Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake

Form Taste of Home Magazine

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 9

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter, melted
• 1⁄2 cup  coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1⁄4 cup  packed brown sugar
• 2  large pears, peeled and sliced
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 1⁄3 cup sugar
• 1  egg
• 1⁄3 cup molasses
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 cup warm water
•  ice cream (optional)

Directions

1. Pour melted butter into a 9-in. square baking pan; sprinkle with nuts and brown sugar. Arrange pears over nuts.
2. In a large bowl, cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with water, beating well after each addition.
3. Spread batter over pears. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm with ice cream if desired.