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brown butter pear cake
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Brown Butter Pear Cake

This brown butter pear cake is an upside down cake flavored with ginger and cinnamon. Simple steps to make brown butter to use flavoring the pears and as an rich addition to the cake batter.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, French
Keyword brown butter pear cake, make brown butter, upside down pear cake
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 383kcal
Author Evelyn

Equipment

Ingredients

To prepare pan:

  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 Tablespoons flour

For the Cake

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350° F. Butter a 9 inch springform pan or a 9 inch cake pan using a brush to completely cover the bottom and sides of the pan so your upside down cake does not stick.
  • Set your cake pan on a large piece of parchment paper and draw a circle around the bottom. Cut out the circle to line the bottom of the pan.
  • Place to parchment paper circle in the pan and then generously butter the paper. Sprinkle the pan with flour and shake it so it completely covers the inside of the cake pan. Shake out the excess flour. This will help insure the easy removal of the upside down pear cake.

Brown Butter Instructions

  • Add ½ cup room temperature butter to a sauté skillet. Bring the heat up to medium high, stirring constantly until the butter melts.
  • Continue to stir as the butter begins to foam and eventually turns a golden brown. (about 4-7 minutes). The milk solids will toast on the bottom of the pan and the browned butter will have a nutty buttery rich aroma.
  • Pour the browned butter from the sauté pan into a small bowl or ramekin. Measure for two tablespoons back into the pan. Place the bowl of the remaining browned butter in the freezer to set up. You need to stir the bowl of chilling butter every few minutes as it sets so it has the consistency of whipped butter. Add the brown sugar to the butter in the pan and heat, stirring constantly as the sugar melts.
  • Add the peeled sliced pears to the pan and gently stir to coat them with the sugar mixture as they cook. Simmer until the pear slices are soft and remove from heat but keep warm.

Pear Cake Instructions

  • Add flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and ground ginger to a large mixing bowl. Whisk together and set aside.
  • Remove your browned butter from the freezer. It should have the chilled consistency of a whipped butter, stir it one last time and set aside.
  • Add the sugar, butter and browned butter to a large mixing bowl, mix with a mixer until completely combined.
  • Add eggs one at a time and mix on low and then add the vanilla and mix
  • Add the milk and flour mixture a little at a time to the butter egg mixture, mixing as you go.
  • Add the pears and the sauce into your prepared springform pan, smooth out to cover the entire bottom. Arrange the pears in a circle or any way you choose.
  • Carefully dollop your brown butter pear cake on top of the pears.  Carefully spread so it evenly covers the pear mixture.  Place in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick poked in it comes out almost clean. (a few crumbs attached) 
  • Remove cake from oven and let it rest for about 1-2 minutes then run a sharp knife around the edges of the pan to loosen. Place a cake plate on top of the pan and flip.   Immediately loosen the springform pan and remove the ring, remove the bottom of the pan and carefully lift off the parchment paper. 
  • As soon as the cake is cooled, dust with powdered sugar using a sugar duster or a small mesh strainer.   Slice into 8 equal slices and serve with additional powdered sugar dusted on top.  

Nutrition

Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 386mg | Potassium: 184mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 669IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2mg