Vegan Pear Upside Down Cake. This simple, one-bowl cake takes about 40 minutes total and is easy to adapt with other fruits. Vegan, nut-free, soy-free; gluten-free option included. Jump to Recipe

I had a few pears left after hosting my niece, so I turned them into this upside-down cake she could take along. My partner isn’t keen on raw pears, and they sometimes upset my head when eaten fresh, so baking them into a caramelized topping solved everything. The result is a gooey, caramelized fruit layer with a tender vanilla-spiced cake beneath, perfect with a scoop of vegan ice cream or whipped coconut cream.
Sliced pears are arranged across the bottom of a prepared pan and drizzled with maple syrup or sprinkled with brown sugar to caramelize while baking. A straightforward vanilla batter is poured over the fruit, then baked until golden and set. Let it rest briefly, invert onto a plate, and remove the parchment to reveal the glossy fruit topping. This same method works wonderfully with pineapple, peaches, or apple for easy variations.