Light Upside-Down Pear Cake: Soft Yogurt Cake with Glossy Pears

This light upside-down pear cake is soft, fragrant, and finished with glossy pear slices on top.

Plain yogurt keeps the crumb tender, while a little honey and butter help create a delicate caramelized surface.

Ingredients for 6 servings

• 3 ripe pears, such as Conference pears
• 2 large eggs
• 80 g sugar or coconut sugar
• 125 g plain yogurt, 0% if preferred
• 150 g all-purpose flour
• 1 packet baking powder, about 11 g
• 40 ml neutral oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, about 5 ml
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
• 1 tablespoon honey, about 20 g, for the pan
• 10 g light butter, or a little oil, for the pan

How to make it

Prepare the pear layer

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 22 cm round pan with the butter or oil, then spread the honey over the bottom. Peel, core, and slice the pears. Arrange them neatly in the pan.

Make the batter

Whisk the eggs with the sugar until slightly pale. Add the yogurt, oil, and vanilla, then mix again. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon if using.

Bake the cake

Pour the batter over the pears and smooth the surface. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the cake is golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Turn it out

Let the cake rest for 10 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a plate while still warm. This helps the pear topping release cleanly.

Helpful tips

Use pears that are ripe but still firm. Very soft pears can release too much juice and make the cake difficult to unmold.

Conclusion

This light upside-down pear cake is simple, tender, and nicely aromatic. Serve it plain, with yogurt, or with a spoonful of cream.