Growing up, when Mom would pull out the iron skillet, we all knew there was a treat in the making! She had two sizes of skillets, a small one for the cornbread and the large one for everything else. When she put the large skillet on the cabinet, we all secretly hoped she was going to make Pineapple Upside Down Cake. It was scrumptious.
Our new cookbook Skillet Desserts is a collection of upside down cakes, seasonal crisps, cobblers, and pies all cooked in a cast-iron skillet. Oh my goodness—when the ladies in our test kitchens were preparing these dishes for photography, you wouldn’t believe the aromas drifting through our offices. One of my all-time favorites is the Orange Sweet Rolls. Those delicacies will make your heart stop. I thought nothing could top those, and then out popped the Cinnamon Rolls.
My cast-iron skillet is going to have a new life this fall. There is just something about a cast-iron skillet that means something wonderful is about to happen. Order your copy of Skillet Desserts today!
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and divided
- 2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar, divided
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 fresh pineapple, peeled and cored
- 2 cups cake flour, such as Swans Down
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons spiced rum
- 2 large eggs
- In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Add 1⁄2 cup brown sugar and 2 tablespoons water. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Cut pineapple into 1⁄4-inch-thick slices; cut slices into quarters. Arrange pineapple in an even layer in skillet. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, combine milk, vanilla, and rum.
- In a large bowl, beat remaining 6 tablespoons butter and remaining 1½cups brown sugar at medium speed with a mixer until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, beating to combine. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in thirds, alternating with milk mixture, beating until combined after each addition. Pour batter over pineapple in skillet.
- Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, approximately 1 hour. Let cool in skillet 20 minutes. Carefully invert onto a flat serving plate.
What are you favorite skillet desserts?
Comments 12
To me, nothing says home cooking like a cast iron skillet. Visions of my grandmother and mother rustling up deliciousness dance in my head. Thanks, Phyllis. Another winner!
it looks great…Janice
Hi Phyllis, please send a big thanks to Jane for providing me some very valuable info I was not aware of…My husband is anxious for the pineapple dessert…Its fun, we can learn something everyday! Must now purchase the skillet magazine….Carmel
In regards to the lady with the glass top cook top- I have one and this is how I use my great-grandmother’s iron skillet. Because I REFUSE to give it up. I mean how else do you make cornbread, brown the ground beef,sear the fillets,etc-don’t get me started. You take a large piece of heavy duty foil and wrap the entire bottom & up the sides of the skillet . This way you won’t scratch the glass and also you have those years of fat that bakes on running down onto the glass (they don’t come off very easily). Just don’t move the skillet around on the burner,keep it still or you can make a few little tiny scratches. There’s the greatest product alive to clean your glass top: EARTH BRITE. It’s a clay based natural cleaner, and it will clean every single thing on your cooktop-also your stainless sink,and on & on. So enjoy your iron skillet and your glass cooktop-myself and my 2 daughters do !!
Hi Phyllis, What is the oven temperature? I’ve always wanted to cook with skillet cookware but now have an electric oven. As far as stovetop cooking I believe it would scrape the glass surface. I’m going to purchase a 10 inch skillet and try your yummy dessert. Sound great for this fall coming up officially this month. Also, thanks for bring back child hood memories of camping and Mom at the skillet, I can still smell the bacon and eggs! Carmel
Orange Sweet Rolls do sound wonderful. My grandmother used to keep an iron skillet on top of her stove and she would “bake” her biscuits on top of the stove in it. They would come out great. She lived to be 90 and if she were here today, she would be 108. I have wonderful memories of her.
My skillet cornbread is a family favorite and my go to anytime….good for bread or a great dessert with maple syrup poured over. The best !!!!!!! And I’m a northern girl but I love an iron skillet. This dessert cookbook is a must. Happy Cookin’
I made the apple pie you featured here a few weeks ago and our company said it was the best ever! I might have to check this book out.
Does the skillet get put in the oven for the pineapple upside down cake? The recipe refers to baking for an hour; however, I do not see an oven temperature. I have never done skillet cooking – so not sure if it is stovetop or oven? Obviously, I am a northern girl!
Where can you buy Earth Brite? I live in Texas.
I have to agree pineapple upside down cake is one of our favorites and my new son in law ask me to make “that dessert with fruit all over it”. I finally realized it was pineapple upside down cake.
Skillet pineapple upside down cake sounds and looks delicious, and cinnamon rolls are a favorite in our family! Looks like a must for us, Phyllis ~