Description
Gingerbread and Pear Upside-Down Cake combines warm gingerbread spices with sweet caramelized pears for a moist, festive dessert perfect for cozy occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar
- 2 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (120ml) molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (120ml) hot water
- 1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Melt 1/4 cup butter with 1/2 cup brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until smooth and bubbling. Pour evenly into the prepared pan.
- Arrange pear slices in a spiral over the caramel and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
- Cream 1/2 cup softened butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in molasses, then add egg and vanilla extract, mixing well.
- Add dry ingredients alternately with hot water and buttermilk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix gently until just combined.
- Pour batter evenly over pears in the pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for 10-15 minutes, then invert onto serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Do not overmix batter to keep cake light and fluffy.
- Slice pears evenly to ensure even cooking.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking when inverting cake.
- Ripe pears give best flavor and texture.
- Try adding chopped nuts for extra crunch.
- Substitute apples or peaches for pears as desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of cake)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Gingerbread and Pear Upside-Down Cake, gingerbread pear cake, upside-down pear cake, spiced pear cake, holiday gingerbread dessert