Pear and Chocolate Upside-Down Cakes

Pear and chocolate upside-down cakes are a delicious dessert combining the sweetness of pears with the richness of chocolate. Here is the recipe for preparing this treat:

Ingredients

For about 6 cakes:

• 3 medium ripe but still firm pears
• 150 g of sugar
• 150 g of soft butter
• 2 eggs
• 100 g of flour
• 50 g of cocoa powder
• 1/2 packet of baking powder
• Icing sugar (for decoration, optional)

For the caramel:

• 100 g of sugar
• 30 ml of water

Preparation

1. Prepare the caramel by placing sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Allow the sugar to melt and become a beautiful golden color. Remember not to stir, but you can slightly tilt the pan to even out the color.
2. Quickly pour the caramel into the bottom of each muffin tin, spreading it evenly.
3. Peel the pears, remove the core, and cut them into not too thick slices. Place the pear slices on top of the caramel layer in the molds.
4. In a bowl, cream the soft butter with the sugar until you obtain a frothy mixture. Add the eggs one at a time, incorporating well.
5. Sift together the flour, cocoa, and baking powder, then fold it into the butter and egg mixture, stirring until you get a smooth and uniform batter.
6. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
7. Fill the molds with the batter, covering the pear slices.
8. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean.
9. Let the cakes cool for a few minutes, then gently overturn them onto a plate to serve.
10. If desired, you can dust the cakes with icing sugar before serving.

Fun Fact

Upside-down cakes are an individual version of the more famous “Tarte Tatin,” a dessert of French origin traditionally prepared with apples. In this variation with pears and chocolate, the French tradition of the upside-down cake is combined with the Italian passion for chocolate, creating a deliciously irresistible blend of flavors.