Upside Down Pear Chocolate Cake

Upside down pear chocolate cake will impress anyone who sees it. Moist, with pears and chocolate complimenting one another.

Serves: 8-10

Prep Time: 20 min

Cooking Time: 40 min

Total:  60 min

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups sugar, divided
1/4 cup water
3 ripe, firm pears, peeled, cored and sliced in half
1/4 cup unsalted butter
4oz. quality dark chocolate
1 cup flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk, room temperature

Directions

1. Grease a 9 inch round or square baking dish with butter and set aside.
2. In a saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and water.  Stir until sugar dissolves slightly.  Then, on medium heat bring sugar to a boil.  Do not stir, rather, swirl saucepan occasionally until sugar caramelizes and turns a dark amber colour.
3. Pour sugar into prepared baking dish and let harden as it cools.
4. Arrange pears on top of the hardened caramel.
5. To make the cake, melt butter and chocolate in a saucepan, stirring occasionally.
6. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl, and set aside.
7. Transfer melted butter and chocolate to a large bowl.  Add sugar and beat with an electric mixer.  Add eggs one at a time, while beating continuously, then vanilla.
8. Add half the flour mixture and mix using a spatula.  Add half the milk and mix.  Repeat until flour mixture and milk is used, and cake batter has been completely combined.
9. Pour batter over the pears and bake in a preheated oven at 350F for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
10. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes on a wire rack.
11. Carefully invert onto a plate, leaving the pan inverted on top of the cake for 5-8 minutes.
12. Remove pan and serve cake wither warm or room temperature, with cream, vanilla ice cream, or plain.

Recipe from technicolorkitcheninenglish.blogspot.com