Upside-Down Pear Gingerbread Cake

Total Time

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

Makes

8 servings

Updated: Nov. 10, 2023
The aroma of baking gingerbread stirs up such warm memories. This cake looks festive and is even on the lighter side. —Nancy Beckman, Helena, Montana
Upside-Down Pear Gingerbread Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 medium Bosc pears, peeled and thinly sliced
  • CAKE:
  • 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Whipped cream, optional

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in brown sugar. Spread over bottom of a greased 9-in. round baking pan. Arrange pears over top.
  2. For cake, mix milk and vinegar; let stand 5 minutes. In a large bowl, beat egg, brown sugar, molasses, butter and milk mixture until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, salt and cloves; gradually beat into molasses mixture. Spoon carefully over pears.
  3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature, with whipped cream if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 331 calories, 11g fat (7g saturated fat), 51mg cholesterol, 348mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (37g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.