Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Drain the pineapple, saving the juice.
2. Heat the Cast Iron skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the butter. When it is melted, stir in the salt and sugar. Continue to stir until sugar has dissolved and mixture is bubbly. Then place pineapple chunks, tidbits or rings in the mixture. Set aside.
3. Sift together the flour, baking powder, cardamom and salt. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, whip the butter until it is fluffy. Slowly add the granulated sugar until it is incorporated. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing until incorporated. Then mix in the vanilla and rum flavoring. Once all ingredients are incorporated, and mixer is on slow speed, add half of the flour mixture, followed by the pineapple juice then the remaining flour, being sure to mostly incorporate each addition. Do not overmix.
4. Pour batter over the pineapple topping in the cast iron pan. Spread until evenly distributed. Bake just until a wooden pick stuck in the middle of the cake, comes out clean. For my cake this was 35-40 minutes. Once cake is done, remove from the oven to a rack. After 5 minutes, run a knife around the edge of the cake. Place your serving plate upside down atop the cast iron and flip the cake onto the plate. If any of the topping sticks to the pan, just remove it with a spoon and place it onto the cake. If using the 2Tbsp of dark rum, drizzle it over the top now. Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving, but it is equally good at room temperature.