Cake----Pear Upside-Down Cake

Julie

From: Jeni

ingredients

Pear Cake

3 cups sliced peeled pears (about 3 pears)----Cooking spray
2 cups all-purpose flour----1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder----1/2 tsp instant coffee granules
1/2 tsp gr. Nutmeg----1/4 tsp gr. ginger
1/4 tsp gr. Allspice----1/4 tsp gr. Cinnamon
1 cup granulated sugar----5 Tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract----1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup buttermilk

Glaze

2 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp buttermilk

directions

Cake

1
To prepare cake, arrange pear slices spoke-like in bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan coated with cooking spray, working from the center of the pan to the edge.
2
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and level with a knife. Combine flour and next 7 ingredients (through cinnamon) in a bowl.
3
Combine granulated sugar and 5 Tbsp butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg, beat well. Add flour mixture and 3/4 cup buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spoon batter over pears; spread evenly.
4
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. Loosen cake from sides of pan using a narrow metal spatula; invert cake onto plate. Let rest 2 minutes; remove pan.

Glaze

To prepare glaze, combine 2 Tbsp butter, 1 Tbsp water, and juice in medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until butter melts. Stir in brown sugar; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in 1 1/2 Tbsp buttermilk. Let stand 2 minutes; pour glaze evenly over cake. Yield: 12 servings