Pears, pecans, and caramel form the top layer of this fabulous upside-down cake.
Juicy, sweet, crunchy, and moist, look no further for one of the best fall cakes ever!
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This cake recipe was originally made with rhubarb. So it was really a spring cake.
The fact that I couldn't find it made me choose fresh pears and buttery pecans. Very traditional I know, but then upside-down cakes are exactly that, old-fashioned and wonderful.
Boy, am I glad I did make it anyway! Because it's fair to say it's one of my favorite upside-down cakes of all time. The batter plays a big role too, of course.
What I wasn't expecting is for it to be so good.
So ridiculously rich both in texture and flavor, the crunchy caramelized pecans and smoky bourbon flavor soaking the cake and the pears, adding that perfect aftertaste that has you wanting more.
Feel free to omit it if kids are eating this cake.
Before we go deeper into this particular recipe, let me tell you that liquors in general, and bourbon in particular, are my middle baking name sometimes.
I find that even a small amount delivers big-time with that caramelized flavor that can't be achieved with any other flavoring.
Yes, I use liquors as flavorings. They are that in essence, aren't they?
As with any plain cake that has added fat in the form of creamy soft cheese - be it sour cream, mascarpone, creme fraiche, or the like - the moistness is incomparable.
The cake batter will be enough to comfortably cover the cake.
Kitchen notes
- Organization: read the recipe first and ensure you have ingredients at the correct temperature, equipment, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier.
- Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer(like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust.
- Pears: I like to cut them in halves, or quarters at the most so that they hold their shape during baking.
- Caramel: work quickly once you put it in the pan so that you can cover the bottom before it starts hardening.
- Patterns: I don't pay much attention to patterns, but if you do, take into account how the slices will be cut so that every one of them has pears and pecans.
- Removing: this is the trickiest part of making an upside-down cake. The cake has to be removed while hot; otherwise, the caramel will harden and stick to the pan making it impossible to remove it in one piece.
- Keeping: after 1-2 days I like to refrigerate it (though it usually doesn't last that long) because fruit tends to ferment, especially in a warm environment. Freezing is an option too, though it will never be the same, in my opinion. But it can be done, well wrapped.
- Variations: most fruits are wonderful for an upside-down cake. I love peaches, mangoes, pineapple, apples, and blueberries. You can flavor the batter too with citrus zest or ground spices.
Related recipes you might like:
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Pear Pecan Upside Down Cake
Pears, pecans, and caramel form the top layer of this fabulous upside-down cake. Juicy, sweet, crunchy, and moist, look no further for one of the best fall cakes ever!
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
3-4 pears (I use Bartlett)
For the caramel:
- 2 oz. (60g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup (100g) brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 tablespoon bourbon or whisky or cognac
- ¼ cup pecans
For the cake batter:
- 4 oz. (120g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 and ⅔ cups (230g) all-purpose or cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (or 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste)
- 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
- Have ready a 9-inch round pan (without removable bottom is my recommendation, unless you know you pan has a very tight bottom).
- Peel, core and cut pears in large pieces or halves.
For the caramel:
- The next step I do it directly in the pan, but you can melt all in a small saucepan and then add it to the pan.
- Add 20z (60g) of the total amount of butter in pieces to the pan. Pop into the oven and let melt.
- Remove, scatter the brown sugar on top and the bourbon and return to the oven until it starts to dissolve.
- Remove from the oven, mix quickly with a spoon, spread to cover the bottom and add the pecans, scattering them or in the pattern you want. Do this quickly.
- Arrange the pear pieces on top and reserve.
For the cake batter:
- In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy, about 1 minute, and then slowly add the granulated sugar while beating. You need to cream it, so it will take 3-4 minutes until it is light and airy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add the vanilla and mix.
- Sift the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt) and add them in 3 additions alternating with the sour cream in 2 additions. That means you begin and end with flour.
- I have the dry ingredients measured and sift them directly over the butter mixture. Whatever works for you.
- Mix thoroughly but don’t overbeat, or the cake will be tough.
- Pour the cake batter carefully over the pears (the caramel will have hardened).
- With the back of a spoon or a spatula, spread the batter to cover the fruit completely.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until dry and a tester inserted comes out clean. Some juices might appear around the rim. That is a good sign!
- Remove from the oven and let stand for 3-5 minutes on a wire rack. Have ready the serving platter. You must be quick and invert the cake while still very hot to prevent the caramel from hardening.
- Lightly shake the pan sideways to loosen the fruit and caramel, run a smooth-bladed knife around the edges if some batter is stuck, and then carefully invert the cake onto the serving plate.
- Do this by putting the platter upside down on top of the cake pan. With a kitchen towel (the pan is very hot) grab the ends. Your hands should be grabbing both the plate and the pan simultaneously; then turn everything upside up.
- Lift the pan carefully. Some fruit or pecans might still be stuck. It happens.
- Remove them with a knife or spatula and arrange them on the cake where they were originally.
- Let the cake cool on a wire rack.
- I like to eat it warm with whipped cream, or plain at room temperature.
- Keep it refrigerated after 1 or 2 days, wrapped in plastic.
Notes
- Pears: I like to cut them in halves, quarters at the most so that they hold their shape during baking.
- Caramel: work quickly once you put it in the pan so that you can cover the bottom before it starts hardening.
- Patterns: I don't pay much attention to patterns, but if you do, consider how the slices will be cut so that every one of them has pears and pecans.
- Removing: this is the trickiest part of making an upside-down cake. The cake has to be removed while hot; otherwise, the caramel will harden and stick to the pan, making it impossible to remove it in one piece.
- Keeping: after 1-2 days, I like to refrigerate it (though it usually doesn't last that long) because fruit tends to ferment, especially in a warm environment. Freezing is an option, too, though it will never be the same, in my opinion. But you can, well wrapped.
- Variations: most fruits are wonderful for an upside-down cake. I love peaches, mangoes, pineapple, apples, and blueberries. You can flavor the batter too with citrus zest or ground spices.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pear upside down cake
Linda Sinemus says
I looked several times to see when to add the vanilla but I think you omitted that in the instructions. So I used common sense and added it to the wet batter after creaming the butter, sugar and eggs. I had purchased 6 Bartlett pears in the “rotten produce” section of the store, AKA “reduced for quick sale” and used 4 of them to make this cake. It made a wonderful winter cake, perfect for a snowy Sunday afternoon. It’s delicious!
★★★★
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Linda! Thanks for the heads up on the vanilla. It's been added. Great use of your pears. Have a great week!
Caroline @Whipped says
This looks SO GOOD! I can't wait to try it. Beautiful. Excited to discover your blog.
jen says
Yours look amazing! I'll definitely have to try it with a different fruit other than rhubarb. Pears sound fantastic!
Teresa says
It looks just beautiful with the big slices of pear and the whole pecans. Definitely an autumn cake.