Thursday, July 30, 2015

Caramelized Pear Cake


     When I saw this recipe for Caramelized Pear Cake from a 2000 edition of Bon Appetit, I rushed right out to get what I needed to make it in my dutch oven.  I would definitely categorize this cake as cook-off worthy, it's not only visually impressive but the aroma of ginger and cinnamon makes you positively heady. 
     First I mixed the batter, lit my coals, then quickly peeled and arranged the pears for the topping.  You may want to slice and place them with more precision than I did, especially if you're trying to impress the judges.  The cake baked in my 10 inch oven with 10 briquettes in a ring around the bottom, 16 in a ring around the edge of the lid with 6 spaced evenly in the center.  After 20 minutes I removed 2 of the center coals and in exactly 40 minutes my tester came out clean and the cake was done. 
     Once you have your ingredients organized, it's really not that difficult to make and infinitely better than a packaged mix.  One of the absolute best recipes I've made so far in my dutch oven, the cake is so moist and with a hint of ginger, cinnamon and orange, topped with sweetened fresh pears, it's a definite blue ribbon winner.

Caramelized Pear Cake
Topping

6 Tblsp unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
4 Bosc pears, peeled, cored and sliced
Cake batter
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
3 Tblsp minced crystallized ginger
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp grated orange peel
1 cup grated peeled Bosc pears (about 2 medium)

     Lightly oil or spray 10 inch dutch oven; line with parchment paper.
     Pour melted butter into prepared dutch oven.
     Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar.
     Arrange sliced pears in flower design atop sugar, cutting some pieces to fit center if necessary.
     Whisk flour, 2/3 cup sugar, crystallized ginger, cinnamon, ground ginger, baking soda and salt in medium bowl until well combined.
     Whisk eggs, oil, vanilla and orange peel in large bowl to blend.
     Mix in grated pears.
     Mix dry ingredients into egg mixture.
     Carefully pour batter over pears in dutch oven.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until cake tester inserted into center comes out clean.
     Cool cake in dutch oven for 30 minutes.
     Carefully lift cake out of oven using parchment paper and invert onto plate.
     Serve warm.

Arrange pear slices over melted butter and brown sugar

Carefully pour batter over topping

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until tester comes out clean

Parchment is a must for removing the cake

Bound to impress the judges or anyone else who tries a slice

19 comments:

  1. Hey Liddy. I've been itching to make this since you posted it. My wife had a 40 lb box of pears on order and it came in a few days ago. So today I made this cake and it is as good as you say. It turned out beautiful and tasted amazing. The kids approve and we all ate more than we should have. Thanks for posting!

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    1. Hi Aaron, so happy to hear you and the adventurous eaters in your family enjoyed the cake, thank you for your feedback! Liddy

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  2. That looks wonderful but I wish I liked pears! LOL! Hey, did you know that you were given a shot out here? http://50campfires.com/dutch-oven-southwestern-chicken/

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    1. Oops...I meant shout out! :)

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    2. Thanks Becky for letting me know, hope all is well with you and your family!
      Liddy

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  4. I made this for my wife's birthday cake. She and everyone else loved it!!! Thanks for the recipe. Is there any way I can send you some pics and/or recipes of what we've made in DO's?

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    1. Hi Jon, so nice of you to bake a cake for your wife's birthday, so glad to hear everyone enjoyed your dessert! Liddy

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  5. Haven't heard from you in a while, Liddy. Hope everything is ok. We appreciate your recipes and input.

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    1. Thank you for your nice comment and concern, all is well, just too busy to do any cooking. Hope to keep the recipes coming now that the weather is cooler. Liddy

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  6. Just want to say that I love this blog. Its one of only a couple that I follow. Very thorough and innovative, and fun. I hope all is well at home!

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    1. Thank you Tyler, am so happy you enjoy my blog, am sorry I have let it slide this summer but hope to have new posts coming soon. Take care, Liddy

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  7. Just want to say that I love this blog. Its one of only a couple that I follow. Very thorough and innovative, and fun. I hope all is well at home!

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  8. Hope all is going well, Liddy. We miss your creative and stimulating updates!

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    1. Hi Frenchy, sorry I have been out of touch, thank you for your concern. Hope all is going well with you and your family, Liddy

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  9. Can this be made in a different pan ? Perhaps a springform pan for cheesecake or maybe a bundt cake pan ? Thank you - Forest.

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    1. Hi Forest, the original recipe suggests using a 10 inch heavy, ovenproof skillet but I'm sure you could make it in a 10 inch cake pan. Good luck! Liddy

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  10. Wow, that looks and sounds delicious. This one is going in my beagle club recipe list! Those guys will love this one.

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    1. Buckeye, this was one of the best desserts I have ever made, everyone raved about it. Hope you and your club enjoy it too! Liddy

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