Description

A comforting, elegant fall dessert featuring caramelized Bosc pears on top of a moist, cinnamon-spiced cake base. This easy one-bowl recipe is perfect for dinner parties or cozy autumn evenings.

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
4 medium Bosc pears, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional: Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for serving

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Peel and slice pears into thin wedges (about 1/4 inch thick).
In a 9-inch cast iron skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is a thick, glossy syrup.
Pour the caramel evenly over the bottom of the skillet. Arrange pear slices in concentric circles, overlapping slightly to cover the bottom completely.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate small bowl, whisk eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
Pour batter over the pears in the skillet, spreading evenly to cover the fruit.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Place a large serving plate upside down over the skillet and carefully flip the cake onto the plate.
Let cool until warm to the touch before slicing and serving with ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

If using juicy pears, pat them dry before arranging to prevent a soggy cake. Ensure the cake cools for at least 10 minutes before flipping to allow the caramel to set. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For a dairy-free option, substitute butter with coconut oil and milk with almond milk.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 320
Sugar: 32
Sodium: 220
Fat: 14
Saturated Fat: 8
Carbohydrates: 48
Fiber: 3
Protein: 4

Keywords: autumn dessert, pear cake, upside down cake, fall baking, easy dessert, cast iron cake, cinnamon pear cake