Chocolate-Almond Upside-Down Cake

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted,
• 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 1/4 cups sliced or slivered almonds, lightly toasted
• 1 1/4 cups cake flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-processed
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk

Directions

The topping:
1. Generously butter a 9-inch round nonstick cake pan.
2. Pour 6 tablespoons melted butter into the cake pan and swirl to coat the bottom; sprinkle in brown sugar. Drizzle honey over sugar and sprinkle evenly with almonds.
The cake:
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together three times to make the cake extra light. Place butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat until smooth and fluffy.
5. Add sugar and continue mixing. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Continue beating until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. With the mixer running on low speed, add a third of the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Add half the buttermilk and continue mixing.
6. Add another third of the dry ingredients, mix, and add remaining buttermilk and vanilla. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Pour the batter into the pan.
7. Bake until set in the center and springy, 45 to 55 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and immediately invert the pan onto a serving platter.
8. Let it sit with the pan still on top for 5 minutes so the caramel can soak into the cake a bit, before removing the pan.
9. Let cool completely. Cut into wedges with a serrated knife. Enjoy!