Saturday, June 16, 2012

KID FRIENDLY RECIPE Pear-Pecan Crunch Cake

COMMENTS FROM WORK:
"I smelled this dessert next to me for hours and when I finally ate it, it matched my expectations:  delicious.   I could eat the whipped cream topping alone.  This is delicious"

Upscale homey dessert

Prepare the carmelized pears:  peel and cut three pears into wedges.  Melt 1 Tbsp butter over medium low heat.  Add pear wedges; saute 8 to 10 minutes or until deep golden brown.  Toss with 2 Tbsp brown sugar until dissolved.

Prepare spiced whipped cream:  In chilled bowl, beat 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form.  Add 2 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp vanilla and 1/4 tsp cinnamon; continue beating until stiff peaks form.

PEAR-PECAN CRUNCH CAKE


PREP TIME:  30 minutes; TOTAL TIME about 1 hour, 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 CUP ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
1 1/2 TSP BAKING POWDER
1/8 TSP SALT
1/2 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR
1/4 CUP PACKED BROWN SUGAR
1 EGG
1/4 TSP DOUBLE-STRENGTH VANILLA
1 PEAR, PEELED AND FINELY DICED
1 1/2 CUPS TOASTED PECANS, COARSELY CHOPPED, DIVIDED
1 TSP FINELY GRATED ORANGE ZEST
SPICED WHIPPED CREAM
CARMELIZED PEARS
ADDITIONAL:  CINNAMON AND ADDITIONAL ORANGE ZEST

DIRECTIONS:
1.  Preheat oven to 325 F.  Cut a circle of Parchment Paper to fit bottom of Nonstick Cake Pan.  Grease bottom of pan; line with Parchment Paper and aside.  In small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

2.  Combine sugar, egg and vanilla and mix on low speed for 2 minutes, occasionally scraping sides of bowl.  Add flour mixture; mix just until combined.  Fold in pear, 1/2 cup of the pecans and zest (do not overmix).

3.  Pour batter into pan, spreading evenly; top with remaining pecans.  Bake 31to 33 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool 15 minutes.  Inver cake onto Cooling Rack; remove parchment paper, invert cake onto serving plate.

4.  If desired, spread spiced whipped cream over the center of cake; surround with Carmelized Pears.  Garnish with cinnamon and additional orange zest, if desired.

Yield 8 servings

Calories 270

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