutes after baking, then turn out of the pan.


16 comments:

  1. oh yum Krista! We don't blame you one bit for wanting this instead of lettuce and nonfat yogurt!

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    1. Thanks, Lucy! We're about to get socked with snow, so I fear the diet will be further delayed!

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  2. I hear you about the weather inspiring eating (comfort food!), not to mention cooking. I am stockpiling MLK posts. And baking. This sounds like a great addition to the list (if I can find blueberries in my freezer). Hey, more snow forecast tomorrow! And maybe next Sunday! And it was -4 this morning!! (Do you detect a note of hysteria?)

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    1. We're not up to our ears in snow yet but our temperatures are comparable. Brrr! The snow is supposed to start in earnest around noon. And we're in line for Sunday, too, except we get it a little earlier than you do, probably Saturday. Sigh. I think we should go visit someone we know and love in Key West!

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  3. We're forecast to hit 40 degrees today -- the driveway is finally clear of ice -- but that won't stop me from drooling over this!

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    1. 40 sounds like a heat wave! It's still coming down here. I think we made it up to 20!

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  4. Oh, that looks yummy! A piece would really cheer me up. We're at 20 below with the wind chill factor. We're looking at a HIGH of 7 degrees and right now it's actually 1 degree above zero.

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    1. That's worse than here! You deserve a piece of blueberry cake!

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  5. So sorry about the weather! You poor thing! Wishing you warm blankets and a warm spell. This cake looks divine!!

    Daryl / Avery

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    1. I think you would like this cake, Gluten-free, of course!

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  6. Warm blueberry cake with a dollop of ice cream? Oh my, yes! How about some ginger ice cream?
    Please all stay warm and watch out for your roofs!

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    1. Ginger ice cream? I don't think I've ever seen that anywhere. Ice cream on top would be fabulous, Libby!

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    2. Ginger ice cream is common in Maine. For some reason Maine has lots of wonderful places that make fabulous homemade ice cream.
      Here in south Florida we have next to nothing! Can anyone explain that to me?

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  7. Mmmm, this looks very good! I miss winter weather. Don't hate me! My husband and my mother don't like winter so we are in warm (too warm for me) Arizona. I am so ready for a foot of snow! And warm Blueberry Upside Down Cake would taste so good then!

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    1. LOL! I can relate, Elaine. If it weren't for the potential power outages, the shoveling, and the difficulty driving, I would love the snow. And I do think the cold temperatures are good for killing little beasties like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.

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  8. Well, it's 12 below zero where am.

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