Skillet Cake Food

SKILLET NECTARINE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high and prepare for indirect cooking: For a gas grill, turn off one or two of the center burners. On a charcoal grill, bank the coals to the sides, leaving the center open. Grill the nectarines: Toss the nectarines with the melted butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Grill over direct heat until well marked, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove to a bowl.
• Cover the grill and reduce the heat to medium or medium low (the temperature should be 350˚ F to 400˚ F). Prepare the cake: Butter a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and 2/3 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the egg and almond extract until well combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the buttermilk.
• Spread the batter in the prepared skillet. Arrange the nectarines on top, cut-side up. Place the skillet over indirect heat, cover the grill and cook, rotating the skillet halfway through, until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Beat the creme fraiche and the remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar in a medium bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Serve with the cake.

FALL APPLE SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-inch cast iron skillets with butter or prepare springform pans, making sure they're lined.
• In a small bowl, toss the apple slices in lemon juice to stop them from browning, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.
• Make the batter for the Milk and Honey Cake according to directions.
• For the Milk and Honey Cake:
• Place a large sifter or a sieve in a large bowl. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and sift.
• In a small bowl, whisk the eggs together. Set aside.
• In another small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, honey, and vanilla. Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer with beaters or a paddle attachment, beat the butter for 30 to 45 seconds on medium speed, then gradually add the sugar. When all the sugar has been added, stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Continue beating on medium speed for another 4 minutes or until light in color and fluffy.
• With the mixer still on medium speed, add the eggs 1 tablespoon at a time, over 3 minutes. If the batter curdles, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the flour to bind it back together.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the dry and wet ingredients alternately two times, starting and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined and smooth. Don't overbeat. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula to make sure it's well combined.
• Divide the batter evenly between the skillets or pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Working from the center out, gently lay the apple slices on top of the batter; leave behind any excess juice. Brush or drizzle the melted butter over the apple slices. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle evenly over the apple slices.
• Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden. A skewer may not come out completely clean due to the moisture of the apple, but it shouldn't be wet. If baked in a springform pan, let sit for 10 minutes then release and remove parchment paper.
• Serve with a dusting of confectioners' sugar and vanilla bean ice cream.

BASIC SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a 9-inch cast iron skillet over low heat. Transfer 1/2 of the melted butter to a mixing bowl, leaving remaining butter in the skillet.
• Add sugar to the mixing bowl and beat with the melted butter until well blended. Add egg and mix until well beaten. Mix in flour and vanilla. Add milk, 2 tablespoons at a time, until mixture is the consistency of pancake batter. Pour batter into the skillet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the stovetop.

PINEAPPLE-VANILLA SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Whisk together the orange juice, 1/2 cup water, honey and vanilla bean pod and seeds in a medium ovenproof skillet. Arrange the pineapple in the skillet. (It's OK if the skillet seems overcrowded; the pineapple will shrink as it cooks.) Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and cook until the pineapple is tender and the juices are reduced to a loose syrup and very bubbly, 12 to 15 minutes.
• While the pineapple cooks, pulse the flour and sugar in a food processor until combined. Add the butter, and pulse until the mixture is crumbly and moist. Add the egg, and process until the batter is combined and thick.
• Drop the batter in small mounds all over the pineapple, and roughly spread out with the back of a spoon. (It's OK if the pineapple isn't completely covered; the cake will spread as it bakes to cover.) Bake until the cake is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, and serve with ice cream.