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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Pear Upside-Down Cake

A couple of weeks ago I was telling hubby my desire to configure servers, enlighten myself with the aspects of complex networking, setting up firewalls, configuring DBs and such.You get the idea? So he placed an order for a brand-new server. While I was eagerly waiting for the FedEx guy to come knocking my door, hubby's friend caught wind of this and decided to give(gift) me a server for free.Umm nearly free. So I have a couple of servers at my disposal. Lucky me!
So when hubby went to pick up the server, I had to make something for his considerate friend. Him and his family are strict vegetarians.So I wanted to make something strictly that is egg-free.Keeping in mind that I had 3 ripe Bartlett pears begging to be consumed, I browsed and found a recipe to my liking. And I ended up baking this egg-less version of a recipe I found from Martha's website.Aside from taking a couple of wedges for the pictures, I packed everything else. I have to say this was the tastiest and sweetest cake I ever made. Well, this recipe is from Martha's website. What more assurance does one need? I knew how it was going to turn out even before I bit into a luscious wedge. The sugar in the topping gets gooey when baking and once you invert it, the gooey goodness slowly sinks into the cake making it utterly moist and scrumptious. And yes, the flavor improves over time. So make sure to make it at-least a day before serving.

Sending this and Blueberry CoffeeCake With Streusel Topping, Cinnamon,Sugar and Raisins stuffed baked apples and Cherry Cake as an entry to this month's Monthly Mingle "Baking With Fruit" at Deeba's, brainchild of Meeta@ What's for lunch Honey.
For The Topping:
  • 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, packed (Original calls for "Light")
  • 4 Tbsp Butter
  • 2 Ripe Bartlett Pears
For The Cake Batter:
  • 1-1/2 Cups King Arthur All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1/2 Cup Whole Milk
  • 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Tbsp Hodgson Mill Pure Cornstarch
  • 1 Ripe Banana, smashed
  • 2 Tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/4 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Tool:
  • 9-1/2" Round Cake Pan
Procedure:
  • Prepare the Topping: In a non-stick pan, melt the butter and dark-brown sugar till the sugar dissolves.
  • Grease the Cake pan with a little butter.
  • Pour the sugar mixture and spread it evenly.
  • Peel, core and cut the pears into 1/4" thick wedges. Arrange the pears in a circular fashion.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Puree the banana and set the pulp aside.
  • Sift together baking powder, flour and cornstarch.
  • Combine oil, sugar, banana pulp together using an electric mixer. Add salt, milk and vanilla extract.
  • Add flour in batches to the combine. 
  • Pour the batter on the top of the arranged Pears in the pan.
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until the toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Invert the cake onto a plate or serving dish.
  • Cool the cake and cut it into wedges.
Makes 7-8 servings.

Notes:
  • If you'd rather use eggs, replace the banana and cornstarch with 2 eggs.
Enjoy!

29 comments:

  1. Luscious upside down cake..I was looking for an eggless upside down cake recipe, thanks lassie for posting this at the right time.Thanks a bunch...

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  2. This looks scrumptious!
    Looks like a perfect recipe without eggs.

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  3. My fav as well..looks super tempting and wish I have a slice as well.

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  4. I have tasted a regular pear cake at my sisters, but never the upside down version. Looks good.

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  5. this is absolutely yumm!! nice eggless version.

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  6. Beautiful cake..love how the pears came out caramelized!

    US Masala

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  7. Wow..gorgeous cake. It looks very impressive and delicious:)

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  8. OMG, this looks absolutely perfect. mouth watering here:)

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  9. மிகவும் அருமையாக இருக்கு...பார்க்கும் பொழுதே சாப்பிட தோனுது...

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  10. Hi,

    Lovely cake dear...:)

    Dr.Sameena@

    http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

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  11. that looks perfect...love all the caramelization and the pears...something other than pineapple upside down cake!!:))

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  12. Hi.
    Nice gift. Eggless versions are always welcome. Long time we chatted dear, hopefully I will catch u online sometime.
    FOODELICIOUS

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  13. I love the caramelized look....wish to have a slice ;-)

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  14. Great colour and fabulous combination of ingredients ♥

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  15. Succulent cake to enjoy cl .Love to have some .

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  16. wouldn't mind a piece with some icecream :)

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  17. I still have to try and upside down cake, and this one is VERY tempting. YUM!! Thank you for bringing it to the Mingle my dear!

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Thanks a bunch for your valuable comments and continued support.They are very much appreciated. Yes,like "Rain on Dry Land" and like "Oasis in Desert Sand".
XoXo, Cool Lassi(e)