Spicy Pear Cake

The kids wanted dessert, and I had some very ripe pears.  Viola!  Spicy Pear Cake!  I thought the addition of the Reynolds Wrap package added beauty to this picture, don't you think?  Anyway, getting back to the subject at hand.  it is time consuming, but worth it!  My husband said that "it is very good!"  Due to the spices, this would be a tasty dessert in the fall.  I don't see why one couldn't substitute thin slices of apple for the pear.    

**A cautionary note,  place a baking sheet under the spring pan before baking... the spring pan leaked, and now my oven needs to be cleaned.  

Topping:

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 ripe pears, peeled and sliced thing  (I didn't peel mine... no one noticed)

Cake:

2  3/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoon baking powder

1 rounded teaspoon ginger

1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup butter

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

2/3 cup molasses

1/3 cup half and half or milk (I used milk)

1/3 cup applesauce (I used unsweetened)

1 peeled and thinly diced pear

For the Glazed Fruit Topping:

• Lightly butter or use cooking spray to grease a 9 inch spring pan. (I only had an 8  1/2 and a 9  1/2 size.. I used the smaller one.  Next time, I will use the larger size.  It took much longer for the middle to finish cooking.)
• Make thin slices with 1/4 cup cold butter, and lay on the bottom of the pan
• Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• Layer with thin slices of two pears 

For the Cake:

• Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices in a bowl
• In a second bowl, with an electric mixer, mix 1/2 cup softened butter, brown sugar, eggs, molasses  applesauce and milk in that particular order
• Add flour mixture in thirds into moist mixture until well blended
• Once blended, add diced pears and gently fold in with a spatula
• Pour cake mixture over layered pears in pan
• Bake at 350 bake for 20 minutes, then lower to 325 for an additional 35 minutes.
• The cake will be done if a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. If it does not,  continue to check every 5 minutes until knife comes out clean
• Place cake on a rack to cool for 30 minutes
• Carefully remove from pan and turn upside down onto a cake plate

-Queenie Cuisine