Sandras Caramel Pear Upside Down Cake Food

PEAR UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Cut out a circle of baking paper that is roughly 2cm/¾in larger than the base of a 20cm/8in springform or loose-based round cake tin. Grease the sides of the tin and place the paper circle in the base, pressing up the sides slightly. This will help hold the caramel.
• For the pears, make a caramel by melting the sugar in small, deep saucepan over a low heat until golden brown, stirring only once most of the sugar has melted. (CAUTION: boiling sugar is extremely hot. Handle very carefully. Use a deep pan to avoid bubbling over.) Add the butter and stir with a long-handled wooden spoon very gently until melted. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the rum and ginger syrup until the sauce is smooth. Leave the caramel to stand for 15-20 minutes, or until it cools enough to coat the back of a spoon, stirring occasionally. Place a baking tray on the bottom of the oven to catch any caramel that leaks out of the cake tin and preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
• While the caramel is cooling, peel the pears, cut into quarters and remove the cores. Cut each pear quarter into 3-4 long slices. Place the pear slices in the caramel and turn to coat. Arrange the pear slices in a fan shape in the bottom of the prepared cake tin.
• For the cake mixture, add all of the ingredients to a food processor and mix until smooth. Alternatively, place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until a smooth mixture is formed. Gently spoon the mixture over the pears and smooth the surface. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the cake is well risen, firm to the touch and a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the middle.
• Using oven gloves to protect your hands, carefully loosen and remove the sides of the cake tin. Place a serving plate over the cake and carefully turn over. Remove the tin base and baking paper. This needs to be done while the cake is warm otherwise the caramel will harden and the cake will be more difficult to remove.
• Slice and serve the cake warm with ice cream as a dessert or by itself as a teatime treat.

CARAMEL PECAN SUNDAES

Steps:

• For the caramel, mix 1/3 cup water and the sugar in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook, without stirring, over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium and boil uncovered until the sugar turns a warm chestnut brown (about 350 degrees F on a candy thermometer), 5 to 7 minutes, gently swirling the pan to stir the mixture. Be careful; the mixture is extremely hot! Watch the mixture constantly at the end, as it will go from caramel to burnt very quickly. Turn off the heat. Stand back to avoid splattering and slowly add the cream and vanilla. The cream will bubble violently and the caramel will solidify; don't worry. Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until the caramel dissolves and the sauce is smooth, about 2 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature, at least 4 hours. It will thicken as it sits.
• To assemble the sundaes, place 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream and 1 scoop of butter pecan ice cream in each dish and sprinkle with toasted pecans. Drizzle with caramel sauce and serve extra sauce on the side.

PEAR UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
• Lightly grease a 21x14x7cm loaf tin and line base with baking paper.
• Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the base.
• Drain the pears and reserve the syrup. Cut the pears in half and arrange, cut side down over the base of the tin.
• Sift the flour into a large bowl and make a well in the centre.
• Melt the butter and caster sugar in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved.
• Remove from heat and combine with reserved syrup and eggs.
• Pour into the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until combined - do not over mix.
• Spoon over the pears and smooth the surface.
• Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.
• Leave in the tin for 15 min before turning on a wire rack to cool.

GINGERBREAD-PEAR UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Spread 1/4 cup butter on bottom of 10 inch round cake pan or 9 inch square cake pan.
• Sprinkle with granulated sugar.
• Arrange pear slices on top.
• Cream together remaining butter and brown sugar.
• Beat in egg until light and fluffy.
• Stir in molasses.
• Dissolve baking soda in boiling water, set aside.
• Sift together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt.
• Add flour mixture alternately with dissolved baking soda to creamed mixture, stirring just until blended.
• Pour over pears.
• Bake in 350°F oven 50-65 minutes or until tester inserted into centre comes out clean.
• Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cake.
• Let cool in pan for 15 minutes, then invert a serving plate on top of pan and turn out upside-down onto plate.
• Serve warm.

SALTED CARAMEL PEAR CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 195C/175C fan/gas 5 ½. Butter and line the base of three 20cm round cake tins. Add the grated ginger to the grated pear and push down with a wooden spoon to squeeze out as much juice as possible.
• Mix the flours, spices, baking powder and 1 tsp salt in a bowl. In a stand mixer, vigorously whisk the eggs and sugars for 3 mins until thick and frothy. Slowly pour in the oil in a steady stream. Turn the speed down, then add the flour mixture, 2 tbsp at a time, alternating with the yogurt, until incorporated. Mix in the grated pear (for no longer than 20 secs). Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 25-30 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out dry.
• For the caramel, heat the pear juice and perry in a pan until reduced to about 50ml. Add the sugar and butter and whisk to a smooth caramel, then add the cream and whisk again until smooth. Add sea salt to your taste - I'd go for a generous pinch, so that the caramel is still fruity and sharp but has a little saltiness to it - then allow to cool slightly to just warmer than room temperature.
• To make the buttercream, put the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Place the bowl over a pan of boiling water, then whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is no longer gritty. Put the bowl in the mixer, then whisk until soft peaks form and the bowl returns to room temperature. Switch to the paddle attachment, then add the butter, one spoonful at a time. Add the tahini, vanilla and a pinch of salt, and beat to a light, fluffy icing.
• Place the bottom layer of sponge on a platter or cake stand, then top with a layer of the buttercream and scatter over a third of the chopped pear. Repeat with the next two layers. To ice the cake, do an intial layer all over, chill in the fridge for 20 mins, then use the remaining icing to cover everything. Use a stepped spatula to spread it out evenly. Pour the caramel over the top of the cake, and allow it to drip down the sides. Scatter with toasted buckwheat, dehydrated pear and rosemary, if you like.

SANDRA'S CARAMEL PEAR UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Melt butter and combine with sugar and corn syrup in the bottom of 2 round cake pans.
• Arrange fresh or canned pears pieces on top. (Peel and core, if fresh).
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Beat butter with eggs and wet ingredients in a large measuring cup or small bowl.
• In a larger bowl, mix dry ingredients, then add butter mixture to it, combining well.
• Pour into pans over the pear mixture.
• Bake for about 30-40 minutes.
• Loosen and invert over a serving plate; dust with confectioners sugar, if desired.