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Friday, October 27, 2023

Homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe - Dessert Review

We recently celebrated my father's birthday. When I was going through my recipes, trying to select a cake to bake for him, I remembered his love of pineapple. I decided to return to an old favorite and made a homemade pineapple upside down cake.

For this birthday celebration cake, I made a vanilla cake batter from scratch with pineapple juice instead of milk/buttermilk.

I used a 10" Cast Iron Skillet, which I cleaned before I started. I didn't want the taste of bacon grease or other residue transferring to my cake.

As always, I also pre-measured each ingredient before I started. It is amazing how much salt and sugar look alike when sitting on top of flour. Or how much baking soda can look like baking powder once you start mixing ingredients together.

Here is my recipe and the directions to make my pineapple upside down cake exactly as you see it in the photo.

By the way, the cake was such a hit with the entire family, I will be making it again very soon.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe by Sylvestermouse
ReviewThisReviews.com

Prep Time	Cook Time	Cool Time	Ready In	Yields
20 min.	40-50 min.	60 min.	2 hrs.	8 - 10 servings

Before You Start - set out butter, eggs, sour cream, & milk to warm to room temperature (approx. 30 minutes)

Ingredients - Cake Batter

• 1½ cups Cake Flour (I use Swans Down Cake Flour)

• ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda

• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder

• ½ teaspoon Salt

• 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, soften to room temperature

• ¾ Cup of Sugar

• 2 Egg Whites (large eggs)

• ⅓ Cup of Sour Cream

• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

• 2 Tablespoons Milk (room temperature)

• ¼ - ½ cup Pineapple Juice (juice the pineapple slices were canned in - save any remaining pineapple juice)

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine dry ingredients: cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside

2. In a separate bowl, beat the butter with a mixer on high until creamy. Slowly add the sugar, beating on high until creamy again. Beat in egg whites. Then, beat in sour cream and vanilla extract.

3. Pour the dry ingredients (bowl 1) into the wet ingredients (bowl 2) and blend together on low speed. Continue using the mixer on low and slowly add the pineapple juice and milk. Mix on low until well blended.

Ingredients - Top of Cake

• Canned Pineapple Slices - 7 slices (2 - 8oz cans) for 10" cast iron skillet

• Maraschino Cherries - I use 19 cherries

• 1½ Sticks (12 Tablespoons) of Butter

• Brown Sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. (Convection Oven 325°F)

2. Mix the Cake Batter (recipe above)

3. Melt 1½ Sticks (12 Tablespoons) Butter in the Skillet in the Oven

4. Generously Sprinkle Melted Butter with Brown Sugar

5. Place Drained Pineapple Slices on the Top of Brown Sugar

6. Add Maraschino Cherries in the center of each Pineapple Slice and between the slices (if desired)

7. Carefully Pour the Cake Batter into the Skillet on Top of the Pineapple & Cherries

8. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes (toothpick to center will come out clean when done)

9. Cool for 15 minutes, then turn out cake unto a large plate

I did take the remaining pineapple juice and spooned it onto the bottom and the top of the cake for a little extra pineapple taste. It was delicious!

Swans Down Cake Flour, 32 Oz

Dole Canned Fruit, Pineapple Slices in 100% Pineapple Juice, Gluten Free, Pantry Staples, 8 Oz, 12 Count

See the Items I Use For Pre-measuring in the Following Reviews:

Cooking & Baking Prep Tools: Shot Glasses Used As Pinch Bowls Set of Stainless Steel Stackable Magnetic Measuring Spoons Reviewed Mini Increment Measuring Spoons for Tad, Dash, Pinch, Smidgen & Drop

Check Out More Recipe Reviews at
ReviewThisRecipes.com

Homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe Written by:

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Friday, October 20, 2023

How to Easily Cut a Cake into Layers Reviewed

My husband bakes a delicious lemon cake for my birthday each year. Last year, he commented that he would like to put more frosting on the cake and we discussed cutting the cake into layers the next time he made one. In preparation for the event, I purchased a set of Layer Cake Slicer & Leveler Clamp Guides for Cutting Cakes into Layers. When he baked the cakes this year, we put the guides to the test.

We clamped a guide on each end of our Dexter-Russell 12" Scalloped Slicer Knife, placed the knife halfway up the cake layer and started cutting. The guides worked great!

I have been cutting cakes into layers for years by simply using my long chef's knife. I would be the first to admit that my cut may not always be level, but it allows me to add more frosting in the cake.

In the future, I will be using the cake slicer guides. They certainly make a very level cut through the cake.

Recommended Cake Layer Cutting Knife Guides

4Pack DIY Cake Leveler Slicer Cutter, 5 Different Thicknesses Layers Stratification Auxiliary Bread Toast Slice Kitchen Fixator Tool (Pink + Green)

I am amazed by how much difference these inexpensive knife guides make when cutting a cake into layers. Without them, my cake layers have often been a little slanted. That never really mattered to me, or at least I didn't think it mattered to me, because I was covering the cake with frosting. After seeing how perfect my husband's cake layers looked, I will no longer be satisfied to have a slanting cake layer.

Because the kitchen counter is level, we placed a piece of wax paper on it, then set the cake on the wax paper. We placed a piece of folded wax paper on the top of the cake so we could put a hand on the cake to hold it in place while cutting it. Then, we clamped the guides on each end of the knife and started cutting.

Because the knife guides have 5 positions, you could cut at different levels, or perhaps cut a cake layer into several layers. We simply wanted to cut ours in half.

Wow! It really is awesome to have this beautiful, level cake layer.

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Dessert Reviews for National Dessert Day

National Dessert Day is celebrated each year on October 14th in the middle of National Dessert Month (October). October is known as the month of sweets (think Halloween Candy!), so having a dessert month & day fits right in.

The contributors to Review This Reviews have written many reviews of various types of desserts, any one of which would be a tasty treat for after dinner, an after school snack or a bedtime snack. Whether you are partial to cakes, cupcakes, pies, cookies, or ice cream ~ or perhaps a taste of chocolate candy ~ you will find reviews of many special desserts and dessert days (some with recipes) as you read down the page.

Let Them Eat Cake!

The well-known French saying Let Them Eat Cake! can be taken to heart on many cake ~ and cupcake ~ days throughout the year. The exact dates we love to celebrate particular kinds of cakes/cupcakes can be found in this fun review: Cakes and Cupcakes Special Days

A recipe for very tasty Carrot Cake Cupcakes can be found here.

If regular cakes are not your 'thing', how about a tasty cheesecake recipe?

Pies Galore!

If you prefer pie, there are many Pie Days to celebrate throughout the year, one of which may be your favorite. Mine is chocolate, which does not appear to have it's own special day ~ but should! :) The list of many special pie days can be found in this review of National Pie Day celebrated on January 23rd.

Another Pie review is for National Cherry Pie Day celebrated around President's Day each February.

Or a favorite of mine, a Key-Lime Pie recipe.

Cookie Monster!

If 'cookies' are your thing, you are in exactly the right month, as October is National Cookie Month!

If Brownies are your favorite type of cookie, here's a delicious recipe for celebrating National Brownie Day on December 8th.

Chocoholics Rejoice!

If you love chocolate, you are in for a treat with this list of Chocolate Days in July!

Fruits for Dessert

If fruits are your preferred dessert of choice, check out Pineapple Day on June 27th.

There's also Watermelon Day on August 3rd.

And Banana Day on April 20th

Plus, the ever popular Chocolate Covered Fruit recipes.

Keto-Friendly Desserts

And last, but certainly not least, before you despair because your dietary restrictions won't allow you celebrate National Dessert Day, here is a list of Keto-Friendly dessert recipes.

Dessert Day Summary

One of my favorite online blogs is the website Dinner, Then Dessert, where you will find a whole bunch of yummy dessert recipes. Read the review of Dinner, Then Dessert here.

Remember, calories don't count on Dessert Day, so indulge with your favorite choice.

A Delicious Dessert Cookbook
Found on Amazon

Happy Dessert Day!
October 14

*National Dessert Day review is written by Wednesday Elf

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Saturday, September 25, 2021

Cakes and Cupcakes Special Days and Reviews

There are a multitude of special days (those wacky, weird, humorous and fun days) throughout the year devoted to various kinds of cakes and cupcakes. The Contributors to this Review This Reviews site have also reviewed and shared a number of recipes of their favorites.

A compilation of these yummy dessert recipes and the days that are set aside to recognize them are featured in this article.

What is the Difference Between a Cake and Cupcakes?

There are only two differences ~ the type of pan you use to bake them, and the amount of time they spend in the oven.

*Some terms used for cupcakes – snack cake, mini-cake, Fairy Cake, Patty Cake.

Cake Holidays

Source: Pixabay

List of National Cake Holidays:

National Cake Month - February
National Chocolate Cake Day - January 27
National Carrot Cake Day - February 3
National Poundcake Day - March 4
National Blackforest Cake Day - March 28
National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day - March 29
National Coffee Cake Day - April 7
National Hazelnut Cake Day - June 1
National Applesauce Cake Day - June 6
National German Chocolate Cake Day - June 12
National Strawberry Shortcake Day - June 14
National Spongecake Day - August 23
National Angel Food Cake Day - October 10
National Cake Day - November 26
National Fruitcake Day -December 27
National Sacher Torte Day -December 5

Cupcake Holidays

List of National Cupcake Holidays:

Hostess Cupcake Day – May 10
Chocolate Cupcake Day – October 18
National Vanilla Cupcake Day - November 10
National Cupcake Day – December 15

Source: Pixabay

*NOTE: One of the most famous and popular cupcakes is the Hostess Cupcake. Check out this recipe for homemade Hostess Cupcakes. It is found on the blog Love, Life & Sugar by Lindsay.

Cake & Cupcake Recipes by the ReviewThisReviews Contributors

One of the RTR Contributors – the leader of the pack we all affectionately call “Mouse” - SylvesterMouse Cynthia, is our 'go-to' expert on getting fancy and having fun with cakes and cupcakes. In addition to numerous recipes Mouse has shared here on Review This Reviews, she has also featured several on her own blog sites. See a few below:

Snake Cake by Sylvestermouse

For an extra fun cake, see this (How to Decorate) Snake Cake by Sylvestermouse on her Cooking for the Holidays website.

Halloween Ghost Castle Cake by Sylvestermouse

Halloween Ghost Cake by Sylvestermouse

Plus, her Halloween Ghost Castle Cake on the Sylvestermouse Halloween Haven website.

Spooky Spider Cupcakes by Sylvestermouse

Photo courtesy of Fun Food

Then there is her Spooky Spider Cupcakes

And how about making a fancy cake design using cupcakes in the Sylvestermouse review of the Cupcake Cakes Cookbook?

More Delicious Cake & Cupcake Recipes & Reviews on Review This

Carrot Cake Cupcakes Recipe by Sylvestermouse.
A detailed review of National Vanilla Cupcake Day by Wednesday Elf
Best One-Bowl Chocolate Cake by Barbara Tremblay Cipak
For those whose diet regimen won't allow them to indulge in the above 'sweet treats', Margaret Schindel saves the day with Low Carb Muffins and Cupcakes: Treats to Enjoy on a Keto Diet.
Check out these instructions for easy stenciled cupcakes for Halloween, once again by Sylvestermouse (who loves to bake and decorate cakes and cupcakes).

Summary

So anytime you wish to indulge in a sweet treat in the cake & cupcake family, check out one of the above recipes or have a cake dessert day to celebrate one of the cake/cupcake holidays found all year long.