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Triangular slices of pear almond cake arranged on a table and sprinkled with sliced almonds.

Pear Almond Cake

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This pear almond cake is a moist and versatile twist on a French pound cake. With soft pears and crunchy almond topping, it’s perfect for dessert or paired with coffee for breakfast.
Prep Time:30 minutes
Cook Time:40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Keyword: Almonds, Cake, Pears
Season: Winter
Servings: 8
Calories: 524kcal
Author: Pascale Beale

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces butter, (2 sticks)
  • 8 ounces sugar, (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
  • 3-4 ripe pears, peeled and chopped
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, or vanilla paste
  • 8 ounces flour, (1¾ cups plus 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 eggs, separated
  • ½ cup sliced almonds
  • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Melt the butter in a saucepan placed over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the sugar and stir until melted. Add the pears and vanilla, stir to combine and cook for 2–3 minutes.
  3. Add the flour and baking powder, stir until completely absorbed by the mixture and then remove from the heat.
  4. When this cake mixture has cooled to the touch, add in the egg yolks and stir together.
  5. Whisk the egg whites in a separate bowl, and then fold the whisked egg whites into the cake batter.
  6. Line a 9-inch cake tin with parchment paper. Pour the cake mixture into the cake tin and bake for 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Set on a cooling rack.
  7. Combine the sliced almonds and powdered sugar in a small bowl so that the almonds are complexly coated in a fine layer of sugar. Place the cake onto a serving plate or cake stand. Sprinkle the almonds all over the top of the cake.

Notes

The cake will keep for 2–3 days in a covered container. It is delicious served with a little crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream—or both.

Nutrition

Calories: 524kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 268mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 844IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 2mg