Spiced Pear Upside-Down Cake

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling

Makes

9 servings

Updated: Mar. 30, 2023
The flavors of fresh, sweet pears and gingerbread blend beautifully in this intriguing variation on pineapple upside down cake. Leftovers—if there are any—taste amazing with coffee or tea the next day. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
Spiced Pear Upside-Down Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large pears, peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • Ice cream, optional

Directions

  1. Pour melted butter into a 9-in. square baking pan; sprinkle with nuts and brown sugar. Arrange pears over nuts.
  2. In a large bowl, cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with water, beating well after each addition.
  3. Spread batter over pears. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm, with ice cream if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 419 calories, 25g fat (13g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 347mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (25g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein.