Pear Cardamom Upside Down Cake

Pear Cardamom Upside Down Cake layers buttery pears beneath a tender, warmly spiced cake. Bake this easy fruit dessert until set, then invert warm.

Prep: 20 min · Cook: 45 min · Yield: 8 · Method: Oven

Ingredients

• 2 pears
• 0.5 cup butter
• 0.5 cup brown sugar
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.75 cup granulated sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 0.5 cup milk

Cooking instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a 9-inch round cake pan over low heat, or melt it separately and pour it into the pan. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the butter. (about 5 min) — 350°F
2. Peel, halve, and thinly slice the pears. Arrange the slices in overlapping circles over the brown sugar. (about 5 min)
3. Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cardamom, and salt in a bowl. Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, then whisk it with the eggs and milk in a separate bowl. (about 5 min)
4. Fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture just until no dry flour remains. Pour the batter evenly over the pears and smooth the surface. (about 5 min)
5. Bake until the cake is golden and the center springs back when lightly pressed, 40 to 45 minutes. (about 43 min) — 350°F
6. Rest the cake in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge, place a serving plate over the pan, and carefully invert while slightly warm. (about 10 min)