Happiness Comes In The Form Of A Wonder Cake

After a week of sickness and gloom I needed a positive pick-me-up; the new song by Naughty Boy feat Emeli Sande titled "Wonder" has done just that. The first time I heard this song it instantly put a smile on my face and a fist punch in the air! I love the positive lyrics and the carnival sample beat just makes you want to stand up and clap your hands. With this new found happiness I suddenly had the urge for cake (as we all know nothing says happy more than cake). With the weather changing and Autumn well and truly kicking in I feel the need for all things warm and cosy. However with this song having such an up tempo and carnival feel I wanted to hold onto summer as long as possible...this inspired my pineapple, mango and cinnamon upside-down cake. This cake has all you need with a warm sponge spiced with cinnamon and once flipped out the colours of the sunshine from the pineapple and mango will slap those winter blues right off your face!!

So here's to all things full of wonder and as the song says "this light is contagious" so is this cake and sharing a slice with those close to you is the only right thing to do.

PINEAPPLE, MANGO AND CINNAMON UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
 

Ingredients:

For the topping

·         Tinned pineapple slices (in juice)

·         Mango (peeled and cubed)

·         50g Unsalted Butter

·         50g Soft Light Brown Sugar

For the sponge

·         100g Unsalted butter

·         100g Caster Sugar

·         100g Self-Raising Flour

·         1tsp Baking Powder

·         2 eggs

·         1tsp Vanilla Extract

·         3/4tsp Cinnamon Powder

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 180C or gas mark 4. For the topping, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Line the base of your cake tin (any size or shape I used a round 20cm one), then spread the combined sugar and butter mix and a little up the sides. Arrange the pineapple and mango to any desired pattern and set aside

For the sponge combine and whisk all the ingredients into a mixing bowl (for added moisture a tip I was told is to add a few tablespoons of the pineapple juice). Spoon the mixture on top of the pineapple topping you have already prepared and bake in the oven for 35mins. Leave to stand and cool in the tin for 5 mins, then carefully turn out and remove the line paper for a neater finish.

N.B. For added cosiness I served this with custard but feel free to use ice cream if you prefer