The name alone caught my attention when I saw this recipe from the online Delicious Magazine, and then the use of sour cream and nutmeg. When friends invited us over for dinner I offered to bring dessert so I could try this delicious cake. I was quite skeptical once I read the length of baking time but it was absolutely perfect and so very moreish. I will definitely serve this regularly and is the perfect Christmas dinner dessert.
Pear and Almond Cake with Almond Crunch Topping
Ingredients
- 175g softened butter
- 150g Billington’s Golden Caster Sugar – I used regular caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract – I used essence
- 2 medium eggs – I used extra large
- 220g self-raising flour
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp grated nutmeg
- 140ml soured cream
- Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 50g ground almonds
- 2 firm pears, such as Comice
- A little lemon juice
For the almond crunch topping
- 50g butter
- 50g Billington’s Light Muscovado Sugar – I used demerara sugar
- 2 tbsp double cream – I used normal cream
- 75g flaked or slivered almonds
Method
- Line a 20cm springform tin with non-stick baking paper. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4.
- Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, adding a spoonful of the flour with the second egg. Sift the remaining flour, a pinch of salt, bicarbonate of soda and the nutmeg together. Fold half the flour into the creamed mixture. Fold in the soured cream, zest and almonds, then the remaining flour.
- Peel, core and slice the pears. Toss with lemon juice to prevent discolouration. Spread half of the cake mixture over the base of the tin, cover with the pears, then the remaining cake mixture. Bake for 40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the almond topping. Melt the butter in a pan and stir in the sugar and cream, then stir in the almonds.
- Remove the cake from the oven and pour the almond mixture evenly over the top. Bake for a further 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is toffee-coloured and a skewer comes out clean from the centre of the cake. Remove and serve warm or cold.
Lovely Mandy. I bet your friends were happy you brought dessert.
I am looking forward to making it again soon Glenda. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
That looks delicious. I bet it would be nice with a cup of tea.
Nothing nice than a nice piece of cake with a cup of tea. Have a super day Lori. 🙂 xo
OMGOSHHHH!
You made that?
AMAAAAZING! I’m very impressed! xxx
Aww, thanks darlin. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
Sounds delicious Mandy. Have a super Monday 🙂
Thanks Tandy! Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
This reminds me of my favourite German Bienenstich, only much healthier!
This is such a wonderful cake Angie. Have a wonderful day. 🙂 xo
Reblogged this on Chef Ceaser.
Thanks for the re-blog! Have an awesome day. 🙂 xo
Oh I am so in love with this almond cake Mandy. I’ve been trying to figure out what cake I want to make for this holiday, and I think this will be it. Thanks for this recipe.
What a lovely compliment Kia, thank you and I can say this is a wonderful choice. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
Ooh that looks so good – pears and almonds work so well together!
This is definitely going to feature again over the holidays. Have a wonderful day Tania. 🙂 xo
Oh Mandy, this sounds divine! XX Have a wonderful weekend, lovely lady.
Thanks Lizzy. Have a wonderful weekend too. 🙂 xo
This cake looks like something I would love (as well as my husband, he loves pear) and the almond crunch is just a perfect finish! Happy Holidays!
I am looking forward to making it again soon Laila. Have a super weekend ahead. 🙂 xo
Oohhhhh, aaahhhhh, mmmmmmmm!!!! I. Must. Have. Some. NOW! 😀
Much love and many hugs to you!!!
Kath
Wouldn’t it be lovely to share a piece. Have a super day Kath. 🙂 xoxoxo
Mmm, I am loving that almond crunch topping — so many ways you could use it, even on cookies. This cake would be a lovely addition to our brunch table too. If I don’t stop by again before so, Merry Christmas, Mandy!
I love the idea of using the topping on cookies Judy. Merry Christmas to you too. 🙂 xoxo
Pears and almonds in a cake? Sounds perfect to me! It is beautiful too. The texture looks so inviting. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
This is a wonderful cake Tricia. Have a wonderful and happy Christmas too. 🙂 xo
Happy Christmas week my beautiful amazing and gorgeous friend. Biiiiiiiiiiiiig squishy hug! xox
This cake sounds and looks divine. 🙂 Love the almond crunch topping, its really pretty. I’ve been using almonds in a lot of my baking/cooking these days, such a lovely substitute to flour. Will add this beauty to the bake on holidays list for sure. Hope your weekend was super. Heading over to catch up on the posts I’ve missed this past few weeks. Lotsa love. xo
Happy Christmas week to you too darlin. This is a winner and will definitely be made again and again. My Pete home so having a wonderful time plus loads of family too. Have a beautiful day sweet Anna. 🙂 xoxoxo
I was just sent a hamper by Billingtons! I have that golden castor sugar so I should make this cake! I do love a pear and almond cake xx
I do hope you enjoy it as much as we did Charlie. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
This looks delicious. I will be trying this out at home very soon. xx
I would love to hear how you enjoy it Emma. Happy Christmas to you and your lovely family. 🙂 xo
Now this, dear Mandy, is a cake fit for the holidays. It looks incredible! Then again, I love just about anything with almonds as a key ingredient. I know. I’m easy. 🙂
Happy Christmas John! Hope Max is spoiling you with lots of furry love. This cake is an absolute winner! Hope you get to enjoy it soon. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xoxoxo
Mandy, that looks wonderful. I’ve been terrible with blogging but still reading and keeping up with you. Wishing you and Pete the best of holidays and a very happy and healthy New Year.
Beautiful love filled happy holiday wishes to you and your family too Diane. 🙂 xoxoxo
Pears have always been one of my favorite fruits and your cake looks wonderful and I sure is delicious. Wishing you all the best in this new year.
Just back getting into the swing of things, slowly… Have a beautiful 2016 Karen. 🙂 xo
A great way to use pears and I love how simply it’s decorated.
Thanks so much. I love this cake. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
Yum! This looks so good! Happy 2016!
Happy 2016 to you too Kelly. 🙂 xo
I am searching for a cake recipe for my daughters birthday cake – a grown up cake obviously – i am particularly taken with the topping on this one! Nice.. c
C, I hope you get to making this for your daughter, it is an absolutely wonderful cake.
I have been missing your posts – having Pete home for 3 weeks was far too special to interrupt with blogging so needless to say I am a little behind.
Have a beautiful weekend. 🙂 xoxo
You are never behind, mine is a soap opera – we move VERY VERY SLOWLY! c
Lovely! xoxo
Oh WOW!
This cake looks so super delicious. I’m drinking an earl grey tea right now and I know it would go so well.
Yumming 🙂
Thanks for sharing
Love to you and the family.
Julie
Julie, a cup of early grey is the perfect companion to this lovely cake. I hope to be back to blogging soon. Have a wonderful day. 🙂 xoxoxo
Love the idea of sandwiching the pears between 2 layers of batter and the crunch from the almond topping provides the perfect crunch, bet there was no leftover.
This truly is a perfect combination Norma. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
It sounds utterly delicious!
Thanks Zirkie. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
I’ll just have an extra slice of this while you’re away.
Excellent idea! 🙂 xo
Perfectly gorgeous cake!
Absolutely! Hope you are well. 🙂 xo
Yum!
Double decker yum. 😀 xo
Umm , it looks really delicious.
Thanks very much. It is an amazing cake. Have a super day. 🙂 xo