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As the leaves begin to don their vibrant shades of red and gold, and a crispness fills the air, there’s no denying that fall has arrived and it is time for a pear and plum upside down cake. It’s a season that awakens our senses, conjuring images of orchards heavy with fruit, and the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked treats wafting from cozy kitchens.
And what better way to embrace the essence of autumn than with a delectable plum and pear cake? These two fruits, at the peak of their ripeness during this time of year, come together in a harmonious dance of flavors and textures, creating a dessert that encapsulates the very essence of the fall season. Join me in exploring this delightful recipe that brings the spirit of autumn to your plate, one sweet, spiced bite at a time.
How to make an pear and plum upside down cake?
Maybe when you say this expression – pear and plum upside down cake – it sounds sophisticated, but in reality, an pear and plum upside down cake can be much easier to make than a regular cake. The uniqueness of this dessert lies in the serving method, meaning the prepared cake will be flipped over before serving.
In practice, preparing this type of cake involves adding all the ingredients to the baking dish, but the final dish is served in reverse, meaning you’ll flip the cake onto a serving platter before enjoying it. This way, the first layer placed in the baking tray during preparation, which, in our case, consists of plums and pears, will become the top layer once the cake is turned over onto a serving platter.
The texture of an pear and plum upside down cake is unique, perfectly combining the creaminess of caramelized fruits with the fluffy cake base, baked just enough for a delightful result. Unlike the original recipe that inspired me when I chose to make this dessert, I used a lot more fruits. This made it unnecessary to use a large amount of sugar; quite the opposite.
I believe that 100 grams of brown sugar is a small but sufficient amount for a kids-friendly dessert. However, the sweet taste of the cake primarily comes from the baked fruits. Both the ripe pears and ripe plums have a natural sweetness that allows you to significantly reduce the sugar content.
And even the most food-demanding children, or those who usually refuse to eat fruits, will be captivated by the taste and texture of this pear and plum upside down cake.
How do you flip an pear and plum upside down cake?
Flipping an pear and plum upside down cake is the exciting final step that transforms this dessert into a beautiful, ready-to-serve treat. To do this, follow these simple steps:
- Prepare Your Plate: Start by selecting a serving plate that’s slightly larger than your cake. This will give you some room to catch any drips of delicious caramelized fruit topping.
- Let It Cool Slightly: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes after taking it out of the oven. This helps to set the caramelized fruit topping and prevents it from being too runny when you flip the cake.
- Run a Knife Around the Edge: Gently run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen it from the sides of the pan. This will make it easier to release the cake.
- Place the Plate on Top: Take your serving plate and place it upside down on top of the cake pan. Ensure it covers the entire top of the cake.
- Flip It: Hold onto both the cake pan and the plate securely, and then quickly flip them over together. The cake pan should now be upside down on top of the plate.
- Give It a Tap: Gently tap the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon or spatula to loosen the cake. You should hear a satisfying “plop” as the cake releases onto the plate.
- Lift the Pan: Carefully lift the cake pan off the plate. If any fruit sticks to the pan, gently place it back on the cake where it belongs.
- Enjoy: Your pear and plum upside down cake is now beautifully presented, with the caramelized fruit topping on top. Allow it to cool a bit more, then slice and serve.
With these steps, you can confidently flip your upside-down cake for a stunning presentation that will impress your guests or family.
How to serve the Pear and Plum upside down cake?
As you already know, I like to always prepare recipes using ingredients that are in season. However, as I’ve mentioned before, to be able to use organically grown fruits and vegetables even in the cold season, we can always turn to frozen fruits or vegetables. And plums, for example, are fruits that can be successfully preserved throughout the winter, making it extremely easy to keep them in the freezer.
But if in the middle of winter, you crave for pear and plum upside down cake and you don’t have your own frozen plums, there’s no problem; you can use store-bought plums and pears without any issues.
I believe this dessert is a wonderful choice for lovers of sweet fruits or for people looking for dessert options with a lower sugar content, preferring to use a larger quantity of fruits to sweeten the dessert. Unlike a simple loaf, this pear and plum upside down cake will most likely be served with utensils because it has a rather soft texture, thanks to the baked fruits, making it quite difficult to hold by hand.
In my opinion, this dessert can be successfully served as a family dessert or even at a gathering with friends. Furthermore, if you choose to prepare a larger quantity, this recipe can be a great birthday cake option.
If you serve it while it’s still slightly warm, it pairs wonderfully with a scoop of honey ice cream, which will undoubtedly trigger an explosion of flavors with every bite. I’ll stop writing now because, honestly, I’m craving for a bite, and I prefer to let you enjoy this simple but delicious pear and plum upside down cake recipe.
Full Recipe – Pear and Plum upside down Cake
I made this recipe using the Thermomix, but you already know that you don’t need to own this device to achieve the same incredible final result. Simply use a mixer or a spatula, and you can follow the steps of this easy and delicious recipe. Cookidoo users can also check the original recipe, but I choose to adapt it to my needs and preferences, because I wanted to use less sugar for this pear and plum upside down cake recipe and this way to make it kids friendly.
Pear and Plum Upside Down Cake recipe
Equipment
- 1 Thermomix / Mixer
- 1 Oven
Ingredients
- 125 g Unsalted butter soft, plus extra for greasing
- 100 g Sugar brown
- 5-6 pcs Plums halved, stone removed then cut in wedges
- 5-6 pcs Cored Pears peeled and cut into small cubes
- 1 pcs Egg medium
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 150 g Plain flour
- 175 g Milk
- 1 ½ tsp Baking powder
- 1 pinch Fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease sides and line base of a cake tin (Ø 20 cm) with baking paper.
- Place 50 g butter and 50 gr brown sugar in mixing bowl then melt 8 MIN / 100°C / Speed 1. Transfer to prepared tin.
- Arrange plum wedges over caramel around edge of prepared tin, overlapping slightly then add the pear cubes. Clean mixing bowl.
- Place remaining 75 g butter and remaining sugar in mixing bowl then cream 30 SEC / Speed 3.
- Add egg and vanilla extract then mix 20 SEC / Speed 3. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula.
- Add flour, milk, baking powder and salt then mix 10 SEC / Speed 4. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula then mix again 5 sec/speed 4. Pour batter carefully over fruit. Bake for 35-40 minutes (180°C) until a skewer inserted in sponge comes out clean.
- Leave to rest in tin for 5 minutes then invert tin onto a serving plate. Serve warm – perfect with cream or honey ice cream.
Nutrition
Enjoy!
I hope you will try this incredible pear and plum upside down cake recipe because I guarantee you that if will become a must-have dessert in your family. Please remember to share your thought, opinions and reviews in the comments section. Until the next easy and delicious recipe, I wish you all a great time with your loved ones. Bye 😊
