For Christmas a friend brought me eight Harry & David pears. Honestly, I am not a big pear eater and knew I would not be able to eat them all before they spoiled.
So, I decided to create a pear cake. I call it my “Partridge in a Pear” Tree Cake. Not only is it amazingly moist but the brown butter frosting gives it a delicious taste.
I brought the cake to a Christmas Eve party and it was the #1 dessert of the table.
You can make the cake with small diced pear cubes or larger ones, depending on how much you want to see the pears when you cut into the cake.
You will need to use ripe pears for it is create the moistness of the cake.
Printable recipe below:
Pear Cake
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 1/2 Cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 Cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 Cups diced ripe pears
- 1 Cup sliced almond or walnut
How to Make:
In a bowl, mix flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar together. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Slowly mix in oil. Add pears and mix. Merge the pear mixture into the flour mixture and mix until all together (do not beat). Add nuts (optional).
Pour into greased bundt or cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes. Test for doneness my pressing lightly in middle of cake. If it bounces back, it is ready.
Brown Butter Frosting (printable recipe below)
You Need:
1/2 Cup butter (1stick)
2 Cups powdered sugar
1/8 Cup milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Cook the butter on medium heat until it is browned. It will look a brown auburn color. Pour it into a bowl and refrigerate until chilled.
Using a beater, mix until fluffy. Slowly add the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.

- Pear Cake Recipe
- 2 Cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1½ Cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 Cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 Cups diced ripe pears
- 1 Cup sliced almond or walnut
- Brown Butter Frosting
- ½ Cup butter (1stick)
- 2 Cups powdered sugar
- ⅛ Cup milk
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pear Recipe:
- In a bowl, mix flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar together. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Slowly mix in oil. Add pears and mix. Merge the pear mixture into the flour mixture and mix until all together (do not beat). Add nuts (optional).
- Pour into greased bundt or cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes. Test for doneness my pressing lightly in middle of cake. If it bounces back, it is ready.
- Brown Butter Frosting
- Cook the butter on medium heat until it is browned. It will look a brown auburn color. Pour it into a bowl and refrigerate until chilled.
- Using a beater, mix until fluffy. Slowly add the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.
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