If you’re looking for an easy rhubarb dessert with a fun presentation, try this rhubarb upside-down cake! It combines lots of fresh rhubarb, plenty of orange zest and bakes up beautifully in a cast iron skillet. Delicious with strawberry ice cream!

Rhubarb upside-down cake next to mint, orange and rhubarb stalks.

Hey friends! I know some of you are well into rhubarb season, but here in Newfoundland it’s only just ready to harvest (well, in our little backyard garden anyway).

I was super excited to pluck our rhubarb and I knew I had to make something special. So, I made this easy and delicious rhubarb upside-down cake!

On top of trying to stay with the seasons here, let’s get into a little nerdy talk.

The new season of Stranger Things is back on Netflix today! If you are a fan of that science fiction show, like me, then you know all about “the upside down.” And, if you’re wondering what I’m talking about, I won’t bore you with the details, LOL.

So, geeking out here, how fun would it be to share an upside down cake recipe for the start of a new season? Still with me?

Like rhubarb desserts? Check out this strawberry rhubarb crisp!

What Is Upside Down Cake?

Upside-down cake is like any other cake, except it has a layer of fruit in a sugar syrup on the bottom. After it’s baked, it’s inverted (turned upside down) so that the bottom becomes the top of the cake.

Pray to the baking gods that everything comes out beautifully when you tip that baby over and, when it does (because it will), do a happy dance right in the middle of your kitchen!! Seriously, though, this is one easy dessert!

Did ya know that rhubarb is actually a veggie, not a fruit?

How To Make Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:

Melt some butter in a skillet, and then add the sugar, stirring in (the sugar won’t fully be dissolved at this point).
Add chunks of rhubarb and stir, coating it in the butter/sugar mixture. Cook for a few minutes. As it cooks, it will release a little liquid and the sugar mixture will dissolve.
Ensure the rhubarb is in an even-ish layer on the bottom of the cast-iron skillet. Let sit for a little while you are preparing batter.
Place flour in a bowl and stir in baking powder, cinnamon, salt and orange zest. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, blend some butter and sugar. Then blend in vanilla extract and orange extract.
Blend in eggs, one at a time.
Blend in half of the reserved flour mixture.
Add half of the milk. Continue with remaining flour and milk, and blend until just combined (and there are no streaks of dry flour left).
Scoop cake batter on top of the rhubarb mixture.
Tip: An ice cream scoop is helpful here. If you don’t have that, though, no biggie (use a spoon).
Using a spatula and gently spread out batter in an even layer.
Bake the cake and once it is done, allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Run a butter knife along the edge of the cake to loosen any stuck on bits, if there are any.
Carefully place a plate or platter (that’s a little bigger than the skillet) on top of the skillet and invert (quickly turn over) to remove the cake from the skillet.

Chunks of rhubarb being coated in a sugar mixture in a cast-iron-skillet.

Rhubarb upside-down cake in a skillet before baking.

What To Serve With This Cake

Enjoy this rhubarb upside-down cake on its own or with any of these for an extra special treat:

Ice cream (I particularly enjoy vanilla or strawberry ice cream with this cake)
Whipped cream
Fresh mint
Sprinkle of extra orange zest for extra orange oomph
White, dark or milk chocolate shaved over top

Removing a piece of cake with a cake server from a whole rhubarb cake.

Tips and Variations

Use the stalks only of the rhubarb. The leaves are poisonous!
Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before inverting.
Not into orange? Try lemon zest instead!
When inverting (tipping over) baked rhubarb cake, select a plate or platter that is just slightly larger than the skillet. You want to be able to still have a good grip on the skillet when turning.
Speaking of turning that skillet over: it will still be hot so I like to wear good, grip-able oven gloves.

A piece of rhubarb cake on a blue plate topped with ice cream and mint.

More Delicious Desserts

If you make this rhubarb cake recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!