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–+ servings

Pear and Sweet Potato Upside-Down Cake

Most and tender sweet potato cake topped with caramelized pears and crunchy walnuts
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Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

Sweet potatoes

  • 3 medium sweet potatoes

Dry ingredients

  • 2½ cups flour all purpose or cake
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp cardamom

Wet ingredients

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Topping

  • ⅓ cup butter
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 3-4 bosc pears peeled and sliced into ½-inch slices or pear of you choice
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions
 

Sweet Potatoes

  • Wash sweet potatoes and rub with oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast at 400° for 45 minutes
  • When cool, peel and puree in a food processor or mash with a potato masher
  • Set aside

dry ingredients

  • Add all dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk well

Wet ingredients

  • Cream butter and sugar together for at least 3 minutes until light and fluffy
  • Add eggs one at a time beating to combine after each egg
  • Add vanilla and sweet potatoes and combine
  • Set aside

Topping

  • In a 9 by 13 inch cast iron or baking dish, or a round 12 inch cast iron
  • Heat pan over medium heat and add the butter
  • When the butter is melted, add the brown sugar and maple syrup, stirring to combine
  • Turn off the heat and arrange your pears evenly and tucked in close together
  • Top with the walnuts if using
  • Set aside

Wet and dry together

  • Combine the dry ingredients with the wet by alternating the dry ingredients with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients

Putting it all together

  • Pour the batter over the pears and smooth it out
  • Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air pockets
  • Bake in a 350° degree oven for 40 to 50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
  • Remove to a cooling rack and let cool for 15 minutes
  • Place a plate or serving platter over the cake and flip
  • Remove the pan and let the cake cool before cutting it
  • If you lose a few pears in the pan, place them back on the cake
  • You can serve this cake on its own or with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
Keyword pear upside down cake
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