Apple Upside-Down Cake

In 10" iron skillet, melt 1/4 cup butter over moderate heat, reduce to low when foam subsides and sprinkle 3/4 cup brown sugar evenly over bottom of skillet and heat 3 minutes. Do not stir. Take skillet off heat.

Peel and halve apples , remove cores, cut into 1/4" slices and arrange about 3/4 of the slices, overlapping around edge of skillet. Arrange rest in center, overlapping in the opposite direction.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Stir baking soda into applesauce. In another bowl, whisk flours, salt, and spices. In another bowl, beat butter and remaining sugars until light and fluffy, add eggs one at a time beating well after each. Stir in applesauce mixture and then the flour mixture until just combined.

Spoon over apples in the skillet and bake 40 - 45 minutes. Cool 5 minutes, then run a knife around edge and flip cake onto platter. Some fruit may stick to skillet, just replace it onto cake.