Pear Upside Down Cake

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

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick baking spray containing flour.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.