- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 20 ounces canned pear halves, drained
- Cake Batter:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Place 1/3 cup butter in a 9-inch square pan and set in the preheating oven to melt, about 5 minutes.
- Stir molasses, brown sugar, and ginger into the melted butter. Arrange pears cut-side down over mixture.
- Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Add milk, 1/3 cup butter, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg until combined, about 2 minutes. Pour batter over pears.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
- Run a knife around the edge of the pan; place a plate on top of the cake and flip carefully.