Italian Pear & Almond Cake

The most easy, no fuss and delicious cake you will every make! I can guarantee our Italian Almond and Pear Cake will be a hit among your loved ones and friends. This cake has a underlining delightful almond flavour with a mega punch of sweet and soft pear. The toasted almonds sit gracefully on top of the cake to give that 'crunch' factor. Sprinkle some icing sugar and add a dollop of whipped cream on the side and let your taste buds dance the night away! Don't just make one make two! You will be in demand after this cake.

Enjoy. xo

Ingredients

• 9 Tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
• 9 Tbsp white sugar
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 7 Tbsp Plain Flour
  
• 1/2 Cup ground almonds
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
  
• 3 medium brown pears ripe, peeled, cored and halved
• 1/4 cup flaked almonds
• Icing sugar for garnish
  

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees
2. Grease an 8-inch spring-form pan and line the bottom with baking paper. Set aside.
   
3. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and white sugar together until pale and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Using a spatula, fold in the flour, ground almonds and baking powder. Spoon batter into the prepared spring-form pan and use a palette knife to even out the mixture. (Batter will be thick and fill the pan only about an inch thick).
5. Prepare pears, by peeling, coring and cutting in half.
6. Arrange the pear halves over the top of the cake and bake in pre-heated 180 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove cake from oven and sprinkle the flaked/sliced almonds over the top. Return to the oven for a further 8-10 minutes. The cake is ready when a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
7. Leave the cake to cool in the tin, then run a knife around the outside and carefully remove the ring and base. Dust with icing sugar before serving.