Brown Butter Pear Almond Cake
This cake beautifully captures the essence of fall, combining ripe pears with rich brown butter and crunchy almonds to create a moist, flavorful dessert that's simple to make and perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter Plus additional for greasing the pan
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ripe pears, peeled and chopped Use ripe, sweet varieties like Bartlett or Bosc
- ½ cup sliced almonds Can be toasted for added flavor
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather all your ingredients. Make sure the butter is at room temperature.
- Chop the pears and slice the almonds.
Cooking the Base
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter until it turns golden brown and emits a nutty aroma, about 5–7 minutes. Let it cool slightly.
Mixing Wet Ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in the cooled brown butter.
Mixing Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
Combining Ingredients
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined.
- Fold in the chopped pears and sliced almonds until evenly distributed.
Baking
- Pour the batter into a greased 9-inch round cake pan and spread evenly.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
This cake serves well with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce. For added flavor, try incorporating spices like cinnamon or nutmeg into the batter.