Upside-Down Pear-Chocolate Cake | Oregonian Recipes

Ingredients

• 1 cup 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 unsalted butter
• 4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (5 ounces)
• 1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa (1 ounce)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• Sweetened whipped cream or vanilla bean ice cream, for serving (optional)