Cherry Cornmeal Upside Down Cake

Adapted from Bon Appetit, June 2008

    3/4 cup unsalted butter room temp (1.5 sticks)                 
    1/4 cup pack dark brown sugar                                  
    2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar                                   
    3 cups pitted cherry (ab. 21 oz)                      
    1 1/4 cups flour                                               
    1/4 cup cornmeal                                               
    2 teaspoons baking powder                                      
    1/4 teaspoon salt                                              
    1 cup sugar                                                    
    2 eggs separate                                                
    3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract                                   
    1/2 cup whole milk                                             
    1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar                                   


Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°F. Combine 1/4 cup butter with brown sugar and vinegar in 10- to 11-inch ovenproof skillet with 2-inch-high sides. Stir over medium heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Increase heat to high; add cherries and bring to boil. Remove from heat.

Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter in large bowl. Add sugar; beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with milk in 2 additions each, beating just until blended and occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another medium bowl until foamy. Add cream of tartar and beat until whites are stiff but not dry. Using rubber spatula, fold 1/4 of whites into batter to lighten slightly. Fold in remaining whites in 3 additions (batter will be thick). Spoon batter over cherries in skillet, then spread evenly with offset spatula to cover cherries.

Bake cake until top is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool in skillet on rack 5 minutes. Run spatula around edges of cake to loosen. Place large serving platter upside down atop skillet. Using pot holders or oven mitts, firmly hold platter and skillet together and invert. Leave skillet atop cake 5 minutes. Remove skillet. If necessary, rearrange any cherries that may have become dislodged. Let cake cool at least 45 minutes. Cut cake into wedges and serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

MY NOTE: Cake part is awesome. Love the cornmeal. Topping part needs work. Firstly, not enough caramel glaze--double it next time. Secondly, the cherries were bland. Maybe sour cherries? Or a splash of brandy or cherry liqueur. Or both. Any fruit topping would work here. Overall, tasty, but not amazing.

MXF