Skip to main content

Mini Pear and Blueberry Spice Cakes

These individual upside-down cakes are baked—and can be transported—in a muffin tin.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 6 small cakes

Ingredients

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for the tin
6 tablespoons light corn syrup
12 teaspoons packed light-brown sugar
3/4 cup fresh blueberries, picked over and rinsed
1 ripe Bartlett pear, halved lengthwise, cored, and cut into thin wedges
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large whole egg plus 1 large egg yolk
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter the cups and top of a muffin tin with six 8-ounce cups. Place 1 teaspoon butter in each muffin cup. Top each with 1 tablespoon corn syrup; sprinkle with 2 teaspoons light brown sugar. Arrange 7 or 8 blueberries in each cup. Cut the pear slices to fit the shape of muffin cups; place 4 or 5 pieces on top of the berries, spreading the slices to cover the berries. Arrange the remaining berries over the pears, and set the tin aside.

    Step 2

    Into a small bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the granulated sugar and remaining 5 tablespoons butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the egg and egg yolk; beat until smooth.

    Step 3

    With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk and beginning and ending with the flour. Stir in the vanilla.

    Step 4

    Pour 1/3 cup batter over the fruit in each muffin cup. Gently tap the bottom of the tin against the counter several times to evenly distribute the batter.

    Step 5

    Bake the cakes until golden around the edges and a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven; let cool in the tin.

The cookbook cover with a blue background and fine typeface.
Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
Grab your Easter basket and hop in—you’ll want to collect each and every one of these fun and easy Easter recipes.
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Like airy lemon chiffon cake and a Cadbury egg–inspired tart.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Like lemony risotto and tandoori-style cauliflower.
Think a Hugo spritz, a gin basil smash, and plenty more patio-ready pours.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.