Pear Upside-Down Cake

Vegetarian
Health score
1%
Pear Upside-Down Cake
45 min.
8
327kcal

Suggestions


Indulge your senses with this delightful Pear Upside-Down Cake, a truly irresistible dessert that effortlessly combines elegance and comfort in every bite. Perfect for gatherings or a cozy night in, this vegetarian treat is sure to impress both family and friends. With its inviting aroma of caramelized pears and buttery cake, it invites you to experience a sweet escape with each mouthful.

The topping features tender, ripe pears sliced into perfect rounds, enveloped in a sweet, rich caramel sauce that creates a beautiful pattern when inverted. The cake itself is remarkably light and fluffy, thanks to the whipped egg whites folded into the batter. The hint of cornmeal adds a subtle texture, while a splash of vanilla ties the flavors together harmoniously.

In just 45 minutes, you can bring this show-stopping dessert to life, with a preparation that's as enjoyable as the final creation. The cake is equally delightful served warm, with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of caramel gelato on the side, making it a wonderful addition to any seasonal celebration or a sweet way to end a meal. So, gather your ingredients, embrace your inner pastry chef, and treat yourself to this exquisite Pear Upside-Down Cake that will leave a lasting impression on your palate!

Ingredients

  • 1.5 teaspoons double-acting baking powder 
  • tablespoons cornmeal yellow
  • large eggs separated
  • 0.3 teaspoon kosher salt 
  • pound pears 
  • cup sugar divided
  • 0.8 cup flour all-purpose
  • tablespoons butter unsalted divided plus more room temperature
  • teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • 0.5 cup milk whole

Equipment

  • bowl
  • frying pan
  • sauce pan
  • oven
  • knife
  • whisk
  • wire rack
  • blender
  • cake form

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter pan; linebottom with a parchment-paper round.
  2. Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, andsalt in a small bowl. Stir 1/4 cup sugar and2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan overmedium-low heat until sugar dissolves.Increase heat to medium-high. Boil syrupwithout stirring, occasionally swirling panand brushing down sides with a wet pastrybrush, until sugar turns dark amber, 8-10minutes.
  3. Remove pan from heat; add 1 tablespoonbutter (caramel will bubble vigorously)and whisk until smooth.
  4. Pour caramel intoprepared cake pan and swirl to coat bottom.
  5. Peel, halve, and core the pears.
  6. Place flaton a work surface and cut lengthwise into1/8"-thick slices.
  7. Layer slices over caramel,flat side down, overlapping as needed.
  8. Mix remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 8 tablespoonsbutter, and vanilla in a large bowl. Using anelectric mixer, beat on medium speed untillight and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  9. Add yolksone at a time, beating to blend betweenadditions and occasionally scraping bowl.Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions,alternating with milk in 2 additions,beginning and ending with flour mixture.
  10. Using clean, dry beaters, beat egg whiteson low speed in a medium bowl until frothy.Increase the speed to medium and continueto beat until whites form soft peaks. Foldabout 1/4 of the whites into cake batter.
  11. Add in remaining whites; gently fold justto blend.
  12. Pour batter over pears in pan;smooth top.
  13. Bake cake, rotating pan halfway through,until top is golden brown and a testerinserted into the center comes out with afew small moist crumbs attached, about1 hour.
  14. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for30 minutes. Run a thin knife around insideof pan to release cake. DO AHEAD: Can bemade 1 day ahead. Store airtight at roomtemperature.
  15. Invert cake onto a plate; removeparchment paper.
  16. Serve warm or at roomtemperature with whipped cream or caramelgelato, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Calories327kcal
Protein4.76%
Fat40.08%
Carbs55.16%

Properties

Glycemic Index
47.54
Glycemic Load
28.54
Inflammation Score
-4
Nutrition Score
5.8173913644708%

Flavonoids

Cyanidin
1.17mg
Catechin
0.15mg
Epigallocatechin
0.33mg
Epicatechin
2.13mg
Epicatechin 3-gallate
0.01mg
Epigallocatechin 3-gallate
0.1mg
Isorhamnetin
0.17mg
Quercetin
0.48mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:327.41kcal
16.37%
Fat:14.95g
22.99%
Saturated Fat:8.84g
55.22%
Carbohydrates:46.28g
15.43%
Net Carbohydrates:43.85g
15.95%
Sugar:31.42g
34.91%
Cholesterol:82.19mg
27.4%
Sodium:178.7mg
7.77%
Alcohol:0.17g
100%
Alcohol %:0.15%
100%
Protein:3.99g
7.99%
Selenium:8.69µg
12.42%
Vitamin A:499.97IU
10%
Fiber:2.43g
9.71%
Vitamin B2:0.16mg
9.7%
Phosphorus:88.29mg
8.83%
Vitamin B1:0.12mg
8.3%
Folate:33.04µg
8.26%
Calcium:81.04mg
8.1%
Manganese:0.14mg
6.92%
Iron:1.08mg
5.98%
Vitamin B3:0.91mg
4.55%
Vitamin D:0.65µg
4.36%
Copper:0.09mg
4.32%
Vitamin E:0.59mg
3.95%
Potassium:135.69mg
3.88%
Vitamin B6:0.07mg
3.74%
Vitamin B5:0.37mg
3.67%
Vitamin B12:0.22µg
3.67%
Magnesium:14.47mg
3.62%
Vitamin K:3.72µg
3.55%
Zinc:0.5mg
3.31%
Vitamin C:2.44mg
2.96%
Source:Epicurious