Gingered Pear and Brown Butter Upside-Down Cake

Ingredients

Contains: egg, milk, wheat (auto-detected from the ingredients and method; we can miss things, so check labels)

• 2 whole Semi-Firm Bosc Pears, Peeled, Cored And Sliced Into Eighths
• 2 Tablespoons Chopped Crystallized Ginger
• 1-½ stick Unsalted Butter, Divided
• 1 Tablespoon Bourbon (or Water If Preferred)
• ¼ cups Light Brown Sugar
• 1 pinch Kosher Salt
• 1-½ cup Plus 2 Tablespoons, All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
• ¼ teaspoons Kosher Salt
• ¼ teaspoons Fresh Ground Nutmeg
• 1 whole Vanilla Bean, Split In Half Lengthwise And Scraped Of Its Caviar
• ½ cups Granulated Sugar
• 2 whole Eggs
• ⅔ cups Buttermilk

Directions

Method written by CompKitchen from the ingredient list. Not the original author's method, not kitchen-tested.

1. Heat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Brown half of the butter in a skillet over medium heat until nutty and golden, about 4 minutes, then pour it into a 9-inch cake pan.

2. Stir the light brown sugar and the pinch of kosher salt into the browned butter in the pan, spreading it evenly, then scatter the chopped crystallized ginger over the top.

3. Arrange the pear eighths in overlapping circles over the sugar mixture, packing a few into the center.

4. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, the remaining kosher salt and the nutmeg together in a bowl.

5. Beat the remaining softened butter with the granulated sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape in the vanilla bean seeds, then beat in the eggs one at a time.

6. Stir the bourbon or water into the buttermilk. Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to the butter mixture, starting and ending with flour, mixing until just combined.

7. Spread the batter gently over the pears. Bake 25 minutes, until the cake is set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

8. Cool the cake in the pan for 5 minutes, run a knife around the edge, then invert onto a serving plate and lift off the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.