Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake Recipe
A moist, tender cake topped with caramelized pears and infused with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. This Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake is a beautiful, flavorful dessert perfect for fall gatherings and holiday tables.
Ingredients
- 3 –4 ripe but firm pears Bosc or Anjou, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced.
- ½ cup unsalted butter + ½ cup light brown sugar for caramel layer.
- 1 cup flour 1 tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp baking soda.
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp cardamom, ¼ tsp cloves or nutmeg.
- ½ cup sugar + ½ tsp salt.
- 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla.
- ½ cup milk or buttermilk, optional splash of orange juice or maple syrup.
Instructions
Prepare caramel & pears
- Melt butter and brown sugar in a small skillet until syrupy.
- Toss pear slices lightly in cinnamon and cardamom, arrange cut‑side down over the caramel.
Whip batter
- Cream sugar and butter, beat in eggs and vanilla until fluffy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk dry ingredients; alternate adding dry mix and milk into batter until smooth.
Bake & flip
- Pour batter gently over pears.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50–65 min until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cake cool 10–15 minutes, run spatula around edges, then invert onto cake plate.
Video
Notes
- Use a pan at least 2½ inches deep to accommodate rising batter and avoid overflow.
- Let cake rest briefly before flipping so the caramel sets and pears lift cleanly.
- Don’t overmix the batter fold gently for a light crumb, especially if using whipped egg whites.