Recipes

Pear Upside-Down Cake

1 Mins read
Scroll to recipe

Introduction

Pear Upside-Down Cake is a delightful twist on the classic dessert, featuring pears at its core. This sumptuous treat combines buttery cake with caramelized pear slices for an indulgent flavor and texture combination that’s sure to please any palate.

Tips for this recipe

– Preheat your oven using a reliable oven thermometer for consistent baking results.
– Use parchment paper when lining the cake pan for easy release after baking, especially with caramelized fruit toppings.
– Mix ingredients thoroughly and measure precisely—baking is an exact science!

Why you will love this recipe

The rich, buttery base coupled with the sweet, slightly tart pears creates a symphony of flavors in every bite. Not to mention, the caramelized fruit and crisp cake top make for an impressive presentation that’s bound to be as much a hit on the table as it is in your mouth.

Ingredients

– 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
– 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
– 3 tablespoons coarse yellow cornmeal or polenta
– 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
– 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
– 1 cup sugar, divided
– 2 medium pears (about 1 pound)
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 2 large eggs
– 1/2 cup whole milk

Adviced equipments

– Stand Mixer with Paddle Attachment
– Oven Thermometer
– Silicone Baking Mat
– Cooling Rack
– Spatula (Offset & Silicone)
– Dutch Oven/Upside-Down Casserole Cake Pan
– Digital Kitchen Scale
– Parchment Paper Sheets
– Meat Fork/Cake Turner (Optional)

History of the recipe

The Pear Upside-Down Cake, a modern twist on traditional baking methods, can be tracited back to when bakers began experimenting with layering fruits under cakes for an added burst of flavor. Its origins are rooted in innovation and the quest for new culinary experiences that combine simplicity with elegance.

Fun facts about this recipe

Pear Upside-Down Cake offers a delightful blend of rustic charm and sophisticated taste. The cake’s history reflects the creativity in using seasonal fruits to enhance dessert dishes, while its preparation method showcases an interesting take on baking techniques that challenge conventional norms.

Share
Pear Upside-Down Cake

Pear Upside-Down Cake

amanda

Equipment

  • - Stand Mixer with Paddle Attachment: A versatile appliance essential for mixing ingredients smoothly, perfect for combining cake batter and pear filling.

  • - Oven Thermometer: Ensures precise oven temperature control, crucial for the exact baking time of your upside-down cake.

  • - Silicone Baking Mat: Offers a nonstick surface ideal for caramelizing pears and evenly browning the cake's bottom crust without added fats.

  • - Cooling Rack: Ideal for cooling your baked goods, this rack allows air to circulate around the entire piece of the cake, preventing sogginess from condensation.

  • - Spatula (Offset & Silicone): Useful in removing the cake from pans and flipping it without damage for a perfect presentation. The silicone variety is gentle on delicate surfaces like those with caramelized fruit.

  • - Cake Pan (Dutch Oven/Upside-Down Casserole): Specifically designed to accommodate the unique method of making an upside-down cake, allowing pears and batter to cook together before inverting for serving.

  • - Digital Kitchen Scale: Ensures precise measurement of ingredients, which is key for baking success. Measuring flour by weight can improve the consistency and texture of your cake.

  • - Parchment Paper Sheets: Useful for lining pans to prevent sticking, especially when working with caramelized fruit. It also makes cleanup easier.

  • - Meat Fork/Cake Turner (Optional): Although not mandatory, a cake turner or meat fork can help in delicately lifting and flipping the cake out of its pan post-baking if needed for presentation enhancements.

Ingredients

  • 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, divided, plus more

  • 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

  • 3 tablespoons coarse yellow cornmeal or polenta

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 cup sugar, divided

  • 2 medium pears (about 1 pound)

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 large eggs, separated

  • 1/2 cup whole milk

  • Whipped cream or caramel gelato (optional)

  • An 8"-diameter round cake pan with 2"-high sides

Instructions

1

Instruction 1

Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter pan; line bottom with a parchment-paper round. Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Stir 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high. Boil syrup without stirring, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush, until sugar turns dark amber, 8-10 minutes. Remove pan from heat; add 1 tablespoon butter (caramel will bubble vigorously) and whisk until smooth. Pour caramel into prepared cake pan and swirl to coat bottom.
2

Instruction 2

Peel, halve, and core the pears. Place flat on a work surface and cut lengthwise into 1/8"-thick slices. Layer slices over caramel, flat side down, overlapping as needed.
3

Instruction 3

Mix remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 8 tablespoons butter, and vanilla in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add yolks one at a time, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping bowl. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
4

Instruction 4

Using clean, dry beaters, beat egg whites on low speed in a medium bowl until frothy. Increase the speed to medium and continue to beat until whites form soft peaks. Fold about 1/4 of the whites into cake batter. Add in remaining whites; gently fold just to blend. Pour batter over pears in pan; smooth top.
5

Instruction 5

Bake cake, rotating pan halfway through, until top is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out with a few small moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Run a thin knife around inside of pan to release cake. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
6

Instruction 6

Invert cake onto a plate; remove parchment paper. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream or caramel gelato, if desired.
You may also like
Recipes

hot-buttered-rum

1 Mins read
Introduction Discover the cozy warmth and delightful flavors of a timeless classic. The Hot Buttered Rum recipe invites you to indulge in…
Recipes

Fish Vermicelli with Fresh Dill and Pineapple Sauce

1 Mins read
Introduction Dive into the delightful world of flavors with “Fish Vermicelli with Fresh Dill and Pineapple Sauce”, a unique culinary experience that…
Recipes

Endive and Chicory Salad with Grainy Mustard Vinaigrette

2 Mins read
Introduction This Endive and Chicory Salad with Grainy Mustard Vinaigrette is a delightful combination of the earthy, slightly bitter flavors of Belgian…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *