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Pick-your-own-fruit upside-down cake

One cake mix; three fruity flavour combos. This fun upside-down cake is totally customisable. Whip up a simple vanilla sponge, then top with whatever fruity pairing takes your fancy. We’ve got a classic peach bake with sprigs of thyme, an indulgent cherry and white chocolate number, or a plum with orange-infused honey if you want to try something new. Take your pick!

  1. Vanilla and almond cake mix recipe

    Serves 12
    Takes 1 hr plus cooling
    V Fr
    150g unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing
    150g golden caster sugar
    3 large eggs, lightly beaten
    1 tsp vanila extract
    75g self-raising flour
    75g ground almonds
    ½ tsp baking powder

    1. Whisk the butter and golden caster sugar together using a handheld electric whisk for 2-3 mins until soft and fluffy, then whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Gently fold the flour, almonds and baking powder into the cake mixture until just combined. Continue following the recipe method from your fruit of choice below.

  2. Peach and thyme

    350g large peaches, stoned and cut into 1cm slices
    60g light brown soft sugar
    5 thyme sprigs, two with leaves stripped
    clotted cream or crème fraîche, to serve

    1. Heat the oven to gas 4, 180°C, fan 160°C. Grease and line the base of a 20cm loose-bottomed nonstick cake tin, then grease the top of the baking paper too. Toss the peaches with the brown sugar and arrange the whole thyme sprigs on the bottom of the tin. Arrange the peach slices in concentric circles over the bottom of the cake tin and scatter over any remaining sugar and the remaining thyme leaves.

    2. Carefully spread the cake batter over the peaches and bake in the oven for 40-45 mins until golden and a knife inserted into the centre of the sponge comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 mins before turning out onto a wire rack to cool until just warm, before serving with clotted cream or crème fraîche.

  3. Cherry and white chocolate

    300g cherries, pitted and halved
    70g light brown soft sugar
    15g white chocolate, shaved with a vegetable peeler
    clotted cream or crème fraîche, to serve

    1. Heat the oven to gas 4, 180°C, fan 160°C. Grease and line the base of a 20cm loose-bottomed nonstick cake tin and grease the top of the baking paper too. Toss the cherries with the brown sugar and arrange cut-side down over the bottom of the cake tin.

    2. Carefully spread the cake batter over the cherries and bake in the oven for 40-45 mins until golden and a knife inserted into the centre of the sponge comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 mins before turning out onto a wire rack to cool until just warm, before serving with the white chocolate shavings and clotted cream or crème fraîche.

  4. Plum and orange-infused honey

    450g plums, stoned and halved
    60g light brown soft sugar
    80g runny honey
    ½ orange, finely zested
    clotted cream or crème fraîche, to serve

    1. Heat the oven to gas 4, 180°C, fan 160°C. Grease and line the base of a 20cm loose-bottomed nonstick cake tin, then grease the top of the baking paper too. Toss the plums with the sugar and place them cut-side down into the bottom of the tin, making sure they fit snugly, then scatter over any remaining sugar.

    2. Carefully spread the cake batter over the arranged plums and bake in the oven for 45-50 mins until golden and a knife inserted into the centre of the sponge comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 mins before turning out onto a wire rack to cool until just warm.

    3. While the cake is baking, gently warm the honey with most of the orange zest until the honey has just loosened, then set aside. Drizzle over the honey and serve with dollops of clotted cream or crème fraîche and orange zest.

  5. Storage:

    The cake is best served still warm but is still delicious at room temperature. Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to a month.

    Freezing and defrosting guidelines

    In order to enjoy optimum flavour and quality, frozen items are best used within 3 months of their freezing date. For more tips on freezing and defrosting food, read our article Love Your Freezer.