Pear–Upside-Down Cake

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan with the cooking spray. Cut a circle from a piece of parchment to fit in the cake pan and add to pan. Peel, core, and cut the pears into ¼-inch slices. Melt 2 tbsp butter. Evenly coat cake pan with melted butter and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Place pear slices in circular pattern in pan. Drizzle the lemon juice over pears.
2. In a large bowl, with hand mixer or stand mixer, beat remaining 3 tbsp butter on high 1 min., until creamy. Add the granulated sugar and beat again on high 1 min. With a rubber spatula, scrape down sides of mixture in bowl. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on medium until combined, and then add the buttermilk and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. On low speed and in batches, add flour mixture to wet ingredients until combined.
3. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan over pears. Bake 50–55 min., until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool 20 min., then loosen the edges with a knife. Place a plate over the cake pan and carefully flip upside down. Peel layer of parchment off and serve.