Pear Upside-Down Cake

I will be happy to help you prepare a delicious Pear Upside-Down Cake, a much-appreciated dessert that offers a sweet and slightly rustic touch. Here’s how you can do it:

Ingredients

• 3 ripe but still firm pears
• 200 g sugar
• 200 g softened butter
• 3 eggs
• 200 g flour
• 1 packet baking powder (about 16 g)
• A pinch of salt
• 1 lemon (grated zest)
• Powdered sugar (for decorating)

For the caramel:

• 100 g sugar
• 50 ml water

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the caramel. In a heavy-bottomed pan, dissolve the 100 g of sugar with the water over medium heat, without stirring, until it turns a nice amber color. Then immediately pour it into a round cake pan (preferably a springform pan) and make sure to spread it evenly.

2. Peel the pears, cut them in half and remove the cores. Arrange the pear halves cut-side down on the caramel base in the pan.

3. Prepare the batter by beating the softened butter with the 200 g of sugar until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure to incorporate them well after each addition.

4. Add the grated lemon zest to flavor the batter and mix.

5. Sift the flour with the baking powder and the pinch of salt, and gently fold it into the previous mixture.

6. Pour the batter into the pan over the pears and level it with a spatula.

7. Bake the cake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

8. Let it cool for a few minutes before inverting the cake onto a serving plate. Carefully remove the pan and let it cool completely.

9. Before serving, dust with powdered sugar if you desire an extra touch of sweetness.

Trivia

The Upside-Down Cake is a classic of home baking and can be prepared with different types of fruit, such as apples or pineapple. Its secret lies in creating a layer of caramel that, once baked, combines with the fruit juice to form a delicious glaze. You can also add spices like cinnamon or cardamom for an extra aromatic touch.