Yellow Peach Upside-Down Gingerbread


(Yellow peach upside-down gingerbread)

Summer is such a bitch. In exchange for the chance to dive into a big bowl of stone fruit and berries, you have to endure not only juice but copious amount of sweat dribbling down your chin. For the perfect weather in which to prove bread dough, you have the less-than-desirable climate to be turning on any oven. For the joy of ice-cream, the pain of it melting too quickly.

Over the past week, it has been a great pleasure to step into the kitchen each morning because of the lingering scent of yellow peaches ripening on the counter top. I deliberately bought too many peaches so that I would force myself to do a bit more than just eat them. But first, I ate one. Then I tried pickling the less ripe ones in rice wine vinegar and chilli, to slip into cheese and ham sandwiches. This was not deemed a complete success by the boy, so I ate a few more peaches. Then I saw David Lebovitz’s recipe for a nectarine and raspberry upside-down gingerbread, and that sealed the fate of a third of my stash.

This recipe has so many things going for it. It is exactly how I like my gingerbread – soft, moist and spicy, with the added bonus of having a caramel-slicked layer of peach slices on top. Less sunburn, more golden-hued cakes please.

Oh and if you want to argue the ridiculousness of baking in the Summer, well, all I can say is that it’s a bitch isn’t it, and I now have gingerbread, while you don’t.

(The recipe for this delicious gingerbread is from this book.)

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50 Comments »

  1. Mark @ Cafe Campana said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 4:52 pm

    These look good. I have never thought of making anything else but a house or biscuits from ginger bread. That reminds me I should get some peaches.

  2. Xiaolu said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 4:55 pm

    Mmm sounds really delicious. Happy New Year, Y!

  3. Helen (grabyourfork) said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 5:52 pm

    You had me a gingerbread, and upside down, and caramel-slicked. How can summer be a bitch when life’s so peachy? lol

  4. Ellie (Almost Bourdain) said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 6:12 pm

    This little slice of heaven is worth the sweat! Happy New Year, Y!

  5. Val said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 6:58 pm

    Y, your writing always feels so inspired; I love it. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

  6. Shirley@kokken69 said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 7:53 pm

    I have acquired a new found taste for gingerbread and am so happy to see other ways of enjoying it. So lovely!

  7. Rosa said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 8:46 pm

    Delicious!

    Happy New Year!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  8. shaz said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 9:43 pm

    Ha ha ha, I haven’t turned on my oven since a couple of days before Christmas, but then again I’ve been on holiday πŸ™‚ And I’d rather spend time at the beach than sweating in the kitchen. Which is probably why I do not have any gingerbread, so sad πŸ™

  9. Siobhan (Cooking From The Heart) said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 11:03 pm

    Thank you. I know what I’m replacing the gingerbread house with next Christmas.

  10. Dinners & Dreams said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 11:29 pm

    Y, I like ginger spiked desserts, especially in the winter. The photos are gorgeous.

    Happy New Year!

    Nisrine

  11. Christy said,

    January 1, 2011 @ 11:59 pm

    I think if I don’t have air con I’d die. Seriously, yesterday was not funny.

    I agree on peaches though…yum yum yum. I prefer the white variety though, I think they’re sweeter. I’ve never made gingerbread cake with peaches before; should probably give it a try.. No gingerbread but I do have 2 Cherry Cake with Pistachio Crust leftover! And I’m not sharing!!

  12. Zita said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 12:48 am

    Ha..ha…but you dont know that I wish it is summer here…Have a blessed New Year, Y !

  13. Laura said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 2:55 am

    I am so jealous! I think that peaches and ginger is one of those matches made in cooking heaven.

    I will have to try this next summer, in the mean time…I will be drooling.

    Happy New Year! I hope 2011 will be sweeter for you.

  14. Asha@FSK said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 4:57 am

    LOL… great to have you back Y!! :)) and let’s trade weather then shall we?! Freezing cold for your Summer and that yummy plate! perfect swap, me thinks ;-))

    Wish you a fabulous year ahead!!

  15. anna said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 8:17 am

    Now I want peaches and summer! Boo to opposite hemispheres.

    Happy new year Y! Hope your 2011 is awesome. πŸ™‚

  16. steph (whisk/spoon) said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 8:59 am

    haha! good point! not only am i envious of your gingerbread, but as someone who’s been trudging thru snow up to her knees all week, i’m pretty jealous of those peaches, too. happy 2011!!!

  17. deeba said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 12:19 pm

    I love the ridiculousness of baking in the heat of summer, the sweat dribbling down my chin! Torture to many, but I would bake alongside the oven to make something like this. Ooooh I love this, and can’t wait for summer. Thank you for sharing some much needed warmth Y… hope 2011 is WONDERFUL and filled with all things good! I love the concept of 2 hemispheres ever since I got into food blogging… so much to look forward to!

  18. Lee Tran said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 4:44 pm

    Happy new year! Here’s to a 2011 full of seasonal contradictions, both infuriating and inspiring, tasty and a little messy.

  19. Sneh | Cook Republic said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 8:59 pm

    Caramel, peach? Oh my! That has to be wicked!!

  20. InTolerantChef said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 10:09 pm

    Delicious! My oven is in use nearly every day, no matter what the temperature. I agree that sometimes you just have to suck it up Princess, if you want the goodies!

  21. Moya said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 10:20 pm

    “… caramel-slicked layer of peach slices on top” yep, gotta get me some peaches for cooking as well as eating! Happy New Year!

  22. Stefania said,

    January 2, 2011 @ 10:45 pm

    Happy New Year ?
    Moltissimi Auguri
    per uno splendido 2011

  23. Medifast Coupons said,

    January 3, 2011 @ 12:01 am

    This is a great solution for a summer time cake! Turning on the oven won’t matter if this is the outcome. Great idea!

  24. the caked crusader said,

    January 3, 2011 @ 4:11 am

    That looks an extremely winning combination – I can imagine all that juice soaking into the ginger cake – yum!

  25. Trevor said,

    January 3, 2011 @ 6:34 am

    I need a new good idea! This is definitely very creative. I’m going to have to try it soon, but I’m out of money, so I’ve just got to wait a little bit.

  26. grace said,

    January 3, 2011 @ 9:47 am

    gingerbread? eh, it’s nothing special. nothing to write home about, ya know? toss in some peaches, however, and everything changes–well done!

  27. isaac said,

    January 3, 2011 @ 1:57 pm

    I love the white caraffe you have in the picture. Where did you get it?

  28. Y said,

    January 3, 2011 @ 2:51 pm

    Hi issac, I got it from the Donna Hay General Store
    http://www.donnahay.com.au/general-store

  29. Lynne Kovan said,

    January 3, 2011 @ 5:02 pm

    How yummy these little babies look. Can’t remember what summer was like. Once it returns, I shall be buying peaches and baking these puddings! Happy New Year. Enjoying your blog

  30. Cakelaw said,

    January 4, 2011 @ 9:10 pm

    I am loving this gingerbread – although I agree it is a bitch to turn on the oven at this time of year.

  31. Anna said,

    January 5, 2011 @ 3:53 am

    Yum! Peach and gingerbread combo sounds awesome. I even have some peaches left in the freezer from my peach picking expedition this summer. I’ve been looking for a good non-pie recipe to use them in and I think I just found it.

  32. My Little Expat Kitchen said,

    January 5, 2011 @ 4:05 am

    It’s strange to realize that in other parts of the world it is now summer and peaches make their appearance. I am so envious of you, your peaches and your gingerbread… πŸ™‚
    Magda

  33. veron said,

    January 5, 2011 @ 11:39 am

    ahhhh! have to wait 6 more months for peaches here in my neck of the woods…that looks delish!

  34. Anita said,

    January 5, 2011 @ 10:08 pm

    I know the feeling. Although summer is being a bit funny here in Sydney… it can’t seem to make up it’s mind. Happy New Year Y – hope you had a great one and am looking forward to 2011.

  35. Helene said,

    January 6, 2011 @ 2:15 am

    At this time of the year our peaches are not fresh. I’ll have to wait a bit for that. Great photo.

  36. Howard said,

    January 6, 2011 @ 1:39 pm

    Happy New Year, may you have a peachy new year!

  37. Lucie said,

    January 6, 2011 @ 7:26 pm

    I can’t wait until Summer here in France–for now it’s all rain and cold! Good thing I have your gingerbread to dream about πŸ™‚ Happy New Year!

  38. Emma @CakeMistress said,

    January 8, 2011 @ 12:16 am

    There’s definitely certain things that can entice us to fire up the oven and bake despite the summer heat. My weakness is ripened bananas, although juicy peaches is a very close second.
    Happy New Year. Hope 2011 is extra sweet and delicious.

  39. Dimah said,

    January 9, 2011 @ 7:34 am

    So beautiful , it looks scrumptious!

  40. Caitlin said,

    January 10, 2011 @ 4:15 am

    And here I am, downing clementines and oranges like there’s no tomorrow πŸ™‚ I wouldn’t think of gingerbread in the summer, but add peaches to it and I might reconsider…

  41. Big Boys Oven said,

    January 13, 2011 @ 6:37 am

    Happy Belated new year wishes from us the boys! πŸ™‚

  42. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said,

    January 13, 2011 @ 10:04 am

    Hehe trust me, I’m not arguing about putting the oven on in Summer. I mean a whole season without baking because it’s too hot? I couldn’t forego it! πŸ˜›

  43. Xiaolu said,

    January 13, 2011 @ 6:22 pm

    Oh this looks like the perfect gingerbread and the fruit is a great addition. Happy New Year!

  44. Julia @ MΓ©langer said,

    January 16, 2011 @ 7:29 am

    Hello! I’ve missed reading your blog. You always make me smile, laugh and think! With all this rain up here, we’ve not had our typically hot summer so baking not such a b&*ch. But normally, I’m happy to crank on the air conditioner to counteract the heat. That’s terrible, right?

    I was just pouring over some fruit/cake inspiration last night while thinking of stone fruit. Not been impressed by what the season has turned up so far for eating, so was thinking of doing more baking with it.

    Hope your 2011 has started wonderfully!

  45. Maria @ Scandifoodie said,

    January 17, 2011 @ 5:33 am

    It’s way too hot for me here in Sydney! But I do enjoy the stone fruits too πŸ™‚ And this, I can imagine, would be such a clever flavour combination!

  46. Jackie (Phamfatale.com) said,

    January 19, 2011 @ 8:38 pm

    I wish I could get peaches this season (I live in California) πŸ™ I would love to taste your wonderful dessert!

  47. Sophie said,

    January 20, 2011 @ 3:20 am

    Waw!! What lovely gingerbread & fruit upside down cakes!

    MMMMMMMMMMMMM,…!!!!

    I just moved my blog to wordporess.com. Come over @ my blog & check it out! You need to update your RSS!

  48. Arwen from Hoglet K said,

    January 20, 2011 @ 8:49 pm

    Christmassy gingerbread with summery fruit. I like it.

  49. Pamela said,

    January 24, 2011 @ 5:40 am

    They look fabulous.
    As does the straw. Where can I buy them?

  50. Y said,

    January 24, 2011 @ 8:33 am

    Hi Pamela, those were actually given to me, but I’ve seen them being sold in various places such as Emerald and Ella http://emeraldandella.com.au/?page_id=2966

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