Welcome back to Fall Fest! I missed the pumpkin party last week, but I really think this simple and delicious pear cake will make up for it. This rich and spicy cake is filled with fresh pear chunks and topped with a buttery, crunchy pecan streusel.
The cake is really simple to put together – no fancy tools required! It makes a great mid-morning snack with coffee but can easily be dressed up with caramel sauce and whipped cream and turned into an elegant dessert.
How do you like to celebrate pear season? Please feel free to leave a comment describing your favorite way to use pears and/or leave links to your favorite recipes. And don’t forget to check out what the rest of the Fall Fest group has been up to this week (scroll to bottom of post for Fall Fest links).
Yields 8 servings
Ingredients
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup sugar
1 medium pear, peeled, cored, and chopped
Instructions
1. Mix all streusel ingredients in a small bowl until well combined and crumbly. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, oil, sour cream, vanilla extract, and sugar. Pour egg mixture into the flour mixture and mix with a large spoon until batter is smooth.
3. Pour batter into a greased 8-inch round cake pan. Sprinkle pear chunks evenly over the cake batter then sprinkle the pecan streusel evenly over the top of the batter and pears. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 35-40 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10-15 minutes then carefully remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Serves 8.
Summer/Fall Fest 2010 Posting Schedule
7/28: Cukes and Zukes
8/4: Corn
8/11: Herbs, Greens, and Beans
8/18: Stone Fruit – I missed this one!
8/25: Tomatoes
9/1: Sweet and Spicy Peppers
9/8: Garlic
9/15: White (or colorful “white”…but not sweet) Potatoes
9/22: Spinach
9/29: Apples
10/6: Fall Salads
10/13: Pumpkin + Winter Squash – I missed this one!
10/20: Pears
10/27: “Mad Stash” (as in what you’re shoving in freezer/jars/dehydrator, etc.)
11/3: Root veggies
11/10: Brassicas: incl. Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Cabbage or other
11/17: Sweet Potatoes
11/24: Bounty to Be Grateful For
Fall Fest Friends Celebrating Pears:
- Alana at Eating from the Ground Up: Musings on Pears and Cheese
- Caroline at The Wright Recipes: Three Favorite Pear Recipes
- Caron at San Diego Foodstuff: Pear, Pecan, Parmesan Scones
- Paige at The Sister Project: A Gingery Pear Crisp
- Todd and Diane at White on Rice Couple: Making Pear Galette
- Gilded Fork: Harvest Risotto with Caramelized Pears
- Margaret at A Way to Garden: Of Pears and Cookbooks, a Delicious Giveaway
- Roberto at Food2: 5 Ways to Warm Up to Pears
- Michelle at Cooking Channel: What to Pair With Pears
- Kirsten at Food Network: Baking Up Pear Desserts
- Liz at Healthy Eats: Vanilla Poached Pears, With Variations
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