Apple Upside-Down Cake

from southernliving.com

Ingredients:

Topping:

• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 2 small Honeycrisp apples, unpeeled and sliced about 1/2 inch thick (3 cups)

Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. apple pie spice
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup whole milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Gather all ingredients.
2. Prepare the Topping: Coat a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray; line bottom with parchment paper. Set aside. Heat sugar and butter in a small saucepan over medium-high, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and thick, about 3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and salt. Immediately pour sugar mixture into prepared cake pan; tilt pan to spread evenly.
4. Arrange apples in a single layer over sugar mixture; set aside.
5. Prepare the Cake: Whisk together flour, apple pie spice, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; set aside. Beat together brown sugar and butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on high speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
6. With mixer on low speed, add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla until just combined. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternating with milk and beating until just combined after each addition.
7. Pour batter over apples in pan; spread evenly.
8. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center of Cake comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Run a knife around Cake edges; let cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes.
9. Invert onto a plate; remove and discard parchment. Let cool at least 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.