Upside-Down Pear Gingerbread

INGREDIENTS

firm medium pears

1/2 cup

(115g; 1 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 cup

packed light or dark brown sugar

1/8 tsp

ground cinnamon

2 cups

all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)

1 tsp

baking soda

and 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp

ground cloves

1/4 tsp

salt

3/4 cup

unsulphured or dark molasses

3/4 cup

hot water (about 100°F (38°C))

1/2 cup

(115g; 1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

1/3 cup

packed light or dark brown sugar

large egg, at room temperature

1 tsp

pure vanilla extract

for serving: whipped cream or vanilla ice cream