Pear Vanilla Upside Down Cake with Almond Meal
This rustic upside down cake features tender poached pears caramelized with vanilla bean, sitting atop a moist almond meal cake. The pears are gently cooked in sugar syrup with lemon juice until soft and fragrant, creating a beautiful caramelized topping when inverted. The cake base combines eggs whipped to airy perfection with self-raising flour and almond meal for a tender crumb with subtle nutty flavor. Perfect for afternoon tea or dessert, this cake showcases seasonal pears in an elegant presentation that's surprisingly simple to make.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup raw superfine sugarregular caster sugar1:1budget
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- ½ cup water
- juice of half a lemon
- 1 vanilla bean, split
- 2 pears, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
- 4 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup raw superfine sugarregular caster sugar1:1budget
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- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 cup self raising flour
- 1 cup almond meal
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to specified temperature
- 2
Heat ovenproof frying pan over medium heat
- 3
Add water and sugar to pan, stir until dissolved
- 4
Add vanilla bean, pears, and lemon juice to pan
- 5
Cook pears until soft, then remove from heat and set aside
- 6
Whisk eggs and sugar in stand mixer until pale and tripled in volume
- 7
Switch to lowest speed and sift in flour
- 8
Fold in almond meal, oil, and lemon juice
- 9
Pour cake mixture over poached pears
- 10
Bake until cake tester comes out clean
- 11
Turn out onto serving platter
Tips
Ensure eggs are at room temperature for better volume when whisking with sugar.
Use a well-seasoned or non-stick ovenproof pan to prevent sticking when inverting the cake.
Let the cake cool for 5-10 minutes before inverting to allow the caramel to set slightly.
Good to Know
Store covered at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Can be made 1 day ahead and stored covered at room temperature.
Serve at room temperature or slightly warm, with whipped cream if desired.
Common Mistakes
Don't skip room temperature eggs to avoid poor volume when whisking
Avoid overcooking pears to prevent them becoming mushy
Substitutions
Gluten-Free Swaps
Nut-Free Alternatives
General Alternatives
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FAQ
Can I use other fruits instead of pears?
Yes, apples, peaches, or plums work well. Adjust cooking time based on fruit firmness.
What if I don't have an ovenproof frying pan?
Cook pears in regular pan, then transfer to greased cake tin and proceed with recipe.
How long will this cake keep?
Stores well covered at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerated up to 5 days.