Description
Indulgent Pear and Almond Cake brings French pastry charm to your dessert table, blending delicate fruit with nutty richness. Mediterranean flavors dance through each slice, promising a delightful experience you won’t soon forget.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 34 pears
- 200 grams (7 ounces) almond meal
- 200 grams (7 ounces) unsalted butter
- 4 large eggs
- 200 grams (7 ounces) caster sugar
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon amaretto liqueur (optional)
- 25 grams (0.9 ounces) flaked almonds
Garnish:
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 180°C (350°F) and generously coat a 9-inch cake tin with butter or non-stick spray.
- Whip butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes pale and airy, creating a smooth, creamy texture.
- Gently incorporate eggs into the mixture, one at a time, ensuring complete integration after each addition.
- Pour in vanilla extract and amaretto, mixing thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Carefully fold almond meal, baking powder, and salt into the batter, maintaining a light, consistent texture.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared cake tin, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Arrange pear halves gently into the batter, pressing them slightly to ensure they are partially embedded.
- Sprinkle flaked almonds across the surface, creating a decorative and crunchy topping.
- Place the tin in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow the cake to rest in the tin for 10 minutes to stabilize its structure.
- Carefully transfer the cake to a wire rack and let it cool completely for optimal texture and flavor development.
- Before serving, dust the cake with a delicate layer of powdered sugar for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Select ripe but firm pears for the best texture and sweetness in the cake.
- Toast flaked almonds briefly before scattering to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch.
- Swap amaretto with almond extract for a non-alcoholic version or use orange liqueur for a different flavor profile.
- Check cake doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean with just a few moist crumbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 285 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 55 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg