Small Pear Upside-Down Cakes with Spiced Caramel

Ingredients

• Orange Liqueur Raisins

  • 1/4 cup (35 g) raisins
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) Triple Sec or other orange liqueur (see note)

• Caramel aux épices

  • 1 1/2 cups (315 g) brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) water
  • 1 cup (250 ml) 35% cream
  • 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 orange, zest finely grated
  • 1 lemon, zest finely grated

• Pear Cakes

  • 4 ripe Bartlett pears, peeled and cut into rounds 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick
  • 1 1/4 cups (190 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (25 g) roasted pecans, chopped
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup (160 g) brown sugar
  • 2 eggs