Pear-Ginger Upside-Down Cake (Holiday inspiration)

 

Makes 8 servings

Pear-ginger topping

• ¼ cup butter or margarine
• Two-third cup packed brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 3 pears, peeled, cut into ½-inch wedges
• ¼ cup finely chopped crystallized ginger

Cake

• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
• 1¼ cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ cup milk

Ginger Whipped Cream

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

1. Heat oven to 325F (160C) ; grease bottom and sides of 8- or 9-inch square pan with shortening.

Pear-ginger topping

1. In 1-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally ; stir in brown sugar and heat to boiling.
2. Remove from heat ; stir in ground ginger.
3. Pour into pan ; spread evenly .
4. Arrange pear wedges on sugar mixture, overlapping tightly and making 2 layers if necessary ; sprinkle crystallized ginger over pears.

Cake

1. In a small bowl, toss 1 tablespoon flour and crystallized ginger to coat ; set aside.
2. In another small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt ; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat brown sugar and butter with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until fluffy.
4. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth ; add vanilla.
5. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with milk, beating after each addition until smooth ; stir in ginger flour mixture.
6. Spread batter over pears in pan.
7. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean ; cool 15 minutes on wire rack.
8. Meanwhile, in chilled medium bowl, beat whipping cream on high speed until it begins to thicken ; gradually add sugar and ground ginger, beating until soft peaks form.
9. Looen edges of cake with small knife.
10. Place heatproof plate upside down onto pan ; turn plate and pan over.
11. Serve warm with ginger whipped cream.

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