Pear Gingerbread Upside-Down Cakes
- 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
- 3 Anjou pears, peeled, halved, cored
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsulfured (light) molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger (about 1 1/2 ounces)
- Butter six 1 1/4-cup custard cups.
- Place on baking sheet.
- Melt 6 tablespoons butter in medium saucepan over low heat.
- Add 3/4 cup brown sugar; whisk to blend (mixture will look grainy).
- Divide among prepared cups.
- Slice each pear half into 1/3-inch-thick wedges.
- Cut wedges crosswise in half.
- Place 6 pointed pear pieces in spoke pattern in each cup.
- Finely chop enough of remaining pear pieces to measure 3/4 cup.
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Sift flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt into medium bowl.
- Melt 1/2 cup butter in small saucepan over low heat.
- Transfer to large bowl; cool slightly.
- Add 1/2 cup brown sugar.
- Using electric mixer, beat until well blended.
- Gradually beat in molasses.
- Mix in egg.
- Add dry ingredients; beat until well blended.
- Beat in hot water.
- Add crystallized ginger and chopped pears; stir until incorporated.
- Spoon batter over pears in custard cups.
- Place in oven on baking sheet.
- Bake until cakes feel firm to touch and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
- Transfer to rack; cool 5 minutes.
- Invert onto plates.
- Let stand 10 minutes.
- Serve warm.
butter, golden brown sugar, pears, flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, salt, butter, golden brown sugar, molasses, egg, water, ginger
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pear-gingerbread-upside-down-cakes-1279 (may not work)