Chocolate and pear upside-down cake
Pear and chocolate are a classic combination and this easy cake makes a delicious end to a dinner party. Best served warm with plenty of cream, this rich chocolate sponge is turned upside-down to reveal a ring of soft, caramelised pears.
- Preheat the oven to gas 4, 180°C, fan 160°C. Put the pears in a baking dish with the melted butter and caster sugar; toss to coat. Bake for 25 mins or until just tender. Remove and set aside until cool enough to handle.
- Grease a 20cm round springform cake tin and line the base with nonstick baking paper. Arrange the pears in a tight circle over the base, with the thin ends in the centre. Drizzle over any juices from the baking dish.
- Mix the cocoa with 100ml boiling water until smooth. With an electric whisk, beat the butter, oil, yogurt, cocoa mix, vanilla, sugar, flour and baking powder in a large bowl for 2 mins until smooth and fluffy, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Pour over the pears and shake gently to level out.
- Bake for 1 hr-1 hr 10 mins or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10 mins in the tin before turning out onto a serving plate, so the pears are facing up. Serve warm with the cream drizzled over, if using, or leave to cool completely.
Tip: You can bake the cake up to 2 days in advance, making it perfect for a dinner party. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
If short on time, you can skip step 1 and use tinned, quartered pears instead. Drain from their juice and arrange straight in the tin as above.
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