Preheat the oven: Set a shelf in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter a 9-inch cake pan or a 9-inch fluted tart tin with a removable rim. Dust with flour and tap out the excess.

Make the batter: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until blended. Add the butter pieces and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. In a measuring cup, lightly beat the milk, egg, and vanilla with a fork until blended. Add to the bowl of the food processor and process until the dough is smooth. With the back of a spoon or a small offset spatula, spread the batter evenly in the cake pan (the batter will be thick).

Slice the pears: Halve the pears. Use a melon baller to cut out the cores and remove the stem ends. Slice the halves into ¼-inch-thick slices.

Make the cinnamon sugar: in a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon until combined.

Top the cake: Starting at the outside edge, arrange the pears over the batter in a circular pattern, overlapping them slightly to cover the batter. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.

Bake the cake: Set the pan on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean, and the cake looks golden at the edges.

Cool and serve the cake: Let the cake rest in the pan for 10 minutes. If you used a pan with a removable rim, go around the edge the cake with the tip of a knife to release the edges. Set the pan on top of a small bowl and let the rim drop away. Cut into slices from the pan and serve warm or at room temperature. A dollop of whipped cream is always a nice touch. Did you love the recipe? Give us some stars and leave a comment below!