This is a slight twist on applesauce cake, relying instead on a homemade pear sauce. The cake can be made a day ahead. Keep it at room temperature, then glaze it and garnish it with pear chips just before serving
Recipe information
Yield
makes one 10-inch cake
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
In a saucepan, spread the granulated sugar in an even layer. Cook over medium-high heat, without stirring, until sugar around the edge of the pan melts and begins to turn golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, slowly stir until all sugar has melted and mixture is translucent and golden.
Step 2
Add pear chunks to caramel, and stir to coat. Cook, covered, over low heat until very soft, 6 to 8 minutes, swirling the pan occasionally. Using a potato masher, mash the pears until they are broken down but still slightly chunky. Continue cooking, uncovered, 5 minutes more, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; let cool completely.
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 10-inch (12-cup capacity) Bundt pan, tapping out excess. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, baking soda, pepper, and nutmeg; set aside.
Step 4
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar, and honey on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until combined after each addition. With the mixer on the lowest speed, add the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour. Add the reserved pear sauce, and mix to combine, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Do not overmix.
Step 5
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth with a small offset spatula. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until cake is a deep golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool slightly. Invert the cake onto a wire rack set over a piece of parchment paper and allow to cool 10 minutes. Once cool, pour the glaze over the top, letting some drip down the sides. Alternatively, dust with confectioners’ sugar. Garnish with pear chips, if using.
Pear Sauce how-to
Step 6
Pear chunks are added to a pan of caramel and cooked over low heat.
Step 7
After several minutes, a potato masher is used to help break down the pears.
Step 8
The final consistency of the sauce is thick and somewhat chunky.
