Upside-Down Pear Cake

20130921-152139.jpg

My grandpa gave us lots of pears last time we were back home for a visit. I have been trying my best to eat them all before they go bad. But it has been difficult with all the good produce in season.

We are having a fall dinner tomorrow and I think this will be the perfect finish to our menu. I have always wanted to make an upside- down cake with pears and since I have plenty on hand I thought there is no better time then now.

Ingredients:
1 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup no sugar added applesauce
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 pears (peeled. sliced, and cored)
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup egg whites or egg substitute
1/3 cup Maple syrup
1 Tsp pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven 350.

2. Line a 9″ round cake pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.

20130921-153257.jpg

2. Place flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger in a bowl and mix.

20130921-221240.jpg

3. In a separate bowl mix sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and egg whites.

20130921-222146.jpg

4. Add flour mix and buttermilk alternating the two and mixing after each addition.

20130921-222424.jpg

5. In small sauce pan over medium heat warm maple syrup until thick about 2 to 4 minutes.

20130921-222633.jpg

6. Spread the pears evenly on the parchment paper.

20130921-222838.jpg

7. Once the maple syrup has thickened pour over the sliced pears.

20130921-223059.jpg

8. Now pour batter over pears.

20130921-223200.jpg

9. Bake on 350 for 23-25 minutes.

20130921-223325.jpg

10. Let cool on wire rack for 5 minutes and remove from pan

20130921-223403.jpg