This recipe is sure to impress your family and friends. However, don't be fooled - it's actually very easy. And delicious.
1 ½ cup self-rising flour
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
3 large eggs
½ cup whole buttermilk
½ tsp. vanilla extract
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened and divided
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 ½ fresh Bartlett pears, cut into ¼-inch-thick slices
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick baking spray containing flour.
In a large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar and nutmeg, whisking well. Add eggs, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat at medium-low speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add ½ cup butter, beating to combine.
Place remaining ¼ cup butter in prepared cake pan. Place pan in oven until butter is melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from oven. Spread brown sugar in an even layer over melted butter. Arrange pear slices in a spiral pattern in a single layer on top of brown sugar. Spoon batter over pear slices.
Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Run a knife around cake to loosen from pan. Immediately invert cake onto a serving plate.