This loaf cake, loaded with pears, cinnamon and chocolate is my homage to the final lyric of the Twelve Days of Christmas: “And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.” It is a dense loaf cake, perfect for Christmas time gifting or enjoying yourself. The inspiration was this cake in Better Homes and Gardens. After I saw this picture of the sliced loaf I knew I had to make it.
I doubled the recipe to make two loaves, added ginger and chocolate chips and left off the white chocolate drizzle on top. I think it is perfectly decadent without the white chocolate but melt some and drizzle on top if you like. I also didn’t peel my pears and didn’t mind the skin being left on. I think this was the first time I’ve ever cored pears from the bottom, leaving the stem intact. Can you tell I need some practice?
What to buy:
- 3 pears, cored from the bottom, leaving the stems intact
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 3 and 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 and 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
What to do:
- in a large saucepan combine the water, 1/4 cup sugar, orange juice and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar
- add pears and reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until pears are tender
- remove from heat and drain liquid
- preheat oven to 350 degrees
- grease two loaf pans and set aside
- in a large bowl combine3 and 1/3 cup flour, brown sugar, 2/3 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, 2 teaspoons. cinnamon, baking soda, and salt
- in another bowl whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and olive oil
- add olive oil mixture to flour mixture and whisk until smooth
- pour batter into prepared pan
- in a shallow dish combine 1 tablespoon. flour, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- roll each pear in the flour mixture to lightly coat
- place pears, stem sides up, down the center of the batter so the pears are exposed at the top, as batter will rise up around them during baking
- bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean
- remove; cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes
- remove from pan; cool completely
I couldn’t resist commenting. Well written!
[…] Photo Credit: Sally Cooks […]
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