Pear-Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake
with DHC Núñez de Prado Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Ingredients (serves 8)

2 tablespoons butter, room temperature

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1¼ pounds firm, ripe pears (about 3 medium pears), peeled

1½ cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup DHC Núñez de Prado Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg, room temperature

2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

Whipped cream (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350º.
Line a 9" round baking pan (with 2" sides) with a circle of parchment paper. Butter the pan, including the parchment, and evenly sprinkle with sugar and cranberries. Peel, core and thinly slice pears, pressing them lightly into bottom of the pan. Set aside.

Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. In a large separate bowl, whisk together sugar, olive oil, water and molasses, followed by egg and ginger. Gradually stir in flour mixture until just combined. Pour batter into the pan over pears. Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean after inserting. Let the cake rest for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the outside edge. Place a cooling rack over the cake while still in the pan and carefully invert the pan. Cool cake on a rack. Serve warm. Garnish with whipped cream if desired.