Introduction

This Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake is a delightful twist on a classic dessert, featuring tender pears caramelized with warm spices. Perfect for cozy evenings, this cake offers a beautiful presentation and comforting flavors that are sure to impress.

The image shows a round spiced pear upside down cake with a golden brown base and a top layer of thinly sliced pears arranged in a circular pattern, slightly overlapping each other with a shiny caramelized glaze. The cake sits on a white plate with a subtle textured pattern, placed on a white marbled surface. In the background, there is a white cup filled with black coffee on a white plate with a fork resting on it, and a knife with a dark handle lying next to the cake on the surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar plus 1 tablespoon
2-3 ripe pears
1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided
1 teaspoon ground cardamom, divided
1/4 teaspoon ground clove, divided
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round pan with butter, then line the bottom with parchment paper and grease the parchment as well.
Step 2: In a small saucepan, melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/2 cup light brown sugar over low heat until fully combined. Pour this mixture evenly into the prepared cake pan to coat the bottom.
Step 3: Peel, core, and thinly slice the pears. Toss the slices with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, and 1/8 teaspoon ground clove until evenly coated.
Step 4: Arrange the pear slices neatly over the butter and sugar mixture in a fanned-out design, as this will become the top of the cake.
Step 5: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and the remaining cinnamon, cardamom, and clove.
Step 6: Using an electric mixer, beat the remaining 3/4 cup unsalted butter with 3/4 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract.
Step 7: On low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture in two batches, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth.
Step 8: Pour the batter gently over the arranged pears in the pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 9: Allow the cake pan to cool until it is just warm to the touch. Place a serving plate over the pan, then carefully invert the cake onto the plate. Gently shake the pan to release the cake and remove the parchment paper if it sticks. Serve warm, optionally with ice cream.

Tips & Variations

Use ripe but firm pears to hold their shape during baking without becoming mushy.
Try substituting pears with apples or peaches for a seasonal variation.
Adding a splash of lemon juice to the pears before tossing with sugar and spices can brighten the flavor and prevent browning.
For extra richness, serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Storage

Store leftover cake tightly covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, warm slices gently in the microwave or oven until just heated through.

How to Serve

The image shows a round apple upside-down cake on a white plate. The cake has two main layers: the top layer is made up of shiny, caramelized apple slices arranged neatly in a circular pattern with a golden brown color and slightly glossy texture, while the bottom layer is a soft, light yellow cake with a crumbly texture. There is a slice missing from the cake, exposing the soft and moist inside. The plate sits on a crumpled piece of brown parchment paper placed on a white marbled surface. In the background, there is a half-cut pear and a knife with a brown handle. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use different spices in this cake?

Yes, feel free to adjust the spices to your preference. Nutmeg, ginger, or allspice can be good alternatives or additions to the cinnamon, cardamom, and clove for a unique flavor profile.

Do I need to use parchment paper?

Using parchment paper on the bottom of the pan helps release the cake easily after baking, ensuring the fruit topping remains intact. If you don’t have parchment, be sure to grease the pan thoroughly and proceed carefully when flipping.

Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 138 reviews

This Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake is a moist, warmly spiced dessert featuring a caramelized brown sugar and butter base with tender, fragrant pear slices arranged beautifully on top. Enhanced by cinnamon, cardamom, and clove, this cake delivers a perfect balance of sweet and spice, ideal for cozy gatherings or an elegant dessert.

Author: Lila
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 65 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 8 servings 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

For the Topping:

1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2–3 ripe pears, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground clove

For the Cake Batter:

3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
3/4 cup granulated sugar plus 1 tablespoon (divided)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground clove
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter and line the bottom with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Make Caramel Sauce: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/2 cup light brown sugar until fully combined and smooth. Pour this mixture evenly into the prepared cake pan to form the caramel base.
Prepare Pears: Peel, core, and thinly slice the pears. In a bowl, toss the pear slices with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, and 1/8 teaspoon ground clove until well coated.
Arrange Pears: Neatly arrange the spiced pear slices over the caramel sauce in a fanned-out pattern, being careful as this will be the visible top of the cake after flipping.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon cardamom, and 1/4 teaspoon clove.
Make Cake Batter: Using an electric mixer, beat 3/4 cup softened butter with 3/4 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract.
Combine Batter: On low speed, alternately add the dry ingredient mixture and milk to the butter mixture in two additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes until smooth and well combined.
Bake: Pour the batter gently over the arranged pears and caramel in the cake pan, spreading evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool and Invert: Allow the cake to cool in the pan until it is just cool enough to handle. Then place a serving plate over the pan and carefully invert to release the cake. If the parchment paper sticks, gently peel it off.
Serve: Serve the cake warm or at room temperature with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.

Notes

Make sure pears are ripe but firm to hold their shape during baking.
Parchment paper lining helps prevent sticking and makes inverting easier.
The cake can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Feel free to substitute whole milk with buttermilk for a tangier flavor.
Spices can be adjusted to personal taste or substituted with pumpkin pie spice blend.
Ensure the oven is fully preheated before baking for even cooking.

Keywords: spiced pear cake, upside down cake, pear dessert, fall dessert, cinnamon cake, cardamom cake, easy baking recipe