Pear and Berry Cake

Ingredients

• 250 ml (1 cup) lightly packed brown sugar
• 250 ml (1 cup) apple juice
• 180 ml (3/4 cup) unsalted butter
• 1 ml (1/4 tsp) salt
• 8 pears, peeled and sliced into 8 sections
• 180 ml (3/4 cup) fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries?)
• 375 ml (1 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
• 12 ml (2 1/2 tsp) baking powder
• 1 ml (1/4 tsp) salt
• 80 ml (1/3 cup) unsalted butter or margarine
• 180 ml (3/4 cup) sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 ml (1/2 tsp) vanilla extract
• 180 ml (3/4 cup) milk

Directions

1. Combine brown sugar, juice, butter and salt in a saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over low heat and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Pour obtained mixture (caramel) into a 9-inch. (23 cm) round cake pan. Arrange pear sections over caramel then add berries. To make cake batter, mix together all dry ingredients. Set aside.
2. Beat butter and sugar in a bowl. Add egg and vanilla.
3. Add dry ingredients to liquid mixture alternating with milk. Put cake batter over pear and berries.Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Bake on middle rack of oven for 45 to 50 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream