Soft Almond & Pear Cake: A Moist and Flavorful Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (50g) almond flour (or finely ground almonds)
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional, but adds great flavor)
- ½ cup (120ml) milk (or almond milk for extra nuttiness)
Fruit
- 2 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (or diced, if preferred)
Topping (optional)
- Sliced almonds for garnish
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Preparation
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch (23cm) round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla and almond extracts.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined (do not overmix).
- Fold in the Pears: Gently fold in half of the sliced or diced pears into the batter.
- Assemble the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Arrange the remaining pear slices on top in a decorative pattern. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the top, if using.
- Bake: Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
Tips
- For extra moisture, drizzle the baked cake with a simple syrup made from equal parts sugar and water, heated until dissolved.
- Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an indulgent treat.
Enjoy your delicious, moist, and flavorful Soft Almond & Pear Cake! 🍰
