Individual Pear Upside Down Cakes

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter 4 ramekins well and set aside.Peel, core and slice pears in half. Using a melon baller take out the seed.
2. 2
   Cut each quarter into 3 pieces. Line the bottoms of the ramekins with the pears.
3. 3
   Put the butter and brown sugar in a small sauté pan.
4. 4
   Heat until the sugar melts.
5. 5
   Pour over the pears dividing the mixture between the 4 ramekins.To make the cake, in a small mixing bowl mix the sugar and butter together.
6. 6
   Add the egg, vanilla and buttermilk.
7. 7
   Mix until combined.
8. 8
   Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until it is combined. Divide the cake batter between the 4 ramekins.
9. 9
   Bake for about 25 minutes or until a tester into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
10. 10
    Let set for several minutes. Run a knife around the outside of the ramekin and turn it over onto the serving plate.
11. 11
    Serve with additional caramel sauce and whipped cream if desired.