(Jan. 8) – A Pineapple Upside Down Cake Contest was held for its first year at the 85th Pennsylvania State Farm Show. Lucille Gaul of Reynoldsville, Jefferson County, baked the award winning cake and received $500. Second place and $100 went to Barbara Noye of Altoona, Blair County. Rachel Jones Williams of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, won third place and $50. Health Craft sponsored the event and awards. The judges of the cake contest selected winning recipes on overall appearance, consistency, flavor, moistness, texture, and aroma. Below are the winning Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipes.
First Place - Pineapple Upside Down Cake - Lucille Gaul
1 jar maraschino cherries (drained)
1 can pineapple slices (drained)
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup margarine, melted
Pour margarine in large round cake pan sprinkle top with brown sugar. Arrange pineapple slices on top. Put a cherry in the center of each slice of pineapple.
Cake Part:
2½ cups flour
2 cups sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
¾ cup pineapple juice
¾ cup water
2/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. pineapple extract
Beat all ingredients in a large bowl on low for 30 seconds. Beat on high for 3 minutes. Pour into pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and remove from pan.
Second Place – Mein's Pineapple Upside Down Cake - Barbara Noye
2¾ cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking power
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
½ cup oil
1½ cup pineapple juice
3 eggs
Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup butter
8 pineapple slices
8 cherries
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
Third Place – Pineapple Upside Cake – Rachel Jones Williams
2¾ cups flour (cake flour preferred)
¾ cup sugar
1½ sticks of butter (may add more)
4 eggs
½ cup milk
½ cup water
Pinch of baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
2 cups brown sugar
1 can pineapple (drained)
1 jar cherries
Coat bottom only of pan with butter and place in refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix all dry ingredients. Make tunnel in center of cake mix. Add milk, water, and eggs. Mix well. Add butter and mix for 1 minute - let stand. Spray sides of pan with Pam non-stick spray. Sprinkle brown sugar in pan to cover bottom. Place pineapples and cherries in pan. Remix batter until smooth. Place batter in pan and bake at 350° for 35-45 minutes.
The Pineapple Upside Down Cake Contest is held in conjunction with the 85th Pennsylvania State Farm Show, held Jan. 6-11, 2001 at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex. The Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural event in America, with over 325 commercial and 8,000 competitive Exhibitors. There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle in the Farm Show parking lot, located along Cameron St., just off Interstate 81. Overflow parking is available at Harrisburg Area Community College, with shuttle bus service to the Main Exhibition Building provided for 75 cents.