Honey Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake

by Anna on May 14, 2010

in Breakfast,Dessert

Sweet, sweet Friday! But we have to be thankful for annoying Mondays, because if it wasn’t for Mondays we wouldn’t appreciate Friday as much. Things I love about my Fridays; love to go for props hunt, antique stores, and places you wouldn’t expect to find anything, but at the end… voila! The biggest prop place ever. “Home goods” awwwww, its props-land. Who knew? Tones of cutie plates and adorable bowls for peanuts. You all knew about that place? If you didn’t… go, go right now! If you did, then why nobody told me about it? Don’t keep these hidden gems all to yourself please. Of course there are cheesy things beyond believe too, but also cute little things. You have to have a good eye for it. So to sweeten up this Friday even more I baked this honey spiced upside down cake. It is a sweet, sweet treat.

Honey Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake

  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1-cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup milk

For the caramel:

  • 1cup honey
  • ¼ teaspoon cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon zest

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a round cake pan. In a bowl, stir and toss together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a saucepan mix the honey, the spices and the lemon zest let it melt a bit. Cut the pears in 1 inch slices fit the slices in the bottom of your tray and pour the honey mixture.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until blended, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture along with the milk. Beat until blended and smooth, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Enjoy, have a sweet weekend.

{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }

Anna July 6, 2010 at 5:15 PM

Thanks Verena, e sempre um prazer receber visitinhas de Brasileiras aqui.

Verena July 5, 2010 at 10:17 AM

Anna, estou aqui de queixo caído com suas fotos… que qualidade! Menina, coisa de profissional mesmo! As comidas ficam como que nos puxando para o monitor…um perigo total! E as louças, toalhas, acessórios, amei tudo! Parabéns pelo cuidado! Um beijo!

Anna June 15, 2010 at 11:20 AM

Thanks Alina, for your lovely words, glad you liked it. 😀

Alina June 15, 2010 at 10:48 AM

Aww! This post is a masterpiece Anna! I love your pictures – it’s true art you make. I love the ambience of twilight and calm. Everything looks so inviting!

The Duo Dishes May 27, 2010 at 8:44 AM

Very cool that you’re an LA blogger too. This cake looks intensely delicious. Saving this for the fall, which is the fave time to eat pears.
.-= The Duo Dishes´s last blog ..Here’s to Good Booze =-.

Veronica May 25, 2010 at 4:50 AM

I just stumbled on your blog yesterday and the pictures are gorgeous! Great anecdotes about your life as well. Luckily I happened to have two ripe pears that needed to be used, so I made this cake last night and it was fabulous. I’ll definitely be keeping the recipe and coming back to your blog for more.

betty May 23, 2010 at 10:04 PM

great photos! thank u for sharing :) x
.-= betty´s last blog ..Spinach, rocket, roast pumpkin & pan fried haloumi salad with a honey & basalmic vinegar dressing =-.

Carolyn Jung May 22, 2010 at 5:08 PM

This would be heavenly with a nice cup of spiced tea. The cake looks so buttery and wonderful. Absolutely irresistible! 😉
.-= Carolyn Jung´s last blog ..San Jose’s Bluefin Restaurant — Where Sharks Gather =-.

Lori May 20, 2010 at 3:32 AM

What great props! I have my eye out for some too. I really need some improvements in that area. :) This cake sounds delicious!
.-= Lori´s last blog ..Travel Secrets eBook for Charity:Water =-.

sarah May 19, 2010 at 3:15 PM

What a beautiful cake, and what an awesome cake stand. I have some pears in my fridge that desperately need attention. They may have found themselves a place in a wonderful cake. Thanks for the recipe.
.-= sarah´s last blog ..A Bit Less Obvious =-.

Stella May 19, 2010 at 1:01 PM

Ooh, I saw this in the last few days. I thought it looked so good. I didn’t realize it was your recipe, Anna. Photos are so extra nice by the way.
.-= Stella´s last blog ..Mazaher Cocktail =-.

Cherine May 18, 2010 at 11:00 PM

What a gorgeous cake!! Your photos are stunning!
.-= Cherine´s last blog ..Moussaka – the Greek way =-.

Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction May 18, 2010 at 5:31 PM

Wow… That cake is absolutely stunning! It looks wonderful, and I’m sure it tastes even better!
.-= Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction´s last blog ..Raspberry POM Walnut Vinaigrette =-.

Angie May 18, 2010 at 8:41 AM

Your pictures are so stunning, and what a great recipe!
.-= Angie´s last blog ..Country Style Ribs with Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce =-.

Sophie May 18, 2010 at 7:15 AM

Oooh,…WAW,…I am gobsmacked!! This is surely spine trilling!!
I so much love pears & in a georgous tarte tatin cake,…waw!

Beautiful presented too! MMMMMMMMMM,…Anna!

Many greets from sunny Brussels!
.-= Sophie´s last blog ..Duo of fresh fava bean spread open smoked salmon sandwich & sort of guacamole open smoked salmon sandwich topped with home grown garden cress =-.

Juliana May 17, 2010 at 11:46 AM

Wow Anna, this upside down cake looks delicious…love the idea of using pear…the pictures as awesome as well :-)

Erica May 17, 2010 at 9:07 AM

Anna,

You are killing me!!!!I am printing this one…Looks amazing. Love all the pictures….!!!As usual..I am drooling here :)

Anna May 16, 2010 at 11:13 PM

Hi Kristy, believe it or not the cake stand is actually from Bed Bath and Beyond,and the plate home goods. :-)

Anna May 16, 2010 at 11:00 PM

Thanks Linn, you are a doll, looking forward to your next video.

kristy May 16, 2010 at 10:58 PM

Oh Anna, this pear cake looks so irresistible! Love love love the pictures, look so cozy & very Asian… you actually bought all these plates home from the antique store. I’ll have to say they’re really gorgeous! Hope you have a sugar high Friday.. Nope it’s Monday here! haha…. Enjoy and have fun, anyway!
Cheers, Kristy
.-= kristy´s last blog ..Black Sesame & Sweet Potato Baguette =-.

May 16, 2010 at 1:12 PM

Your shots are amazing. I totally adore your pictures. Keep up the good work and you’ve got a new subscriber.
.-= Linn @ Swedish home cooking´s last blog .. =-.

Anna May 16, 2010 at 8:22 AM

Thanks Zurin, I’m glad you liked it. And OMG! Your cassava chips looks sooooo yummy and spicy, beautiful. But somehow I couldn’t comment there. 😀

Anna May 16, 2010 at 8:19 AM

Hi Jenn, almost all my dishes are white too, and I love it ….because you can get new stuff and it make sense with what you have already, but since I started blogging I’m venturing to some colorful little things so it pop out in the picture. :-)

Anna May 16, 2010 at 8:07 AM

Thanks Milly, I actually made the napkins, with some rubber stamps, when I was feeling kinda crafty.LOL

zurin May 16, 2010 at 7:56 AM

Hi Anna,

The moment I set eyes on your first foto I was bowled over….ur fotographs are simply gorgeous…absolutely. as are you r food. Im so lucky to have seen you on foodbuzz’s top 9 today!

Jenn May 16, 2010 at 6:55 AM

Anna!!!! You just found some of the best stuff at Home Goods! I’ve never heard of it, but looking at what you chose: good eye. Very good eye. All of my plates are white and I’m bored with them. If only they had Home Goods here in Canada. I guess I’ll have to find one when I go down South at some point.

I’m actually not a fan of pears, but this cake is stunning on its stand and I love the picture of the “glowing honey”. Mesmerizing 😉

Millys Mini Kitchen May 16, 2010 at 5:10 AM

Oooh, this looks lovely. Also, the Eiffel Tower napkin- SO cute.
.-= Millys Mini Kitchen´s last blog ..marzipan =-.

penny aka jeroxie May 16, 2010 at 1:02 AM

Looks awesome. And the photos are beautiful. Love that you added spices.

The Cilantropist May 15, 2010 at 9:57 PM

Congrats to you too on Top 9! 😉
.-= The Cilantropist´s last blog ..Artichokes with Lemon-Garlic Aioli in Lemon Cups =-.

Anna May 15, 2010 at 9:34 PM

Thank you K. 😀

theUngourmet May 15, 2010 at 9:06 PM

This is such a gorgeous cake! I love the cake stand and the lovely white dishes. Everything is beautiful!
.-= theUngourmet´s last blog ..Lemon poppy seed pancakes with fresh berries and sweet honey cream =-.

Anna May 15, 2010 at 8:21 PM

Thanks Patty and C and C. I really appreciate the lovely comments. 😀

Anna May 15, 2010 at 8:19 PM

Thanks Lisa, 😀

Anna May 15, 2010 at 8:19 PM

Thanks M 😀

Anna May 15, 2010 at 8:19 PM

Thank you Silvia, that would be lovely, I would love that. And we could gash about food till late. LOL

citronetvanille May 15, 2010 at 7:54 PM

Look at this gorgeous cake! Oh I wish I had a piece right now, because honestly I feel like having something sweet and I wish you lived next door so I could ring the bell and get a slice! (a big one with a cup of tea)

M. May 15, 2010 at 12:59 PM

what a gorgeous looking cake….amazing flavors and all these spices…yummy!
.-= M.´s last blog ..Design Sponge and Orange Ricotta Breakfast Dumplings recipe =-.

Lisa { AuthenticSuburbanGourmet } May 15, 2010 at 9:22 AM

Simply gorgeous photos and the cake looks amazing. A must try!
.-= Lisa { AuthenticSuburbanGourmet }´s last blog ..{ Asparagus Soup with Crème Fraiche } =-.

Patty Price May 15, 2010 at 7:44 AM

Your cake looks beautiful in your photos, love the way you put it all together.
.-= Patty Price´s last blog ..Island Dream Bars =-.

C and C Dish May 15, 2010 at 7:25 AM

Wow, this looks just wonderful!
.-= C and C Dish´s last blog ..Green Smoothie =-.

Anna May 14, 2010 at 9:30 PM

Thank you Tamar, I guess it would, if they are juicy. :-)

Cookin' Canuck May 14, 2010 at 8:13 PM

Beautiful photos with some really lovely props. The cardamom is such a lovely spice with pear.

sweetlife May 14, 2010 at 6:56 PM

I love the this cake and the caramel..oh my…you photos are stunning…

sweetlife
.-= sweetlife´s last blog ..Feeding My Fried Brain…. =-.

Tamar May 14, 2010 at 6:39 PM

Gorgeous! Would it work with the Asian pears?
.-= Tamar´s last blog ..12 Days of Tteok: Hosting your own Tteokbokki Festival =-.

The Cilantropist May 14, 2010 at 5:48 PM

This looks so rustic yet elegant, absolutely beautiful. And the flavors are homey and delicious! :)
.-= The Cilantropist´s last blog ..Artichokes with Lemon-Garlic Aioli in Lemon Cups =-.

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