Sunday, October 3, 2010

Pear Spice Cake with Walnut Praline Topping

Can anyone think of a better way to begin October than baking with a friend?

No? I didn't think so.

Jessica (a dear friend from high school whom, I might add, I have not seen for... years) and I have been planning a get-together - yes, to bake! I don't know why we didn't think of it sooner. All we needed to figure out: where, when, & what.

While we were planning, Jessica told me about this website: www.joythebaker.com - and it was love at first sight. The design and writing is very cute. I highly recommend it.

So for days, I went through Joy's Recipe Index trying to find the perfect one. But being the typical indecisive me, I couldn't choose. (As you can tell, I have serious issues with my indecisiveness if a baker can't even choose what she wants to bake).

Here is our finished product: with all of its yummy gooey goodness.




While we were waiting for our cake to finish baking, we watched a video of Joy and her friend Jill (Joy & Jill Bake Out) making Apple Tart Tatin. I have a feeling that might be our next project. You never know. We might even start our own Hannah & Jessica Bake Out!

Pear Spice Cake with Walnut Praline Topping
from Joy the Baker

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla
1  cups buttermilk
3 pears, peeled, cored and diced into roughly 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 to 1 1/4 cups of fruit)
1 cup walnuts (3 ounces), toasted , cooled, and finely chopped
    Make cake:
    Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour bundt pan.

    Sift together flour,  baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Beat together butter, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg in another bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or 4 with a handheld. Add yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low, then add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in batches, mixing well after each addition.  Fold in pear pieces and chopped walnuts.

    Beat egg whites in another bowl with cleaned beaters until they just hold stiff peaks, then fold whites into batter gently but thoroughly.

    Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top, and bake until a wooden pick or skewer comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then invert onto rack and cool completely.

    Walnut Praline Topping

    3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
    1/2 cup butter
    1/4 cup whipping cream
    1 cups walnuts, roughly chopped, toasted
      Stir golden brown sugar, whipping cream and  1/2 cup butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat until smooth. Boil 3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in walnut pieces. Spoon warm topping over warm cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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