This cake was just calling for all of the Bosc pears that I’ve received in my CSA share recently. I love it when I have all of the ingredients readily available to make a special treat. 🙂
As a side note, I don’t really understand the idea of a “snacking” cake. This is definitely a CAKE. The brown butter glaze was absolutely essential and absolutely fabulous. Yes, it was easy to eat and, yes, it’s not a fancy layer cake. I also suppose it would be a wonderful snack! We enjoyed it for dessert. 😉
This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Melissa Clark. I incorporated whole wheat pastry flour and decreased the amount of fresh nutmeg. I also omitted the nuts. Delicious!
I’m sharing this special “snack” at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #142 this week, co-hosted by Elaine @foodbod and Michelle @O Blog Off. Enjoy! 🙂
For the Cake:
- 1 cup/227 grams unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temperature, more to grease the pan
- 1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup/100 grams dark brown sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground clove
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3 to 4 large pears (2 1/4 pounds/1 kilogram), peeled, cored and shredded or finely chopped (to yield 2 1/2 cups) (I finely chopped the prepared pears in a mini-food processor.)
- 2 ¾ cups/350 grams all-purpose flour (I used 175 g all-purpose flour & 175 g whole wheat pastry flour)
- ¾ cup/75 grams rolled oats
- ½ cup toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped, optional
For the Brown Butter Glaze:
- 5 tablespoons/70 grams unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons/25 grams dark brown sugar
- 1 cup/125 grams confectioners’ sugar
- 3 tablespoons/45 milliliters heavy cream or milk, more as needed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of coarse salt
- Prepare the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-2-inch square or 9-inch-round pan and line bottom with parchment paper. (I used cooking oil spray.)
- Using a stand mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add sugars, baking powder, salt, vanilla, nutmeg, cloves and baking soda and beat for 1 minute.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time.
- With the mixer on low, beat in half the pears, and then beat in the flour until smooth.
- Beat in remaining pears, then the oats, beating until well incorporated.
- Beat in nuts, if using.
- Spread batter in the prepared pan and bake until the top springs back when lightly pressed in the center of the cake, 40 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan, melt butter, then let it simmer until the foam on top falls to the bottom of the pot and turns brown, about 3 minutes. It will smell nutty and rich when it’s ready.
- Whisk in brown sugar until it dissolves.
- Whisk in confectioners’ sugar, cream, vanilla and salt until you’ve got a thick glaze with the texture of hot fudge sauce.
- Spread this over the cooled cake. Let the glaze set for at least 2 hours before serving.
One Year Ago:
Two Years Ago:
Three Years Ago:
Four Years Ago:
I have heard that term snacking cake before and don’t really understand but however this cake is classified it looks delicious. I love pear or apple cakes with warm spices and that glaze looks so delicious.
I think it’s just a great excuse to eat cake as a snack if that’s what it’s called! 😉
Oh this looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! We loved it. 🙂
Pears are such an under-used fruit. This looks heavenly!
Thank you! 🙂
Yummy! Never tasted a pear cake before, I bet this is delicious!!
It’s true! I do usually bake with apples but pears are another tasty option. 🙂
Everyone is using pears and I need to start using them in my baking instead of always apples it seems! Love that caramel/brown butter glaze 🙂
The glaze was INCREDIBLE! Thanks, Judi. 🙂
I love that you ate it on beautiful pear plates! Perfect!
Thank you! I love them- you know me & my plates. 🙂
Wow, that’s my kind a cake there. I’ll gladly take that as a snack! 😉
I wish I could. 😉 Thanks, Dave!
It looks delicious. Wish I had informed you before coming.. ☺😉
I would have baked a cake! 😉 Love it. 🙂
Pingback: Pear Snacking Cake with Brown Butter Glaze | homethoughtsfromabroad626
This looks fantastic!
Thank you so much! It was really moist- and the glaze was fabulous. 🙂