Pear Cake Recipe - Roasted Pear Cake with Salted Honey Brie Frosting

Pear Cake with Honey Brie Cheese Frosting

With this unique combination of luxury ingredients, this spiced pear cake recipe can't be anything but phenomenal. An earthy, fruit-dense pear cake using fresh pears that have been roasted in spices, then slurried in a food processor and added to a rich cake batter. This spiced pear cake recipe is rich and fragrant, but not too sweet.

Pair this spiced pear cake recipe with my delectable honey brie cheese frosting HERE.

The rich, buttery brie cheese frosting goes over the top with a touch of Maldon finishing salt. Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

Spiced Pear Cake Recipe (Using Fresh Pears)

Prep Time: 15 minutes plus cake assembly time

Yield: 12 generous slices

INGREDIENTS (for the roasted pears only):

• 2 pounds of fresh, ripe pears, washed thoroughly, split in half lengthwise

  Chef Paula's Tip: Green Anjao or Bartlett are excellent choices, you want thin skinned, moist pears.

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided

• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom, divided

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided

DIRECTIONS for roasting the pears:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. To roast the pears, on a standard baking sheet covered in parchment, place the pear halves flesh side down.

2. Drizzle with 2 teaspoons of olive oil, then sprinkle pears with half of the salt, cinnamon, cardamom, and sugar.

3. Bake for 15 minutes. Then, flip the pears over so the flesh side is now facing up. Sprinkle on the remaining half of the salt, cinnamon, cardamom and sugar. Return the pears to the oven to roast for another 12-15 minutes, until they are slightly brown and flesh is soft but not mushy.

4. Remove pears from oven. Allow the pears to cool slightly, then remove and discard the stems.

   Chef Paula's Tip: The stems are soft and easy to remove once pears are baked.

5. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees, and next we will prepare the cake.

   
   
   
   

INGREDIENTS (for cake)

• Roasted pears, from above

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom

• 4 eggs

• 1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 3-4 cups King Arthur unbleached white flour

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 2 cups roughly chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans

• 1/2 teaspoon Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place the cooled, stemless pears in a food processor. Add the granulated sugar, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Process on high for 15-30 seconds.

   Chef Paula's Tip: For a more molasses-y taste, substitute light or brown sugar in place of granulated white sugar.

Roasted pears blended with sugar and spices

Roasted Pear Mixture after processing.

1. Pour the pear mixture into a large bowl. Using the paddle attachment on a stand mixer (or handheld mixer if you prefer), beat in the eggs one at a time until incorporated.

2. Add the oil and continue to mix until the batter is smooth.

3. In a separate bowl, fork sift together the flour and baking powder.

   Chef Paula's Tip: Fork sifting is a simple cheat! Simply place the flour in a separate bowl, add the baking powder, and instead of using a "sifter", use a fork to fluff up and incorporate the baking powder into the flour.

4. Slowly add the flour mixture into the pear mixture in stages, mixing until just combined.

5. Divide pear cake batter between two greased and floured 9-inch cake pans.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Remove the pear cakes from oven and allow them to cool on a wire rack.

7. After the pear cakes have cooled to warm, unmold them. Once fully cooled, cut each of the two layers in half.

8. Assemble the pear cake, spreading honey brie cheese frosting between each layer.

9. Sprinkle top of cake with Maldon Sea Salt flakes.

10. If using, place the chopped nuts against the top or sides of the pear cake.

11. Store the pear cake in the refrigerator. This pear cake recipe will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or 1 month in the freezer.

    Chef Paula's Tip: For best taste, let pear cake sit at room temperature 15-20 minutes before serving.