Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons agave syrup
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
5 cups pitted cherries
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 stick salted butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup buttermilk or kefir
Whipped cream or powdered sugar (optional)
Directions
1. In a small (eight-inch), ovenproof skillet, melt the butter with the agave and pomegranate molasses. Add the cherries. When combined, set the cherry mixture aside.
2. In a small bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
3. In a mixer, combine the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla and buttermilk. Once you add the buttermilk, the wet mixture will curdle -- not to worry. Add the dry mixture and mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
4. Pour this combined wet-and-dry mixture over the cherry mixture.
5. Bake the cake in a preheated, 375-degree oven for about 35 minutes, or until just baked through and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for a few minutes, and then turn the cake upside down. Do not let the cake cool completely before releasing it from the skillet, as the cherry mixture will become too sticky to release. When the cake is still warm, it will come out more easily.
6. Serve with whipped cream or powdered sugar, if desired.
{Ed. note: You can use sweet cherries, tart cherries, or a mix of both.]
Reprinted from Malibu Farm Cookbook: Recipes from the California Coast. Copyright © 2016 by Helene Henderson. Photographs copyright © 2016 by Martin Lof. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
Each week, The Splendid Table brings you stories that expand your world view, inspire you to try something new and show how food brings us together. We rely on you to do this. And, when you donate, you'll become a member of The Splendid Table Co-op. It's a community of like-minded individuals who love good food, good conversation and kitchen companionship. Splendid Table Co-op members will get exclusive content each month and have special opportunities for connecting with The Splendid Table team.
Donate today for as little as $5.00 a month. Your gift only takes a few minutes and has a lasting impact on The Splendid Table and you'll be welcomed into The Splendid Table Co-op.