Amaretto Pear Upside Down Cake Recipes

PEACH AMARETTO UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk the flour and baking powder together in a small bowl; set aside.
• Stir the brown sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, and amaretto liqueur in a 9-inch pie pan until the sugar has dissolved. Arrange the peach slices in the pan and sprinkle with the pecans; set aside. Beat 1/4 cup butter and the white sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the first egg until incorporated, the beat in the second along with the almond extract. Pour in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing until just incorporated. Gently pour the batter over the peaches and pecans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before running a knife along the edges and inverting onto a serving plate to cool.

PEAR UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Make the topping: Melt butter in the bottom of a 10 1/2-inch cast-iron skillet over low heat. Add brown sugar, stirring until dissolved. Swirl to coat the bottom; remove from heat, and cool. Cut pears into 1/4-inch-thick wedges, and arrange them in a circular pattern over the brown-sugar mixture to cover completely; set aside.
• Make the batter: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla extract; beat to combine. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating to combine.
• Alternating with the milk, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and mix, on low speed, just until the flour is incorporated.
• In a large bowl, beat reserved egg whites and the cream of tartar with a hand mixer until stiff but not dry. Using a rubber spatula, fold egg whites into the batter. Transfer to skillet. Using an offset spatula, spread the batter evenly, being careful not to disturb the pears.
• Bake until well browned on top and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Run a knife around inside of pan, and immediately invert the cake onto a serving dish. Serve warm or at room temperature.

AMARETTO PEAR UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° degrees. Butter six 1-¼ cup custard cups, ramekins, or giant muffin tins.
• Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Add brown sugar and honey; cook over low heat for about 2 minutes until mixture no longer separates.
• Divide mixture evenly between prepared dishes.
• Cut each pear into 12 wedges and place 4 wedges in the bottom of each dish; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, beat remaining 6 tablespoons butter until light and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs and vanilla.
• In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
• Combine milk and Amaretto in a bowl. Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, then half of the liquid, beating well after each addition.
• Repeat until all ingredients are combined.
• Pour batter into the six prepared dishes, smoothing the top.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from oven and place on a rack for 10 minutes.
• Carefully flip each dish over onto serving plates to remove from dish.
• Serve immediately with lightly sweetened cream and toasted almond slices.

UPSIDE-DOWN PEAR CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and then heavily butter a nine-inch pie pan.
• Toss the pears with the lemon juice and arrange them in an attractive pattern in the bottom of the pan.
• Combine one cup of the sugar with the water in a skillet or saucepan, preferably nonstick. Cook over medium heat without stirring until the mixture turns amber. Pour this caramel evenly over the pears. Set aside.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and nutmeg together. Stir in the walnuts and set aside. Cream the stick of butter and the remaining sugar together. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the flour mixture. Spread this batter evenly over the pears.
• Bake 30 minutes, until the cake is nicely browned.
• Allow the cake to cool at least 40 minutes, then run a knife around the sides and invert the pan onto a serving platter. Any slices of pear that cling to the pan after the cake has been turned out can be replaced on the top of the cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.