Definition

Noun: A skillet cake is a type of cake where batter is baked directly on top of a layer of sweetened fruit in a skillet. After baking, the cake is inverted (turned upside down) so that the cooked fruit layer becomes the topping.

Examples of Usage

• For dessert, she made a delicious skillet cake with caramelized peaches.
• The recipe for pineapple skillet cake is simple and requires only one pan.
• We enjoyed a warm apple skillet cake straight from the oven.

Advanced Usage

• The term skillet cake is often used interchangeably with "upside-down cake," specifying the cooking vessel. The defining characteristic is the inversion after baking to reveal the fruit topping.
  • While similar to an upside-down cake, a true skillet cake is traditionally made in a cast-iron skillet, which gives it a unique crust.

Variants and Related Words

• Upside-down cake (n): A more general term for any cake baked with toppings (often fruit) at the bottom and then inverted for serving. A skillet cake is a type of upside-down cake.
• Tarte Tatin (n): A French dessert of caramelized fruit baked under a pastry crust, which is also inverted after baking. It is a specific, pastry-based cousin of the skillet cake.

Synonyms

• Upside-down cake
• Fruit-bottom cake (descriptive)

Related Phrases

• To turn out a cake: The action of inverting a baked cake from its pan onto a plate. This is the essential final step for a skillet cake.
  • Carefully turn out the cake onto a serving platter to show the beautiful fruit top.

Noun

1. batter baked atop a layer of sweetened fruit then turned upside down so fruit is on top