Butter prevents the caramel from fully setting, giving it a pourable consistency.
Caramelization -- the simple cooking of sugars -- creates deep, complex flavors unattainable by other means. Pineapple relies on caramelization for the pleasant contrast of textures and flavors that occurs between the pineapple topping and the moist cake underneath. Pineapple upside-down cake is unique in that the glaze topping is caramelized twice. The first caramelization takes place when sugar is melted with butter to form the glaze. Then, during baking, a second caramelization occurs when the pineapples that line the bottom of the cake pan cook. The melted sugar and butter contributes a nutty, stout flavor to the cake, while the caramelized pineapples offer a lighter, spice-like sweetness.
Instructions
1. Melt 1/2 cup of unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 cup of dark brown sugar and whisk to incorporate.
2. Cook the sugar until it melts and caramelizes, approximately eight minutes. Stop stirring after the sugar melts to prevent introducing air bubbles into the caramel.
3. Pour the caramel in a 10-inch diameter non-stick cake pan. Allow the caramel to settle and arrange the pineapple rings over it in a single layer.
4. Allow the caramel to cool. Pour the batter in the cake pan and bake according to your recipe.
Tags: Allow caramel, , Pineapple upside-down cake,