FOOD FRIDAY - PINEAPPLE CAKE

“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.” - Mark Twain
 
Spring has definitely sprung in Melbourne, with the temperature climbing to 27˚C yesterday, which was a bit of a shock to everyone’s system as the weather has been long and cold. This is the first really warm day we have had for months and the sun was quite hot in the open. However, true to the changeable nature of the weather in Melbourne, the clouds billowed in and there's a bit of a stormy start to the day today with the weather going back to its usual 15˚C-16˚C maxima over the next few days.
 
For Food Friday today, here is a definite favourite of ours, which while being an everyday simple cake it can also look quite good at a formal afternoon tea party or even as a dessert at a dinner party.
 
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
 
Ingredients
440g can pineapple slices in juice
2 tsp orange essence
1 tbsp orange liqueur
Glacé cherries
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
100g butter, softened
1/2 cup caster sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 and 1/4 cups self-raising flour, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
Double cream to serve (optional)
 
Method
Mix the orange essence and orange liqueur with the juice of the pineapple while it is still in the can and let is stand for about an hour.
Preheat fan-forced oven to 180°C. Grease a 6cm-deep, 20cm (base) round ring pan. Line base with baking paper.
Drain pineapple, reserving 2 tablespoons juice. Cut each pineapple piece in quarters.
Sprinkle brown sugar over base of baking upside-down prepared pan. Arrange the pineapple pieces, just touching, over sugar and place glacé cherries at strategic points.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter and caster sugar for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add vanilla essence.
Add flour and reserved pineapple juice. Stir to combine. Spread mixture over pineapple.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted in cake comes out clean. Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
Serve with double cream on the side if desired.
 
This post is part of the Food Friday meme,
and also part of the Food Trip Friday meme.