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Apple Upside-Down Biscuits Recipe

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Apple Upside-Down Biscuit Recipe

A couple of weeks ago, I introduced you to Pam Anderson (no, not that one) and her new cookbook, Perfect One-Dish Dinners: All You Need for Easy Get-Togethers. I followed her Spicy Coconut Shrimp Stew recipe to a T and it quickly became one of our favorite dishes for both weeknight meals and entertaining. When I was at the BlogHer Food conference in San Francisco last weekend, I had a chance to meet Pam and her daughter, Maggy (her other daughter, Sharon, was also there but we never met). Not only is this a group of very talented women, but they are kind and genuine to the core. At one of the BlogHer parties, I received a copy of Pam’s book and, since I already have a copy in my kitchen, I am giving this beautiful book, filled with accessible recipes, to one of you. (See below for more details.)

This recipe is a spin-off of Pam’s Pineapple Upside-Down Biscuits. One of my boys is not a big pineapple fan, so I replaced it with Gala apples and toss in some nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemon juice to make up for the acidity and flavor of the missing pineapple. The apples are laid over top of a layer of brown sugar and butter – that speaks for itself. The apples are then covered with light buttermilk biscuits, baked to a golden brown, and flipped out onto a serving platter for an oozing, caramel-filled presentation. Topped with ice cream, which slowly melts over the warm biscuits, this dessert is simply irresistible.

AppleUDBiscuits1

In a small saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar. Cook, stirring, until a spreadable mixture forms. Spread the mixture on the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan.

Heat butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add sliced apples, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and starting to caramelize. Remove from the heat and stir in fresh lemon juice. Arrange the apples in the cake pan, on top of the brown sugar mixture.

AppleUDBiscuits2

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Grate in frozen butter and immediately rub the butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips. Once the mixture resembles a coarse meal, toss in the buttermilk with a fork until combined. Sprinkle very small amounts of buttermilk on any dry areas and toss again with the fork.

AppleUDBiscuits3

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Using your figures, pinch the dough into 10 round biscuits. Arrange on top of the apples.

AppleUDBiscuits4

Bake until the biscuits are golden brown, about 30 minutes.

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Immediately invert onto serving platter. Using a spoon, serve immediately. Top each serving with a scoop of ice cream.

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Other apple desserts:

Cookin’ Canuck’s Apple & Cheddar Cheese Turnovers with Dried Cranberries & Hazelnuts
The Pioneer Woman’s Apple Dumplings
The Kitchn’s Sticky Spiked Double-Apple Cake with a Brown Sugar-Brandy Sauce
Ezra Pound Cake’s Southern Comfort Caramel Apple Pie

Apple Upside-Down Biscuits

Print Pin Rate
Course: Breads, Desserts
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pies, Crisps, and Cobblers
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 358kcal
Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 large Gala apples about 12 oz., cut in half, cored & thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter frozen
  • 1 cup cold buttermilk plus a few extra teaspoons if necessary

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar. Cook, stirring, until a spreadable mixture forms. Spread the mixture on the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan.
  • Heat butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add sliced apples, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and starting to caramelize. Remove from the heat and stir in fresh lemon juice. Arrange the apples in the cake pan, on top of the brown sugar mixture.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Grate in frozen butter and immediately rub the butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips. Once the mixture resembles a coarse meal, toss in the buttermilk with a fork until combined. Sprinkle very small amounts of buttermilk on any dry areas and toss again with the fork.
  • Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Using your figures, pinch the dough into 10 round biscuits. Arrange on top of the apples.
  • Bake until the biscuits are golden brown, about 30 minutes. Immediately invert onto serving platter. Using a spoon, serve immediately. Top each serving with a scoop of ice cream.

Notes

Adapted from Perfect One-Dish Dinners by Pam Anderson

Nutrition

Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 505IU | Vitamin C: 1.8mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 1.7mg
Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: This book was given to me at no charge. All opinions are my own. This post contains links to my Amazon affiliate page. Any revenue made from sales through these links helps to support this blog. Thank you!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot

    Awesome idea! I honestly prefer your apple version to a pineapple one. Love the frozen butter method too. I'm crossing my fingers for the cookbook!

    Reply

  4. Becky at VintageMixer

    yum! that is all I have to say.

    Oh and apples are on sale at the Sunflower Market so I will be making this very soon!

    Reply

  5. Kathy - Panini Happy

    Those biscuits look amazing. I've been hearing so many great this about this cookbook, I'd love to win a copy. It was lovely to meet you last weekend, Dara!

    Reply

  11. Pegasuslegend

    one of our fav's I make this often yours looks wonderful and the kids got to love this its my boys favorite!

    Reply

  14. Corinne

    Ive been baking every weekend since the arrival of Fall and just this morning I was trying to think of something I would try this weekend – I just found it! 🙂

    Reply

  17. ravienomnoms

    Oh my, that is just so beautiful! The first picture looks like it should be in a magazine, gorgeous!

    Reply

  21. Mother Rimmy

    What a perfect dish to use up the season's fresh apples! Sounds like you had a great time at the conference. 🙂

    Reply

  22. Cathy B. @ Brightbakes

    wow…this looks like "autumn-in-a-bowl"…serious yum!
    love,
    Cathy B. @ brightbakes

    p.s.when I grow up i want my food photos to look as good as yours 🙂

    Reply

  23. Christine S

    I love apples…especially in the fall. I can't wait to try this upside down biscuit recipe. Combining two of my favourites.

    Reply

  24. Kristen

    I already have the book, so you don't need to put me in the giveaway, but I had to comment on how gorgeous these look. Your photos are breathtaking!

    Reply

  25. Heather

    Oh my! These sound heavenly Dara! And perfect for a autumn breakfast. I have heard great things about Pam's cookbook. Thanks for the chance to win it. So exciting!
    It was really great meeting you last weekend. I enjoyed talking to you on Saturday morning during breakfast. I just wish we had more time. Hopefully we will get the chance to talk again soon.

    Reply

  26. Jane

    What an excellent idea. I love both apple desserts and biscuits (hot out of the oven) but would have never thought about combining them.

    Reply

  29. Barbara l Vino Luci Style

    Just when I thought I had made enough fall desserts with apple, I spy one more. Nothing quite like the combination of apple, brown sugar and a crusty sweet dough, in any derivation!

    Reply

  30. Barbara l Vino Luci Style

    Just when I thought I had made enough fall desserts with apple, I spy one more. Nothing quite like the combination of apple, brown sugar and a crusty sweet dough, in any derivation!

    Reply

  34. Alicia

    I can't imagine this WITHOUT apple…my oh my how I love desserts with apple in them (or rather, anything with apple in them). The honeycrisps in Ontario right now could feed a small family they are so large (yet surprisingly still delicious!)

    Reply

  38. abby mumford

    i agree with your son. down with pineapple! which means i am SUPER glad to see this recipe with something so delicious as apples.

    with each recipe i read of yours, it nudges me closer and closer to the kitchen. this one might get me to turn the oven on. 🙂

    Reply

  39. Jen Ben

    Ok, so beside the fact that this dessert looks yum-0, any cookbook with "one-dish" and "easy" in the title is a book for me. With 2 young children and a hectic household, I'm desperate for "easy"…and not just a cookbook listing 10 different ways to serve chicken fingers and ketchup!

    Reply

  41. Yeni

    Wow, this looks amazing. It's probably something to share with others as quickly as possible (before I eat it all)!

    Reply

  42. Danielle

    Oh my gosh! This looks fantastic. It's one of those things that makes me think, "why didn't I think of that?!" Yum!!

    Reply

  49. laura @ a little barefoot

    this looks magnificent! i am totally addicted to apples right now and this is a great excuse to get more!

    Reply

  50. Fromagette

    This looks WAY easier than the upsidedown apple cake I plan for this weekend…love that the biscuits aren't cooked separately as I initially thought…YUM.

    Reply

  55. Liz

    I picked 20 lbs. of apples last weekend and have been in search of a new recipe; can't wait to try this!

    Reply

  59. suburban prep

    My favorite Fall Fruit.
    Love going apple picking and making all sorts of goodies.
    Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

  60. Our Family Eats

    This sounds great! I've bookmarked it for later. I've heard so many great things about Pam's book – I will have to put it on my list too!

    Reply

  61. Monet

    How beautiful! I adore baked apple desserts, and between your pictures and your description, this sounds out of this world! Thank you for the kind words on my blog…your thoughts are so appreciated!

    Reply

  63. marla {family fresh cooking}

    Of course this upside down apple biscuit dessert is delish! Love that you give it a flip to get it out of the pan. I would be licking the pan & eating the biscuits all at the same time. GORGEOUS photo on the top!

    Reply

  67. Fayanne

    Now I just need to get some vanilla ice cream! I love apples and cinnamon, and I know my boys would love this, too.

    Reply

  68. Julie

    This dessert looks delicious! I always enjoy your blog… I'm planning to try your recipe for spaghetti squash with chipotle chiles tonight.

    Reply

  73. GreenGirl

    What a great recipe. I'm not a big fan of pineapple upside down cake either. I picked some apples today from the farm and as soon as I have some free time I'll make it. Thanks for sharing

    Reply

  74. Susan

    This recipe sounds and LOOKS delicious. Like your child, both of my sons would prefer apple. I saved the printable version and I am seriously considering this as tomorrow's Sunday brunch… And I just happen to have a nice bag of organic apples!!

    Thank you for the opportunity to win the book. Seriously, who doesn't LOVE cookbooks?

    Reply

  76. Drick

    such a great recipe and like most, prefer the apples too – like grating the frozen butter, have not thought of that one

    Reply

  91. Nicole W

    I just found your site and from one Canuck to another, I absolutely love it! I can't wait to make these biscuits with apples from our tree!

    Reply

  92. Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker

    Swoooooon. This looks amazing! I love comforting apple desserts, this one is perfect!

    Reply

  94. Stephanie

    Wow, those look amazing. I've skimmed by so many dessert recipes calling for apple lately, a huge reason why I love fall – so many great foods! Wasn't so sure on the idea of apples and biscuits, until I saw these photos. Yum!

    Reply

  96. Lana @ Never Enough Thyme

    How appropriate for the season! It's definitely apple picking time in north Georgia and seems like every little town has an apple festival going on next weekend. Very interesting combination of the biscuit topping with apples. I'll most definitely be trying this in my own kitchen soon.

    Reply

  98. RamblingTart

    I love this beautifully homey dessert. That caramelized sauce on the bottom is dreamy! 🙂

    Reply

  101. Gina

    Upside down anything sounds like a fun time in the kitchen with my kids. Thanks for sharing the recipe…and the great giveaway!

    Reply

  103. Greg Patent

    Definitely going to make this with apples we just picked from our Macintosh tree. Firm and juicy.

    Reply

  106. danasfoodforthought

    These look so amazing… I'd love to try them hot out of the oven with some melty vanilla ice cream 🙂

    Reply

  109. Momma McCall

    Congrats on being featured by PBS. I love your blog and was happy to follow the facebook link right back to you!

    Reply

  110. SteamyKitchen

    lovelovelove the photos!!!! Just wanna say "Hi!" and that you're doing just such fab job on the blog! xo

    Reply

  112. Ann

    This looks like a recipe my mom made when I was a little girl. I’ve been looking for a recipe ever since. It is sooooo good.

    Reply

  113. Brenda

    I love her cookbooks. Would love to have this one. Her recipes are usually
    so practical, easy and delicious. Will definitely try the recipe above using
    apples but will probably double the amount of apples.

    Reply

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