A guilt-free recipe for ginger-pear upside-down cake

Greet the first chilly day of fall with a tender yellow cake topped with caramelized pears. Although very little fat goes into the batter — just 45 millilitres (3 tablespoons) of heart-smart olive oil — the cake has a warm, spicy richness.

Preparation time: 15 minutes.

Cooking time: 35 minutes.

Serves 10.

Ingredients:

• 30 ml (2 tbsp) dark brown sugar
• 3 firm, ripe pears
• 275 g (1 1/4 cups) cake flour
• 5 ml (1 tsp) ground ginger
• 3 ml (3/4 tsp) baking powder
• 1 ml (1/4 tsp) baking soda
• Salt to taste
• 45 ml (3 tbsp) extra-light olive oil
• 175 g (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
• 7 ml (1 1/2 tsp) grated lime zest
• 5 ml (1 tsp) coconut extract
• 1 large egg plus 1 large egg white
• 175 ml (3/4 c) buttermilk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Spray bottom of 23-centimetre (9-inch) round nonstick cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle brown sugar over bottom, shaking pan to coat evenly.
2. Peel, core and halve pears. Slice pears crosswise into 0.75-centimetre (1/3-inch) slices. Evenly spread pears in pan, making sure bottom of pan is covered.
3. Mix together flour, ginger, baking powder, baking soda and salt on a sheet of wax paper. With electric mixer, beat together oil, granulated sugar, lime zest and coconut extract in large bowl. Beat in whole egg and egg white until thick.
4. With a spatula, alternately fold flour mixture and buttermilk into egg mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture, until just blended.
5. Pour batter over pears, smoothing top to cover pears completely. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
6. Transfer to a wire rack. Let cake cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto a platter. Let cool slightly before slicing.

• Pears contain ample amounts of potassium to help relieve high blood pressure.
• Pears also contain high amounts of pectin, a particular type of fibre that is very useful in preventing cholesterol from being absorbed in the body.
• Interestingly, pears are considered among the least allergenic foods in the food kingdom!

Each serving provides:

• Key nutrients: 220 calories, 50 calories from fat, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 3 g protein, 40 g carbohydrates, 2 g fibre, 35 mg sodium.
• Blood pressure nutrients: 2 mg vitamin C, 8 mg magnesium, 139 mg potassium, 48 mg calcium.

• Apple Upside-Down Cake: Slice 3  apples in place of the pears.
• For a really fresh ginger taste, grate 5 millilitres (1 teaspoon) fresh ginger and add in Step 3 with the oil and sugar.
• Make the cake more fibre-rich by substituting 125 grams (1/2 cup) whole-wheat flour for 125 grams (1/2 cup) cake flour.

End your meal with this healthy dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth and quickly become a family favourite.