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