Valentine’s Day Blood Orange Upside-Down Cake

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a glass or ceramic baking dish with butter, then dust it lightly with flour. Add 2 tablespoons sugar to the pan and shake it around so it coats the bottom and sides evenly.
3. Peel 6 blood oranges and cut them in half. Arrange the blood orange halves, cut side down, in the prepared dish, pressing them lightly into the sugar so they stick.
4. Combine 1 teaspoon blood orange zest, 1 peeled blood orange, and 2 eggs; process in a blender or food processor until smooth. Pass the mixture through a fine sieve into a mixing bowl to remove any pulp or large pieces.
5. Add 1¾ cups flour, baking powder, and pinch salt to blood orange-egg mixture and stir to combine; pour in ¾ cup sugar, sunflower oil, and water. Mix until batter is smooth and well combined.
6. Pour batter evenly over the arranged blood orange halves in the baking dish.
7. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Remove cake from oven and cool for a few minutes.
8. Carefully run a knife around the edges of the dish to loosen the cake. Place a cutting board over the top of the dish, place hands inside oven mitts, and flip the dish upside down, letting the cake release onto the cutting board. The blood orange slices should now be on top.