Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (2024)

Posted by Ruth Soukup | Dessert Recipes, Holiday Resources | 11

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (1)

Mmmmm…..sweet but not too sweet, with a little cornmeal texture…..this Caramelized Pear Upside Down Cake might just be the world’s most perfect dessert!

This recipe for Caramelized Pear Upside Down Cake might be my favorite dessert recipe of all time, which is no small feat! It is simply heaven on a plate. Between the sweet-but-not-too-sweet pear flavor and the perfectly-imperfect texture of the cornmeal in the cake, it’s so good I can’t even think of anything more to say.

So, without further ado, here is the updated recipe:

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (2)

Here is what you need:

10 tablespoons unsalted butter plus more for greasing

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3 ripe but still firm pears, thinly sliced

1 cup sugar

2 eggs at room temperature

1 cup flour

3 Tablespoons cornmeal

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (3)

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. (I always use the convection setting on my oven because it seems to cook more evenly.) Lightly butter the sides of a 9-inch round cake pan.

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (4)

Step 2: Combine the4 Tbsp butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small saucepan and heat to boiling, then remove from heat. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly.

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (5)

Step 3: Then arrange the pears over the butter mixture and press down.

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (6)

Step 4: Beat the 6 TBSP butter and white sugar with an electric mixer until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until very smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (7)

Step 5: Sprinkle in the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt, and beat 10 seconds. Pour in the milk and beat just until the batter is evenly moistened, about 1 minute. Pour the batter over the pears, then carefully lift the pan and bang back down on the counter once or twice to release any air bubbles.

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Step 6: Bake approximately 35 minutes (watch closely if using convection setting!), or until a knife comes out clean. Run a knife along the outer edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan. Place a plate over the cake, then flip it over to invert the cake onto the pan.

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (9)

Step 7: Let the cake cool completely before serving. Best served the same day.

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (10)

Other dessert recipes you’ll love:

  • Lemon Bundt Cake
  • Oh-So-Easy Caramel Apple Pie

Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (11)

5 from 1 vote

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Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake

Quite possibly the world's most perfect dessert.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 8 people

Ingredients

  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (plus extra for greasing) very soft
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • dash nutmeg
  • 3 ripe but still firm pears thinly sliced
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs at room temperature
  • 1 cup flour
  • 3 tablespoons cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (I always use the convection setting on my oven because it seems to cook more evenly.) Lightly butter the sides of a 9-inch round cake pan.

  2. Combine the 4TBSP butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small saucepan and heat to boiling. Remove from heat and scrape mixture into the prepared pan spreading evenly.

  3. Next, arrange the pears over the butter mixture and press down.

  4. Beat the 6TBSP butter and white sugar with an electric mixer until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until very smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

  5. Sprinkle in the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt, then beat for 10 seconds. Pour in the milk and beat just until the batter is evenly moistened, about 1 minute.

  6. Pour the batter over the pears then carefully lift the pan and bang back down on the counter once or twice to release any air bubbles.

  7. Bake approximately 35 minutes (watch closely if using convection setting!), or until a knife comes out clean.

  8. Run a knife along the outer edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan. Place a plate over the cake, then flip it over to invert the cake onto the pan.

  9. Let the cake cool completely before serving. Best served the same day.

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Ruth Soukup

Founder at Living Well Spending Less

Ruth Soukup is dedicated to helping people everywhere create a life they love by follwing their dreams and achieving their biggest goals. She is the host of the wildly popular Do It Scared podcast, as well as the founder of Living Well Spending Less® and Elite Blog Academy®. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including Do It Scared®: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Obstacles, and Create a Life You Love, which was the inspiration for this book. She lives in Florida with her husband Chuck, and 2 daughters Maggie & Annie.

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Caramelized Pear Upside-Down Cake | Easy Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cooking method for pears? ›

Poached Pears

Keep the liquid at a very low boil and simmer the pears until cooked through, 10 to 25 minutes, depending on the pears. While they are poaching, every so often gently push down the pears to make sure they are submerged in poaching liquid. (The round of paper helps to keep the pears moist and wet.)

What is one of the most difficult desserts to make? ›

Desserts like chocolate soufflé are known to be challenging. Your chances of baking the ideal chocolate soufflé will increase if you carefully whisk and fold the meringue and wait patiently until the buzzer sounds before opening the oven. Meringues are sensitive to humidity, temperature, and movement.

What type of pear is best for baking? ›

You'll want to choose pears that hold together well when making poached, baked, or grilled pears. Look to the crispest raw pears to find those that can withstand heat. The popular Bosc pear is the best option. Anjou pears are another top choice and Concorde and French butter pears are also reliable.

Do I have to peel pears for baking? ›

No need to peel, just slice pears in half and take out the core with a knife or melon baller. This fun fruit is high in fiber – which helps keep you full – and potassium, a powerful player in hydration, muscle and nerve functioning and regulating blood pressure.

What is the most eaten dessert in the world? ›

  • Mar 31, 2023, 08:13 PM IST. 10 Most Popular Desserts in the World. ...
  • Apple Pie. This traditional American dessert is popular due to its flaky crust and sweet apple filling. ...
  • Tiramisu. ...
  • Baklava. ...
  • Crème Brûlée. ...
  • Panna Cotta. ...
  • Cheesecake. ...
  • Mochi.
Mar 31, 2023

What is the simplest dessert? ›

The simplest dessert and one of the best are fruits because they are nutritious, appetizing, and easy to prepare and serve. Baked and soft custards vary in so many ways. Creamy, delicate, baked custards may be served in their baking cups or may be unmolded and served with fruit garnishes or with dessert sauces.

What is the most considered the simplest dessert? ›

Fruit is served as it is. Peeling or slicing is the only preparation you'll have to do. Unlike the other choices, you'll need other ingredients and some preparation steps before you can serve it. Hence, fruits are considered the simplest dessert among the choices.

Which cooking method is recommended for most fruit? ›

Poaching. One of the more popular cooking methods for fruits is poaching. Poaching softens and tenderizes fruits and infuses them with additional flavors such as spices or wine. Poached fruits can be served hot or cold and used in tarts or pastries or as an accompaniment to meat or poultry dishes.

Does boiling pears soften them? ›

For some fruits, poaching is a way to soften them up for dishes where they would otherwise add little or no textural value. Pears are often poached so that they become soft enough to be pureed into a sauce or blended into a soup.

Do you boil or steam pears? ›

If you prefer steaming, place the pear halves or slices in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam for about 10-12 minutes or until the pears are tender. If you opt for boiling, place the pears in a saucepan and add enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer.

Is pear better cooked or raw? ›

Both cooked and raw pears are healthy, and can have a positive impact as part of a balanced diet.

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