Pear Cake made with seasonal pears is a true treat.  This recipe, from http://www.usapear.com was a great find and delicious as a morning coffee treat or as a seasonal dessert.

PEAR CAKE

10 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 pears, peeled, cored and wedged
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a round baking pan with 2 tablespoons of butter.  Sprinkle with brown sugar.
• Brush the pear wedges with lemon juice and arrange in the bottom of the baking pan.
• Combine flour with baking powder, salt and cinnamon, Set aside.
• Using a mixer, beat the remaining butter with sugar until fluffy.  Stir in eggs and vanilla.
• Add flour mixture and milk alternating the ingredients slowly.  Continue to beat on low-speed after each addition.
• Spoon batter evenly over pears in pan.
• Bake for 30 minutes OR until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  (My oven required a longer baking time.)
• Cool before inverting onto serving platter.  Decorate with walnuts or serve with whipped cream as coffee cake or dessert.

Recipe adapted from http://www.usapears.com; Starkrimson Pear Cinnamon Cake