Prepare to be enchanted by this truly remarkable Pear Upside Down Cake, a dessert that masterfully combines a rich, shimmering brown sugar caramel, elegantly arranged layers of tender pears, and a wonderfully soft, cardamom-spiced cake. This is more than just a cake; it’s a culinary masterpiece that promises a stunning presentation and an unforgettable flavor experience. A definite must-make this winter, this surprisingly easy dessert effortlessly flips out of its pan to reveal a beautiful, warming, and deeply satisfying treat that’s perfect for any occasion.

While the perfectly caramelized, glistening pears on top are undeniably eye-catching, don’t let them steal all the spotlight! The tender, spiced brown sugar cake underneath is arguably even more unforgettable. This isn’t your average cake base; it’s a testament to thoughtful baking. A harmonious combination of rich buttermilk and luscious brown sugar works wonders, resulting in an exceptionally moist cake with an incredibly fluffy, delicate crumb that practically melts in your mouth. The warming spices, particularly the star of the show—cardamom—beautifully balanced with subtle notes of cinnamon and clove, elegantly enhance the natural sweetness and delicate flavor of the pears, creating a truly sophisticated taste profile.

Despite its gourmet appeal and flawless presentation, this cake is remarkably easy to prepare. Just like our popular Orange Upside Down Cake or the classic Apple Tarte Tatin, you’ll be amazed at how simple it is to achieve such an impressive result. The cardamom-pear combination here is truly out of this world, a flavor pairing so divine that once you’ve experienced it, you’ll undoubtedly want to explore more. Be sure to try my Cardamom Pear Crisp next for another delightful take on this dynamic duo! This Pear Upside Down Cake is best served warm, perhaps with a generous scoop of creamy French vanilla ice cream or a cloud of homemade whipped cream, offering the perfect, comforting end to any winter meal or special gathering.

Why You Will Love This Pear Upside Down Cake Recipe

• A Visually Stunning Pear Topping: The artful arrangement of pears creates a show-stopping top that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. I enjoy using a mix of pear varieties and layering them in an elegant fan shape, which truly makes for an eye-catching and lusciously rich topping. While I encourage creativity, even a simple scattering of pears yields a beautiful result, proving that impressive doesn’t always mean complicated!
• A Delicately Spiced, Moist Brown Sugar Cake: An upside down cake is only as good as its base, and this recipe delivers! This easy buttermilk cake is renowned for its incredible tenderness and light, fluffy texture. Infused with warming spices and the deep, comforting notes of brown sugar, it provides the perfect counterpoint to the sweet, caramelized pears. The buttermilk ensures maximum moisture without heaviness, making every bite a delight.
• Straightforward, Professional, No-Guesswork Directions: Say goodbye to baking anxiety! This recipe has been meticulously tested and re-tested by a professional pastry chef, ensuring that every step is clearly and concisely outlined. You won’t be left wondering when to flip the cake or how long to mix the batter; all the crucial details are provided with expert precision, guaranteeing a successful bake every time, even for novice bakers.

Professional Baking Tips for a Flawless Pear Upside Down Cake

• Always Use Cake Flour and Sift It: While I don’t always insist on cake flour or sifting, for this particular recipe, it’s a game-changer. Cake flour has a lower protein content and a finer texture than all-purpose flour, which results in an incredibly tender and delicate crumb that truly elevates this cake. Sifting it ensures that not only are all clumps broken up, but also that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the batter. This meticulous step guarantees a cake that will almost melt in your mouth, contributing significantly to its light and airy texture.
• Minimize Stirring While the Caramel Cooks: This method for making the brown sugar caramel is straightforward, but excessive stirring can encourage crystallization. If you notice sugar crystals forming on the sides of the pot, simply ignore them and continue cooking. It’s a common occurrence and will not materially impact the final flavor or texture of the delicious caramel coating for your cake. The key is to let it do its thing without too much interference.
• Turn the Cake Out While Still Warm: Timing is crucial when inverting an upside down cake. The brown sugar caramel on the bottom of the pan will cool and set, eventually sticking to the pan if left for too long. For the best release and to prevent the pears from tearing, I recommend running a thin butter knife or offset spatula around the edges of the cake immediately after removing it from the oven. Then, wait precisely 15 minutes before confidently flipping the cake out onto your serving platter or wire rack. This allows the caramel to cool just enough to hold its shape but remain fluid enough to release cleanly.
• Cut with a Serrated Knife for Clean Slices: This invaluable tip comes from my many years of serving various versions of upside down cakes in high-end Manhattan restaurants. The naturally irregular shape of the pear pieces can make slicing a challenge. A sharp serrated knife, however, will glide right through the fruit and cake layers, ensuring clean, elegant slices without crushing the delicate pear topping or tearing the cake.

Key Ingredients for Your Perfect Pear Upside Down Cake

Crafting this exquisite pear upside down cake relies on a careful selection of high-quality ingredients, each playing a vital role in achieving its tender texture, moist crumb, and complex flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why:

• Pears: The star of the show! You have the flexibility to use any type of firm, ripe pears you prefer. A mixture of varieties like Anjou, Bosc, or Bartlett pears can add visual interest and subtle flavor nuances. It’s crucial to note that I typically use small to medium-sized pears for this recipe. Larger pears may not fit harmoniously with the amount of batter in a standard 9-inch pan, potentially overcrowding the caramel layer. Choose pears that are ripe but still firm enough to hold their shape during baking.
• Lemon Juice: A touch of fresh lemon juice is essential for the caramel topping. It brightens the flavor, prevents the caramel from becoming overly sweet, and helps to balance the richness of the brown sugar.
• Cake Flour: This is a non-negotiable ingredient for achieving the signature light, airy, and melt-in-your-mouth texture of this cake. I only call for cake flour when its unique properties are absolutely essential, and this recipe, much like a delicate angel food cake, is one such instance. Cake flour boasts a lower gluten content and a much finer texture compared to all-purpose flour, both of which are critical for preventing a dense, heavy cake and ensuring that wonderfully delicate finished product.
• Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These two leavening agents work in perfect synergy to give this cake its ideal height and desirable fluffiness. Baking soda reacts vigorously with the acidity of the buttermilk, creating a powerful initial rise for a tall, light cake. Meanwhile, baking powder provides a more sustained, even lift, contributing to a consistently delicate and open crumb structure throughout the cake.
• Cinnamon: A classic warming spice that beautifully complements the sweetness of pears and brown sugar. It adds depth and a familiar comforting aroma to both the caramel and the cake batter.
• Cloves: Offering a slightly pungent, sweet, and aromatic note, cloves add another layer of complexity to the spice blend. While pre-ground cloves work well, the flavor is undeniably more sensational and vibrant when you grind whole cloves fresh. If you opt for whole cloves, use a spice grinder and then sift the ground spice to ensure a fine powder, free of any larger, coarse pieces.
• Cardamom: This is truly one of my culinary OBSESSIONS, and it shines brilliantly in this recipe. Cardamom provides a unique, highly aromatic flavor that is at once floral, citrusy, and slightly spicy. I wholeheartedly recommend purchasing cardamom seeds and grinding them in smaller batches as needed. The freshly ground version offers an unparalleled fragrance and depth that pre-ground cardamom simply cannot match. You’ll find this wonderful spice featured in other favorites like my Cardamom Walnut Snowballs, delightful Browned Butter Cardamom Snickerdoodles, and even in these easy Ice Box Cookies.
• Kosher Salt: More than just for seasoning, Kosher salt is a crucial flavor enhancer in baking. It not only heightens the nuanced flavors of the cake and spices but also masterfully tempers the sweetness of the caramel and brown sugar, preventing the dessert from becoming cloyingly rich.
• Unsalted Butter: High-quality unsalted butter contributes a smooth, luxurious richness to the caramel topping, helping it achieve that perfect sheen and depth of flavor. In the cake batter, creamed with sugar, it incorporates air for lightness and provides essential fat for a tender, moist texture. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the exact amount of salt in the recipe.
• Light Brown Sugar: This provides both sweetness and a wonderful depth of flavor, thanks to its molasses content. Using light brown sugar in both the caramel and the cake batter helps keep the cake incredibly soft and moist, while adding those signature warm, rich molasses notes that pair so beautifully with pears and spices.
• Whole Eggs: Eggs are vital for structure, richness, and binding the ingredients together. They contribute to the cake’s overall texture and help it rise beautifully.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer, pure vanilla extract adds a warm, sweet aroma and rounds out the flavors of the cake, complementing the spices and fruit without overpowering them.
• Buttermilk: The secret to an exceptionally moist and tender cake! In baking, I typically opt for low-fat buttermilk rather than full-fat. It provides just enough fat to ensure the cake remains moist and sufficient moisture to properly hydrate the flour and other dry ingredients. Crucially, its acidity reacts with the baking soda, creating the necessary lift for a beautifully tall and fluffy cake.

For precise measurements and further details on ingredients, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card below.

Delicious Variations to Enhance Your Pear Upside Down Cake

While this classic recipe is perfect as is, it also offers fantastic flexibility for customization. Feel free to experiment with these delicious variations to make it uniquely yours:

• Buttermilk Substitutions: If you find yourself without store-bought buttermilk, a common homemade substitute involves mixing milk with lemon juice or vinegar. However, for the best textural results in this cake, which relies on specific acid-base reactions, I recommend a more robust alternative: substitute with ½ cup of sour cream mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. This will yield a cake that is still wonderfully moist, though it might be ever so slightly denser than one made with true buttermilk.
• Change the Cake Flavor Profile: The spice blend here is divine, but you can easily adjust it to your preference! Introduce a bright citrus note by adding the zest of an orange or lemon to the batter. For a different autumnal twist, swap out some of the spices for a pre-made blend like homemade apple pie spice or my cozy pumpkin spice recipe. Feeling adventurous? A light touch of my speculoos spice mix can add a wonderfully unique, warm, and slightly peppery depth (use sparingly to avoid overpowering the pears). You could also double the vanilla extract for a more pronounced classic vanilla flavor.
• Experiment with Different Fruit Toppings: The beauty of an upside down cake is its versatility with fruit. The key is to choose fruits that maintain their shape and texture when baked. While pears are stellar, consider other firm fruits like sliced apples (such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), firm peaches (peeled), or even pineapple rings for a tropical twist. Avoid overly soft fruits like very ripe mangoes, which tend to bake into a mushy consistency. For an elevated twist, you could even use red wine poached pears, similar to those I use in my elegant Hazelnut Pear Tart, for a sophisticated presentation and depth of flavor.

How to Make Pear Upside Down Cake: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating this beautiful and delicious Pear Upside Down Cake is a rewarding experience. Follow these detailed steps for a perfect bake. Further precise measurements and comprehensive details can be found in the full recipe card below!

Prepare the Pears:

Step 1: Begin by carefully preparing your pears. Peel each pear, then slice them lengthwise into quarters. Using a small spoon or corer, carefully slice out the fibrous core from each quarter. Finally, slice each pear quarter crossways into approximately ¼-inch thick pieces. This thickness is ideal for arranging them beautifully in a fanned pattern. Set these prepared pear slices aside while you work on the caramel.

Make the Topping (Caramel Layer):

Step 2: Prepare your baking pan. Lightly spray a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray to ensure nothing sticks. Next, and this is a critical step, line the bottom of the pan with a circle of parchment paper. This parchment barrier is your insurance policy for a flawless release and presentation. Once lined, set the pan aside. Preheat your oven to 325°F if using convection (with a fan) or 350°F if using a conventional oven (no fan).

Step 3: Now, let’s create the luscious caramel that will form the stunning top layer of your cake. In a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the lemon juice, cinnamon, and the light brown sugar. Stir gently to combine the ingredients. Continue to cook this mixture, stirring only occasionally to prevent crystallization, until it comes to a rolling boil and the sugar has completely dissolved and caramelized. The caramel will deepen to a beautiful medium amber color, reminiscent of the warm hues of autumn leaves. Carefully pour this hot caramel mixture into your prepared 9-inch pan and use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to spread it evenly across the bottom.

Step 4: Once the caramel is spread, it’s time to arrange your pear slices. You can lay them out artfully in a concentric pattern, overlapping them slightly to create a stunning collage, or simply scatter them in a more rustic, willy-nilly fashion. Rest assured, regardless of your artistic approach, the cake will be equally delicious. The beauty of this cake is that even a simple arrangement yields an impressive result.

Make the Cake Batter:

Step 5: In a medium-sized bowl, combine all your dry ingredients. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, and the warming spices (cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom). Sifting is crucial here to ensure an even distribution and an incredibly tender cake crumb. Once sifted, whisk them briefly to ensure they are thoroughly combined, then set the bowl aside.

Step 6: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream together the softened unsalted butter and packed light brown sugar. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and noticeably pale in color, typically for 3-5 minutes. This creaming process incorporates air, essential for a light cake. Next, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure everything is fully incorporated. Add the pure vanilla extract with the very last egg, mixing until just combined.

Step 7: Reduce your mixer speed to low. Now, you will alternately add the sifted flour mixture and the buttermilk to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Add about one-third of the flour mixture, mix until just combined, then half of the buttermilk, mix, then another third of the flour, mix, the remaining buttermilk, mix, and finally the last third of the flour, mixing until just barely incorporated.

Bake and Finish:

Step 8: Carefully pour the prepared cake batter over the arranged pears and caramel in the pan. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to gently spread the batter evenly, making sure not to disturb the pear layer underneath too much.

Step 9: Transfer the pan to your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until the cake is beautifully puffed, golden brown around the edges, and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs clinging to it (not wet batter). This indicates it’s perfectly baked through.

Step 10: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven. While the cake is still warm, immediately run a thin butter knife or an offset spatula around the inner edges of the pan to help release the cake from the sides. This is a crucial step to prevent sticking. After allowing the cake to cool for precisely 15 minutes in the pan, confidently flip the cake out onto a rimmed baking sheet (to catch any drips) or a wire rack. The caramel will still be warm and slightly fluid, so ensure you have something underneath to catch any delicious drips! This 15-minute window is key for a perfect release.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pear Upside Down Cake

If you tried this delicious Pear Upside Down Cake recipe and absolutely loved it, please don’t hesitate to leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I genuinely love hearing from you; your feedback and comments truly make my day!

Before You Go: Explore More Delicious Recipes!

I sincerely hope you thoroughly enjoyed this professional chef-tested recipe for Pear Upside Down Cake. It’s a delightful dessert that truly showcases the magic of seasonal baking! If you’re eager to continue your culinary adventure, I invite you to explore our other delicious, chef-developed cake recipes. You might fall in love with my acclaimed best carrot cake recipe, renowned for its moistness and perfect spice balance. Or, perhaps you’re looking for the perfect accompaniment? Browse our collection of exquisite ice cream recipes to find an ideal frozen treat to serve alongside this wonderful pear cake. Happy baking and happy eating!