Skillet Pear Upside-Down Cake

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 F.

2. Step 2

   Put the 1/4 cup of butter and brown sugar in a 10 1/4-inch skillet and place it over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring, until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth. Turn the heat off and set aside.

3. Step 3

   Peel the pears. Trim the stem end and blossom end and then slice the pears in half lengthwise. With a melon baller or a 1-teaspoon measuring spoon, cut the core out of each half. Place the pear on a cutting board, cut-side down, and slice thinly. Arrange the pear slices on top of the brown sugar mixture in the skillet.

4. Step 4

   In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

5. Step 5

   In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the 6 tablespoons of softened butter with 3/4 cup of granulated sugar until light and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well blended.

6. Step 6

   With the mixer on low speed, add about one-third of the flour and half of the milk and mix until blended. Add another one-third of the flour and the remaining milk and mix until blended. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until well blended. The batter will be thick.

7. Step 7

   Spoon the batter evenly over the arranged pears. With a spatula, gently spread the batter out, taking care not to disturb the pears.

8. Step 8

   Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake. 

9. Step 9

   Remove the cake from the oven to a rack and let it stand for 4 minutes. Place a plate or platter (heatproof) over the skillet and carefully invert the cake. 

10. Step 10

    Serve warm with ice cream or drizzle some sweet cream over the cake.