Upside-Down Apricot Caramel Crunch Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 (15 -17 ounce) can unpeeled apricot halves in juice, undrained
1 (5 1/2 ounce) can apricot nectar or (5 1/2 ounce) can peach nectar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4 - 1 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1 (18 1/4 ounce) package spice cake mix (I used Betty Crocker)
3 eggs (or as boxed mix directs)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (or as boxed mix directs)
1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F.
Line a 13x9 inch baking pan with foil and grease foil. Set aside.
Drain apricot halves, reserving juice in a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Add enough apricot nectar to the reserved juice to equal the amount of water called for on the boxed mix (probably around 1 1/4 cups - if you don't have enough, add water to make up the difference). Set liquid aside.
Cut apricot halves into 1/2-inch-thick slices; set aside.
Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over bottom of the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle almonds over brown sugar. Arrange apricot slices on top of almonds; set aside.
Prepare cake mix according to package directions, using the eggs and oil as instructed on the box, except add 1/2 cup oats into dry cake mix and substitute apricot juice mixture for the water called for in directions.
Pour batter evenly over apricot slices and almonds in pan, being careful not to disturb apricots and almonds.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Carefully invert onto a large serving platter; remove foil.
Drizzle warm cake with caramel ice cream topping. If desired, top each serving with sweetened whipped cream or ice cream.