Description
This Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake is warm, cozy, and rich with autumn flavor. Caramelized pears melt into a buttery brown-sugar topping, while the soft spiced cake underneath stays moist and tender. Perfect for holidays, gatherings, or a comforting seasonal dessert.
Ingredients
- For the Pear Topping:
- 2–3 ripe but firm pears (Bosc or Anjou recommended)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- For the Cake Batter:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk (or buttermilk)
- Optional Add-ins:
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 tbsp bourbon, spiced rum, or maple syrup (for extra flavor)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch cake pan.
- Peel pears, slice them thinly, and remove the cores.
- In a saucepan, melt the ¼ cup butter with brown sugar until bubbly and smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Pour the caramel into the cake pan, spreading evenly. Arrange pear slices in a circular pattern over the caramel.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well, then blend in vanilla extract.
- Mix in half of the dry ingredients, then the milk, then the remaining dry ingredients until smooth.
- If using nuts or bourbon/maple syrup, fold them into the batter.
- Spread the batter gently over the pears.
- Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes, then invert the cake onto a plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Buttermilk makes the cake extra tender and moist.
- Bosc pears hold their shape best when baked.
- Add a tablespoon of maple syrup or bourbon for deeper fall flavor.
- Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or crème fraîche.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for 1 day or refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cake
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American