Spiced Pear Upside-Down Cake with Cinnamon Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-01 · Updated 2026-07-01

Moist upside-down cake featuring caramelized pears with warm spices, topped with a sweet cinnamon glaze. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 80 minutes, layers unsalted butter, light brown sugar, ripe pears into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp (56g), divided unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3 medium, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4-inch thick ripe pears
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (for glaze)
• 2 tbsp milk (for glaze)

The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 9-inch round cake pan, melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter over low heat. Sprinkle 3/4 cup light brown sugar evenly over the butter, then arrange 3 sliced pears over the sugar in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes until caramelized and fragrant.
2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp salt.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, beat 3/4 cup granulated sugar with 2 large eggs until light and fluffy. Add 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter, mixing well.
4. Step 4: Alternately add the dry flour mixture and 1/2 cup whole milk to the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined.
5. Step 5: Pour the batter gently over the caramelized pears in the pan and smooth the top. Bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Step 6: While cake cools, whisk 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon and 2 tbsp milk to make a smooth cinnamon glaze.
7. Step 7: Invert the cake onto a serving plate once cooled slightly, then drizzle the cinnamon glaze over the top before serving.