For a boy who loves pears

David’s birthday cake was a pear upside down cake. We took it out of the oven at midnight on his birthday. The recipe is from a cookbook from David’s Oma, and the wooden zebra decoration was from David’s Grammy and was first used on the cake we served at his baby shower. The candle was a yellow duck candle in a small white bathtub.

Fresh Pear Upside Down Cake, for a Boy Who Loves Pears

3/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 fresh pears, pared, cored, and halved
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 325.

Pour 1/4 cup melted butter into a 10" x 6.5" baking dish (glass works well). Tilt to coat the bottom and sides evenly. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the melted butter, and arrange the halved pears in the bottom with the cut sides down.

Beat together the remaining 1/2 cup melted butter, granulated sugar, egg, orange rind, and vanilla until light and fluffy. (Optional: Run out to supermarket for more flour and baking powder.) Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and milk, and mix until well blended. Pour the resulting batter evenly around and over the pears.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean. Immediately invert the cake onto a plate and allow steam to escape. Allow to cool at least partially before serving. Give first piece to birthday boy, who will eat the pear first.