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Dark Gingerbread Pear Cake

4.3

(45)

Slice of gingerbread pear cake on a plate next to a bowl of whipped cream and a pile of forks.
Romulo Yanes

Fresh ginger and pear infuse a robust old-world favorite with newfound vibrancy.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 hr

  • Yield

    Makes 1 (9-inch) cake

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses (not robust or blackstrap)
3 large eggs
1/4 cup grated peeled ginger
1 Bosc pear
Accompaniment: whipped cream

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 9-inch cake pan, knocking out excess.

    Step 2

    Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and salt.

    Step 3

    Melt butter with water.

    Step 4

    Beat together brown sugar and molasses with an electric mixer until combined. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well. Beat in flour mixture at low speed until just combined. Add butter mixture and ginger, beating just until smooth. Pour into cake pan.

    Step 5

    Peel pear and cut into 3/4-inch pieces. Scatter over batter. Bake until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool slightly.

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