These adorable individual upside-down cakes feature caramelized Hale Groves Honeybells baked into tender, sweet cake. While the heart shape makes them perfect for Valentine’s Day, they’re delicious any time of year. Try them for anniversaries, birthdays, brunch gatherings, or simply because you’re craving something special. Best of all, they’re surprisingly easy to make!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 6-8 heart cakes (depending on tin size)
Ingredients
For the Topping:
- 2 Hale Groves Honeybells, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 2-3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
For the Cake:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk (or almond milk)
- ¼ cup oil or melted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease a heart-shaped muffin tin.
- Prepare the topping: Add about ½ teaspoon melted butter and ½ teaspoon brown sugar to each cavity. Press a Honeybell slice firmly into the bottom of each heart cavity (you may need to trim slices to fit).
- Make the batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, oil (or melted butter), egg, and vanilla. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir just until smooth—don’t overmix.
- Fill the tins: Spoon batter over the Honeybell slices, filling each cavity about ¾ full.
- Bake: Bake for 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the tops are lightly golden.
- The flip: Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan. Place a serving plate over the tin and carefully flip it over. Wait 30 seconds to let the caramel drip down, then gently lift the pan. If any Honeybell slices stick, simply place them back on top.
Tips for Success
Why Honeybells? Their sweet, juicy flavor and seedless segments make them ideal for baking. The natural sugars caramelize beautifully without becoming bitter.
No heart tin? Use a regular muffin tin or even a small cake pan. The recipe works with any shape—hearts are just extra special!
Serving suggestion: Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an extra-special dessert.
See it in action! Check out the original post on our Instagram:
A post shared by Hale Groves | Premier Fruit Gifts (@halegroves)
Ready to bake? Shop Hale Groves Honeybells—available during their limited season, these iconic citrus fruits are worth celebrating.