Name: Upside-Down Pear Chocolate Cake
Yield: Serves 12 to 15
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature, for pan; 1 cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar; 1/4 cup water; 3 firm but ripe pears, peeled, cored, and each cut into 12 slices (1 pound prepped); 1/4 cup (2 ounces) unsalted butter; 4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped; 1 cup (5 ounces) all-purpose flour; 1/3 cup (1 ounce) unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder; 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt; 3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) granulated sugar; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1/2 cup whole milk; Chantilly cream or Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, for serving (optional)

Image may contain Plant Food Hot Dog and Fruit

Upside-Down Pear Chocolate CakeSara Remington

Chocolate and pears make an excellent combination. Here, bittersweet chocolate and sweet pears meld together to form the perfect balance. For this recipe, you can either take a rustic approach and toss the pears haphazardly into the pan or opt for a more elegant look by arranging the pears in concentric circles. Look for a good dark chocolate, which is not the same as unsweetened chocolate. Also, there are two kinds of unsweetened cocoa on the market; be sure to use unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa, not natural cocoa. When combined with baking soda, natural cocoa can impart a bitter taste to baked goods and cause them to rise too much.

Recipe notes

Speedy Chicken Stroganoff

This easy, one-skillet chicken stroganoff features tender chicken breasts, savory mushrooms, and a creamy Dijon-crème fraîche sauce—perfect for weeknights.

The Only Frittata Recipe You’ll Ever Need

Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.

Classic French Vinaigrette

Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.

29 Ricotta Recipes for Dinner, Dessert, and More

Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.

Caramelized Onion Pasta

Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.

23 Easy Pie Recipes for Low-Effort, High-Reward Desserts

There’s a reason they say, “easy as pie,” you know?

Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter

This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.