Pear Upside-Down Spice Cake

Ingredients

• Cake:
• 3 cups sliced peeled Bosc pears (about 3 pears)
• Cooking spray
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 5 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• Glaze:
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons buttermilk

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare cake, arrange pear slices spokelike in bottom of a 9-inch cake pan coated with cooking spray, working from the center of the pan to the edge.
3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 7 ingredients (through cinnamon) in a bowl.
4. Combine granulated sugar and 5 tablespoons butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg; beat well. Add flour mixture and 3/4 cup buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spoon batter over pears; spread evenly.
5. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. Loosen cake from sides of pan using a narrow metal spatula; invert cake onto plate. Let rest 2 minutes; remove pan.
6. To prepare glaze, combine 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon water, and juice in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until butter melts. Stir in brown sugar; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons buttermilk. Let stand 2 minutes; pour glaze evenly over cake.