fluffy and light, the
cake tastes like a graham cracker
with caramelized pears

2 sticks butter, room temp; 2/3 c brown sugar, 4 bosc pears, quartered and peeled; 2 c flour, 1 t powder, 1 t ginger, pinch salt, 1/4 t soda, 1/2 t nutmeg, 2 eggs, 1/2 c molasses, 3/4 c water, for the sauce: 1/2 stick butter, 1/2 c sugar, 1 egg yolk, 2 T water, 2 T bourbon
place one stick butter in a cast-iron pot in a 350 F oven, when melted, stir in 1/3 c brown sugar and arrange pears in the pan, bake 20 minutes or until soft; cream remaining butter and brown sugar, beat in eggs, mix in remaining ingredients on slow speed; spoon batter over pears in over and bake until a knife comes out clean, about 30 minutes; let stand 10 minutes and run a knife around cake before turning out carefully; for the sauce: heat butter and sugar on the stove, add yolk and water and simmer 5 minutes, stirring; remove from heat and stir in bourbon