Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

delicious citrus treats

Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 25m
Cook Time: 25m
Total Time: 50m
Temp.: 350 °F
Servings: 12
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (15 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

189
Calories
6.2g
Fat
31.8g
Carbohydrates
2.9g
Protein
45mg
Cholesterol
152mg
Sodium
Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

Recipe Description

Mandarin & Orange Blossom Upside-Down Cakelets are super cute looking cake treats. You’ve heard of upside down cakes before – well these little cakelets take the idea to a whole new level. These are great for a party as people can pick them up and easily eat them without a plate or fork.

Start these little cakes by boiling slices of mandarin in hot water. Place them in the bottom of a muffin pan with melted sugar and butter. Make a mandarin infused cake batter and add it to the muffin cups. Bake in the oven. Once the cakes are cooked, carefully invert them so that the crystallized mandarin slice is on display. Enjoy!

To make Mandarin & Orange Blossom Upside-Down Cakelets, you will need the following ingredients:So, how to make Mandarin & Orange Blossom Upside-Down Cakelets?

Ingredients for Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Heat oven

    5 min

    Preheat oven to 350 °F.

  2. 2

    Boil mandarin slices

    2 min
    Step 2 - Mandarin Upside-Down CakeletsStep 2 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Boil a pot of water and place the mandarin slices in the boiling water for about 1-2 minutes. Remove carefully and place the slices in a single layer on paper towels.

  3. 3

    Place a cube of butter into muffin cups

    1 min
    Step 3 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Add a cube of butter (2 tbsp) to each muffin cup in a 12 cup muffin tray.

  4. 4

    Add sugar to the muffin cups

    5 min
    Step 4 - Mandarin Upside-Down CakeletsStep 4 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Divide 1/4 cup of sugar evenly between all 12 muffin cups and place the muffin tray in the preheated oven. Cook for about 5 minutes until the butter and sugar are bubbling.

  5. 5

    Add mandarin slices and juice

    2 min
    Step 5 - Mandarin Upside-Down CakeletsStep 5 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Remove the muffin tray from the oven. Place a mandarin slice carefully on top of the butter and sugar mixture in the bottom of each muffin cup. Divide 2 tablespoons of the mandarin juice between the 12 muffin cups.

  6. 6

    Mix dry ingredients

    1 min
    Step 6 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Combine the flour, salt and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.

  7. 7

    Beat the butter and sugar with the mandarin zest

    1 min
    Step 7 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Beat the remaining butter, sugar and mandarin zest with a stand mixer until fluffy and light.

  8. 8

    Mix in the eggs

    1 min
    Step 8 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Ensure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next one.

  9. 9

    Add orange blossom water, vanilla extract, and mandarin juice

    1 min
    Step 9 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Add the orange blossom water, vanilla extract, and the remaining mandarin juice. Mix well.

  10. 10

    Combine wet and dry ingredients

    1 min
    Step 10 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk to the bowl until all ingredients are fully combined.

  11. 11

    Divide batter between muffin cups and bake

    30 min
    Step 11 - Mandarin Upside-Down CakeletsStep 11 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Divide the batter between the individual muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes until puffy and golden brown.

  12. 12

    Invert

    5 min
    Step 12 - Mandarin Upside-Down CakeletsStep 12 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Slide a knife around the edges of the muffins in the muffin tray to loosen them. Invert the tray so the caramelized mandarin is on top of the muffins.

  13. 13

    Serve

    Step 13 - Mandarin Upside-Down Cakelets

    Using a large spoon, mask the mandarin slice and dust the edges of the muffins with confectioners sugar. Serve with tea or coffee.

These Mandarin & Orange Blossom Upside-Down Cakelets look fantastic and taste amazing too. If you try these, please come back and leave a review telling me what you think!

About the author

Dasha Vakulova

Dasha is an enthusiastic and cheerful mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Dasha is going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (15 reviews)
UptownMom87
May 8, 2025
Verified

Yum, yum, yum! These cakelets are super cute and delish! I made them for my kiddo's bday party, and everyone went wild for 'em! Easy peasy to whip up, too. Totally worth it!

Daisy
January 3, 2025
Verified

So easy today. Made them for my kids' birthday, they loved it. The flavours were just perfect.

Xena
May 17, 2024
Verified

I made these cakelets for my friend’s birthday and they were such a hit! Everyone loved the cute mandarin on top. Super easy and delicious!

Mia
March 15, 2024
Verified

Absolutely delicious treat!

Diane Smith
December 20, 2023
Verified

Wow, these cakelets are the bomb! Made 'em for a family get-together, and they disappeared fast. So easy and delish!

Isaac Johnson
October 10, 2023
Verified

Simply delightful cakes. I made them for our anniversary and my wife loved these little treats. The flavors were perfect, and everyone enjoyed picking them up. Will definitely make again.

Ollie
July 25, 2023
Verified

So easy, loved!

Gina
March 28, 2023
Verified

Yummmm! These cakelets were a hit at my get-together! Everyone loved the flavor and they looked so cute on the table. Definetely making these again!

Zazou
February 27, 2023
Verified

Man, these cakelets are bomb! Perfect for my kid's bday, everyone loved 'em!

Brett
November 9, 2021
Verified

So tasty! Wow!

Robert Johnson
January 25, 2021
Verified

These cakelets are delicious. I made them for a small gathering and everyone loved their fun size and sweet mandarin flavor. The recipe was easy to follow, and the final result was impressive. I would definitely recommend this for your next party.

Rachel
January 4, 2021
Verified

Delightfully sweet surprises!

Isabella Johnson
September 10, 2020
Verified

Delicious cakes! Always impressed by how easy these were to make, especially when I made them for our last family gathering.

Grace
July 10, 2020
Verified

Adored these cakelets at a party!

Athina
December 10, 2019
Verified

Yummy! Thank you! Approved!

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