Paonia Pear Upside-Down Ginger Cake
What happens when Lillabee teams up with MM Local? A heavenly match made in Boulder! This delicious holiday tasty treat is surely one to share! You will impress any crowd with this show stopper.
You will need:
1 box Lillabee Classic Yellow Cake Mix
1 jar of MMLocal Paonia Pears
2 large eggs
1/4 c + 2 Tbsp butter/ Non-dairy butter substitute
1 tsp gluten free vanilla
1/2 c milk (cow, rice, almond, soy, etc.)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
1/4 c molasses
2 Tbsp fresh ground ginger
2 Tbsp + 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice blend
2 Tbsp black currants (optional)
1 Tbsp spiced rum or pear brandy (optional)
Place rack in the center of oven and preheat to 325.
Grease a 9″ round pan. Slice pears and arrange in the bottom of cake pan. Add currants if desired. Reserve pear juice for glaze.
In a small bowl, combine milk, vinegar or lemon juice and vanilla. Set aside.
Open Lillabee sugar packet and measure out 1/4 cup. Discard this 1/4 c of sugar and use the remaining contents in the next step.
In the mixing bowl of your electric mixer combine remaining contents of Lillabee sugar packet, butter or non-dairy butter substitute, molasses, ginger and 2Tbsp pumpkin pie spice. Mix until combined, making sure to scrap the sides and bottom of bowl to incorporate all ingredients. Add eggs one at a time until combined. Add in milk mixture and Lillabee flour packet. Mix until just combined.
Pour batter into cake pan over top of arranged pears and currants. Bake at 325 for 35-40 min. Since all ovens are slightly different, it is wise to check your cake at 30 min, then every 5 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Make glaze: On stove top, combine pear juice, rum or brandy and 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice blend in a small sauce pan on low heat. Stir frequently until liquid reduces to aproximately 2 Tablespoons. Remove from heat and set aside.
Let cool in pan for 15 min. Flip cake over onto a cooling rack. Brush glaze over top and sides of cake while still warm. Let cool completely.
Transfer to a festive holiday cake plate and head off to the party.
Happy Holidays! Happy Baking!