
Almond-Pear Upside Down Cake
By Kaitlin Wayne

Yields:
1
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
50 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
This tender, flavorful cake is the perfect way to highlight fall’s sweet in-season pears. With plenty of buttery richness from Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, and sweet autumnal flavors via real vanilla bean and ground cardamom, it’s the perfect dessert to impress a holiday crowd. For an impressive finish, dust with vanilla-scented powdered sugar and dollop with whipped cream.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1/2 cup
(1 stick) Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, plus more for greasing the pan
- 1/3 cup
turbinado sugar
- 1
pears, sliced 1/4" thick, unpeeled
- 2/3 cup
granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup
light brown sugar
- 1
vanilla bean, split and scraped, pod reserved
- 2
large eggs
- 1/2 tsp.
almond extract
- 1 cup
all-purpose flour
- 1 cup
almond flour
- 2 tsp.
baking powder
- 1 tsp.
baking soda
- 1 tsp.
kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp.
ground cardamom
- 1/2 cup
buttermilk
For the vanilla sugar:
- 1 cup
powdered sugar
- 1
vanilla bean pod (reserved from above)
Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
- Step 1Preheat the oven to 350°. Generously grease a 9" round springform cake pan with Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter. Line the bottom with a 9" parchment round and grease the top of the paper. Sprinkle turbinado sugar all over the bottom and sides of the pan. Arrange the pear slices decoratively in an even layer on the bottom of the pan.
- Step 2Make the cake: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and the vanilla bean seeds. Rub them together with your fingers until the vanilla has infused into the sugar.
- Step 3
Add the stick of Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter to the bowl and using the paddle attachment, mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minute.
- Step 4
Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping between each addition. Add the almond extract and mix well.
- Step 5
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom.
- Step 6
Add the dry ingredients to the bowl alternately with the buttermilk, scraping the bowl as needed. Mix just until combined.
- Step 7
Spread the batter evenly on top of the pears in the prepared cake pan. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Step 8
Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out, upside down onto a cooling rack. Peel away the parchment paper and let cool.
- Step 9
Make the vanilla sugar: Add the powdered sugar to a small food processor with the reserved vanilla bean pod and process until it has been broken down into a fine powder.
- Step 10
Serve the cooled cake dusted with vanilla sugar.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

From Delish for Shipt
9 Summer Barbecue Staples to Grab from Shipt

From Delish for Heluva Good!
Our Summer Barbecue Secret

From Delish for Epicurean
5 Considerations For Your Next Cutting Board

How Seeds Became A Quest For Deliciousness
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below