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["Preheat oven to 375u00b0F.", "Grease bottom and sides of 9-inch (3"" high) round cake pan.", "Sprinkle with brown or maple sugar.", "Cream 5 tablespoons butter (or margarine) with brown and white sugar.", "Add maple syrup and salt.", "Spread topping mixture into prepared pan.", "Press pear slices into sugar mixture, arranging them in a spoke design.", "Set aside while preparing cake batter.", "Sift together dry ingredients (flour-cinnamon). Set aside.", "In a medium bowl, cream 6 tablespoons and 1 cup brown or maple sugar together until light.", "Add eggs, one at a time, beating well.", "Add sour cream, beating until smooth.", "Mix in maple syrup.", "Fold in flour mixture and then walnuts, if using.", "Pour batter into prepared pan (over pears).", "Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.", "Cool 10 minutes.", "Run knife around cake and invert cake onto platter, leave pan on cake an additional 5 minutes before removing pan very carefully.", "Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream topping (recipe follows).", "To make whipped cream topping: Beat cream until soft peaks form.", "Add sugar and bourbon, if using.", "Continue beating until soft peaks form again."]
