The Best Classic & Easy Peach Upside-Down Cake

Are you ready for a little bit of delicious kitchen magic? A cake that you assemble and bake upside down and then, with one dramatic and satisfying flip, reveal a stunning, jewel-like topping of perfectly caramelized peaches nestled in a rich brown sugar glaze? This classic, nostalgic, and surprisingly easy Peach Upside-Down Cake is a timeless masterpiece that is as fun to make as it is to eat.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a celebration of summer and a tribute to a beloved baking tradition. We’ll show you how to create a simple, foolproof caramel topping right in the bottom of the pan, and how to whip up a moist, tender, and buttery vanilla cake batter to pour over the top. As it bakes, the caramel and peach juices soak into the cake, creating a dessert that is unbelievably delicious and a guaranteed showstopper.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: A Timeless, Show-Stopping Classic

What makes a Peach Upside-Down Cake a perennial favorite is its beautiful, rustic presentation and its incredible, built-in topping. The method is simple: the topping goes in the pan first, and the cake bakes on top of it. The grand finale is “the flip,” which reveals the beautiful pattern of caramelized peaches. This recipe creates an exceptionally moist and tender cake, thanks to the brown sugar and butter glaze that it absorbs during baking.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	55 minutes
Active Prep Time	20 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	9

The Essential Ingredients for a Perfect Cake

This recipe uses a handful of simple, classic pantry staples to create a truly spectacular dessert.

• Fresh Peaches: The sweet, juicy star of the show. For the absolute best flavor and texture, you want to use fresh, ripe, yet still firm peaches. This will ensure they become tender and jammy during baking without turning into a soupy mush. We’ll show you the easiest way to peel them below!
• The Caramel Topping: This is the simple, foolproof glaze that forms in the bottom of the pan.
  • Butter & Light Brown Sugar: Melted butter and packed light brown sugar are the classic duo that melts and bubbles together in the oven, creating a rich, buttery, and perfectly sweet caramel sauce.
  • Ground Nutmeg: A pinch of ground nutmeg adds a lovely, warm, and aromatic spice note that is a classic and perfect pairing with baked peaches.
• The Butter Cake Batter: This is a classic, simple, and tender vanilla cake that is the perfect vehicle for the rich topping. It’s made with pantry staples: softened butter, white sugar, a large egg, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and milk.

Pro Tutorial: The Easiest Way to Peel Peaches

The recipe calls for peeled peaches for the best texture. The “blanching” method is a game-changer!

1. Prep: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and prepare a large bowl of ice water on the side.
2. Score: Use a small knife to gently score a shallow “X” on the bottom of each peach.
3. Blanch: Carefully lower the peaches into the boiling water for just 30 to 60 seconds.
4. Shock: Immediately use a slotted spoon to transfer the peaches from the boiling water to the ice water bath. This stops the cooking process.
5. Peel: Once the peaches are cool enough to handle, you can use your fingers or a small knife to easily peel the skin away. It should slip right off!

Step-by-Step to a Perfect Peach Upside-Down Cake

Follow these simple, detailed steps to create this stunning and delicious classic cake.

Part 1: The Caramelized Peach Topping

Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2: Place the 1/4 cup of butter in an 8-inch square pan. Place the pan in the preheating oven for a few minutes, just until the butter is completely melted.

Step 3: Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven. Sprinkle the 1/2 cup of packed light brown sugar and the 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg evenly over the melted butter.

Step 4: Prepare your fresh peaches by peeling, pitting, and halving them. Arrange the 5 peach halves, cut-side down, in a neat pattern in the brown sugar mixture in the pan. Set the pan aside while you make the cake batter.

Part 2: The Classic Butter Cake Batter

Step 1: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the 1/2 cup of softened butter and the 1/2 cup of white sugar. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is light in color and fluffy in texture.

Step 2: Beat in the large egg until it is well combined.

Step 3: In a separate, small bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, the baking powder, and the salt.

Step 4: Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the milk. Start and end with the flour mixture (add one-third of the flour, then half of the milk, then one-third of the flour, then the rest of the milk, and finally the rest of the flour). Beat well after each addition, but be careful not to overmix once all the ingredients are combined.

Step 5: Carefully spread the finished cake batter evenly over the top of the peaches in the pan.

Part 3: Baking and the Grand Finale—The Flip!

Step 1: Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes. The cake is done when the top is lightly browned and a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Step 2 (The Most Important Step!): Remove the cake from the oven and let it stand in the pan on a wire rack for exactly 5 minutes.

Pro Tip: This short cooling period is crucial. If you try to flip the cake immediately, it may be too fragile and could break. If you let it cool for too long in the pan, the caramel topping will cool and harden, causing the peaches to stick to the bottom of the pan. 5-10 minutes is the perfect window.

Step 3: To flip the cake, place a large serving platter or a cutting board over the top of the cake pan. Using oven mitts to protect your hands, confidently and quickly invert the pan and the platter together in one swift motion.

Step 4: Lift the pan away. The beautiful, caramelized peach topping should now be on top! If any of the peaches have stuck to the pan, you can simply use a spatula to lift them off and place them back on the cake.

Serve the cake warm.

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Serving Your Beautiful Upside-Down Cake

This cake is a stunning centerpiece all on its own. The best way to serve it is warm, cut into squares.

For the ultimate indulgent experience, serve each warm slice of Peach Upside-Down Cake with a generous dollop of fresh, sweetened whipped cream or a classic scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The cool, creamy topping is the perfect complement to the warm, buttery cake and the sweet, caramelized fruit.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

This cake is at its absolute best on the day it is made, especially when it is still slightly warm.

• Storage: Store any leftover cake, covered loosely, at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, it is best to store it in the refrigerator.
• Reheating: You can enjoy the cake at room temperature, or you can gently reheat individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to bring back that warm, fresh-from-the-oven feel.

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Creative Recipe Variations

This classic upside-down cake recipe is a fantastic base for all sorts of delicious fruit and flavor combinations.

1. Add a Berry Garnish: After you have flipped the cake, you can scatter some fresh blueberries or raspberries into the crevices between the caramelized peaches. This adds a beautiful pop of color and a lovely, tart flavor contrast.
2. Use a Different Stone Fruit: This recipe is absolutely fantastic with other summer and fall stone fruits. Try it with fresh apricot halves, sliced nectarines, or plums. A classic pineapple upside-down cake can be made by using canned pineapple rings and placing a maraschino cherry in the center of each ring.
3. Brown Butter & Bourbon Twist: For a more sophisticated, nutty, and complex flavor, you can make the topping with brown butter. Simply melt the 1/4 cup of butter in a light-colored saucepan and cook it until the milk solids turn a toasty brown and it smells nutty. You can also add 1 to 2 tablespoons of your favorite bourbon or rum to the melted butter and brown sugar for a delicious, grown-up version.

Enjoy This Timeless, Nostalgic Treat!

You’ve just created one of the most beloved and charming cakes in the American baking repertoire. This classic Peach Upside-Down Cake is a perfect harmony of sweet, caramelized fruit and a moist, tender, buttery cake. It’s a fun, impressive, and deeply satisfying dessert that is sure to bring a touch of nostalgia and a lot of smiles to your table.

We hope you and your family love every last, delicious bite!

If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a classic, homemade cake!

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