Poached Pear Ginger Loaf Cake

Welcome to my food blog, where I explore the world of culinary delights. Today, we’re diving into a dessert that combines the elegance of poached pears with the warmth of ginger in a delightful Poached Pear Ginger Loaf Cake. This cake is a perfect representation of a harmonious blend of flavors, textures, and elegance. It’s the kind of dessert that will leave your guests asking for seconds.

Ingredients:

For the Poached Pears:

• 3 ripe but firm pears
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• star anise
• 1tsp cloves
• 4-5 thin slices of fresh ginger

For the Ginger Loaf Cake:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2tbsp stem ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• powder sugar for dusting

Instructions:

For the Poached Pears:

1. Start by peeling the pears, leaving the stems intact. This will give your poached pears an elegant presentation.
2. In a saucepan, combine the water, granulated sugar, cinnamon stick, star anise and fresh ginger slices. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
3. Add the peeled pears to the simmering liquid, ensuring they are fully submerged. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the pears are tender when pierced with a knife.
4. Remove the pears from the poaching liquid and set them aside to cool. The poaching liquid can be saved for other uses, such as drizzling over the cake.

For the Ginger Loaf Cake:

1. Preheat your oven to 175°C. Grease and flour a loaf pan.
2. In a mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Stir in the finely grated fresh ginger and vanilla extract.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
7. Pour half of the ginger cake batter into the prepared loaf pan.
8. Place the poached pears on top of the batter, pressing them down slightly.
9. Carefully spoon the remaining batter over the pears, making sure they are well covered.
10. Bake the loaf in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
11. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
12. Dust with powder sugar!

This Poached Pear Ginger Loaf Cake is a delightful blend of tender, poached pears and the warm, spicy notes of ginger. The poached pears add a touch of elegance to this dessert, both in appearance and flavour, making it an excellent choice for special occasions or when you want to impress your guests. The ginger-infused cake is moist and perfectly balanced, offering a hint of warmth and spice that complements the sweet, juicy pears.

Whether you enjoy it as a dessert for a festive meal or as a treat with your afternoon tea, this cake is a perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The poached pears not only elevate the flavor but also make it a showstopper in terms of presentation. So, give this recipe a try and savour the delightful combination of flavours, making your taste buds dance with every bite. Enjoy the sweet and spicy elegance of this Poached Pear Ginger Loaf Cake!