Name: Spiced Pear Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 20 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 18
Cuisine: US
Ingredients: Cooking spray; 0.5 cup unsalted butter; 4 cups white sugar, divided; 5 medium pears - peeled, cored, and sliced; 0.5 (12 ounce) package fresh cranberries; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1.5 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon salt; 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves; 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1 cup vanilla soy milk; 0.66666668653488 cup canola oil; 4 large eggs; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1 cup chopped walnuts

A delightful autumnal confection featuring tender pears and tart cranberries caramelized to perfection, crowned with a moist, nutty cake. Serve warm for a comforting dessert that's both elegant and easy to create.

Follow The Directions

01

Step

0 mins

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Cut a rectangle of parchment paper to fit the bottom of an 8x12-inch cake pan. Spray the pan with cooking spray, then line the bottom with the parchment paper. (5 minutes)

02

Step

3 mins

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 cups of sugar and cook, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is bubbling, about 3 minutes. Add pear slices; reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and add cranberries, gently stirring to combine. (10 minutes)

03

Step

0 mins

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and nutmeg until well combined. (3 minutes)

04

Step

0 mins

In a separate large bowl, combine the remaining 2 cups of sugar, soy milk, canola oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer to beat until the batter is smooth. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in the chopped walnuts. (7 minutes)

05

Step

0 mins

Pour the pear-cranberry mixture into the prepared cake pan, spreading it evenly across the bottom. Gently pour the cake batter over the fruit mixture, using a spatula to spread it evenly. (5 minutes)

06

Step

1 hrs 10 mins

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 70 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. (80 minutes)

07

Step

0 mins

Place a platter on top of the cake pan and carefully invert the pan and platter together, allowing the cake to settle onto the platter. Lift the cake pan off, revealing the caramelized fruit topping. Serve warm. (5 minutes)

For a deeper caramel flavor, use brown sugar instead of white sugar for the fruit layer.
If you don't have vanilla soy milk, regular milk or another plant-based milk alternative will work.
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra touch of indulgence.
The cake is best enjoyed warm or at room temperature on the day it is baked, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.