Although in this island the climate does not change much, nor nature shows the changes of seasons, autumn remains my favorite season. Through food and desserts with spices, autumn fruits and colors, I try to be transported to New England, where the leaves change color and the landscape becomes a canvas full of the colors in reds, oranges and yellows. I saw the following cake recipe in a cookbook that my friend, Anny, gave me. I thought it would be appropriate to share with it you and welcome fall with this delicacy.
This recipe is an alternative to the usual applesauce cake. It is made with homemade pear sauce. Many ingredients are used, but it is not a recipe complicated to do. The spices make it extremely delicious.
This cake can be made a day in advance. Store at room temperature, then garnish with Cream cheese frosting and pear chips before serving.
En español: Pear Spice Bundt Cake y Cream Cheese Glaze
Pear Spice Bundt Cake Recipe
(Martha Stewart)Ingredients:
⅓ cup granulated sugar
2 ½ pounds (about 5) Bartlett pears, peeled, cored and cut into 1 ½ inch cubes
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon cardamom
¼ teaspoon ginger
¾ teaspoon grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 ¾ cups dark brown sugar
¼ cup honey
4 large eggs
½ cup milk
For decoration:
Cream Cheese Glaze (recipe below)
Pear Chips ( see how to instructions here: Sweet Pear Chips)
Instructions:
1. In a sauce pan, spread the granulated sugar in an even layer. Cook over medium-high heat, without stirring, until sugar around the edge of the pan melts and begins to turn golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, slowly stir until all sugar has melted and mixture is translucent and golden.
2. Add pear chunks to caramel, and stir to coat. Cook, uncovered, over low heat until very soft, 6 to 8 minutes, swirling the pan occasionally. Using a potato masher, mash the pears until they are broken down but still slightly chunky. Continue cooking, uncovered, 5 minutes more, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; let cool completely.
3. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Butter and flour a 10-inch (12 cup capacity) Bunt Pan, tapping out excess. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, baking soda, pepper and nutmeg; set aside. In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar, and honey on medium high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until combined after each addition. With the mixer on the lowest speed, add the flour mixture in two batches, a alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour. Add the reserved pear sauce, and mix to combine, about 1 minute, scrapping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Do not over mix.
5. Spoon the batter into a prepared pan, and smooth with a small offset spatula. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until cake is a deep golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool slightly. Invert the cake onto a wire rack set over a piece of parchment paper and allow to cool 10 minutes. Once cool, pour the glaze over the top, letting some drip down the sides. Alternatively, dust with confectioner’s sugar. Garnish with pear chips, if using.
Makes one 10- inch cake
Cream Cheese Glaze
Ingredients:
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature ½ cup confectioners sugar, sifted
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 tablespoon milk, plus more if needed.
Preparation:
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on midium-high speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes, scrapping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
2. Add the sugar, and beat until combined, about 1 minute.
3. Add the salt, lemon juice, and milk, mix on low speed until smooth. If the glaze is too thick to drizzle, add more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Anny, thank you for such a wonderful present, I have been enjoying it a great deal. I wish you were near to taste all the goodies.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:10
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