Pear Upside Down Cake

I’m a big fan of simple, one pan cakes. This cake is dense, with caramelized pears – perfect for after dinner, but would do in a pinch if you just so happened to run out of oatmeal!  

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2″ wedges
• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 325º, grease a 9″ cake pan.
2. Pour melted butter in prepared pan, and sprinkle 1/2 cup brown sugar over the butter.  Arrange pear slices in pan, and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar, add the eggs one at a time, and vanilla.
5. Add the flour mixture and the milk, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until the batter is smooth.
6. Spoon batter over the pears, and gently smooth out the top.
7. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cake on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then turn out on to a plate.