Pear Upside-down Cake

Pear Upside-Down Cake is a beautifully moist and elegant dessert that features sweet, caramelized pears on top of a soft, buttery cake. The natural sweetness of the pears blends perfectly with the rich caramel sauce that forms as the cake bakes, creating a luscious topping that contrasts wonderfully with the tender cake beneath. This classic dessert is simple to make yet impressive, making it perfect for special occasions or just as a delightful treat to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.

Ingredients:

For the Topping:

• 3-4 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

For the Cake:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup whole milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
2. To make the topping, melt the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract and cinnamon, then pour the caramel mixture into the bottom of the prepared cake pan.
3. Arrange the pear slices in a circular pattern on top of the caramel mixture in the pan.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
6. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
7. Pour the cake batter over the pears in the pan, smoothing the top.
8. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a serving plate so that the caramelized pears are on top.

This Pear Upside-Down Cake is a show-stopping dessert, perfect for sharing, with its beautiful presentation and delightful balance of flavors!