TWD: Upside-Down Nectarine Chiffon Cake

Summer is nearly finished, yet we are still enjoying the last few weeks of summer fruits!  Juicy nectarines are the highlight of this beautiful cake.

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe is Upside-Down Nectarine Chiffon Cake.  Our hosts are Marlise (and her adorable wee twins!) of The Double Trouble Kitchen and Susan of The Little French Bakery.  Please visit their blogs to find the recipe, see their beautiful pictures, and read about their experiences with this recipe.


This is a chiffon cake recipe, which could be a daunting task if you've never made a cake in multiple steps before.  Meringue is involved.   Making streusel is involved.  Arranging fruit is involved.  And a sink FULL of dirty dishes is involved.

It's all worth it in the end! 

I wasn't hampered by the mixing of the batter or the arranging of the fruit.  What challenged me the most was flipping the cake out of the springform pan!!  Even with the proper cooling time and running a knife around the edge of the pan, the moist cake still stuck to the side in places.  Alas, the cake released with a rough edge.  We'll just call it rustic.  ;)

The recipe called for a 10 inch springform pan.  Instead, I used my 9 inch square springform pan, and it worked perfectly.

I loved the beauty of the nectarines, nestled into melted butter and brown sugar.

The cake did sink a little in the center as it cooled, but with a sprinkling of streusel, it looked beautiful, and ready to be served.

This corner piece was calling to me.  Sweet nectarine.  Warm cake.  Crunchy streusel.  Sticky caramel.

My family enjoyed this recipe and we all look forward to trying it again with another fruit.  Perhaps pears or plums or even apples!

Please visit Marlise and Susan and print the recipe.  Make this for your family, or invite your neighbors over for coffee and dessert!  You'll be glad you did!