Country Pear Pecan Snack Cake Food

PEAR-PECAN UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Butter the inside of a 5-quart round slow cooker, then line it completely with a large sheet of foil and butter the foil. Turn the cooker on low. Sprinkle the cut-up butter and the brown sugar over the foil in the cooker. Add the pears, arranging them in a circle, cut-side down.
• Mix the flour, pecans, cornmeal, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl. In the large bowl of a mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on low speed until just blended. Increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• With the mixer on low speed, beat the dry ingredients into the butter mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix on medium speed just until the batter is smooth. Spread over the pears in the slow cooker. Drape paper towels over the top of the slow cooker (not touching the cake) to prevent condensation from dripping onto the cake. Cover and cook on low until the cake sets and the sides brown, about 3 hours. Turn off the cooker and let the cake rest about 20 minutes.
• Lift the cake by the foil and place on a rack to cool. Carefully invert onto a platter and peel off the foil. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

COUNTRY PEAR CAKE

Steps:

• Position oven rack in the center of oven; preheat oven to 375°.
• Grease and flour a 9 inch round cake pan; set aside.
• In a big bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, and lemon zest until well blended.
• Beat in 2/3 cup sugar.
• Stir in the flour and mix until a smooth batter is formed.
• Peel the pears; cut the pears lengthwise into quarters; cut away the tough cores and any seeds.
• Slice the pear quarters crosswise into 1/4-inch slices.
• Add the pears to the batter and stir gently so they are completely incorporated into the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan; sprinkle the top of the cake with the 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Bake for 50 minutes; set the pan on a wire rack to cool.
• Serve the cake warm or at room temperature.
• *Serve with vanilla ice cream or caramel sauce.

COCONUT-PECAN SNACK CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Lightly grease and flour 1 13x9 sheet cake pan.
• Add boxed cake mix to large mixing bowl, make a well in the center.
• Add eggs, oil and water to the well.
• Mix on low speed 30 seconds, then medium speed for 1 minute.
• Add entire contents of tub of frosting to the batter.
• Mix frosting into batter on medium speed for 1 additional minute.
• Pour batter evenly into prepared pan.
• Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes or until edges of the cake have begun to pull away from the pan and the center is set.
• Cool in and serve from pan.

THREE-TIER CANDIED-PECAN CAKE WITH BROWN-BUTTER PEARS

Steps:

• Candy the pecans: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss toasted pecans with butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring to coat halfway through, until toasted, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Make the cake: Butter three 8-inch round cake pans, and dust with flour, tapping out excess. Sift flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a bowl. Beat butter and 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in candied pecans.
• Beat egg whites in a clean bowl with a mixer on high speed until frothy. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold one-third of the egg whites into the batter using a rubber spatula. Fold in remaining egg whites in 2 additions.
• Divide batter among pans. Bake until cakes are set and a toothpick inserted into the center of each comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks, and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the pear filling: Brown butter in a skillet over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Cook pears, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 6 minutes.
• Make the bourbon whipped cream: Whisk cream, bourbon, and confectioners' sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form.
• Trim tops of cakes to create a level surface using a serrated knife. Transfer 1 cake to a platter. Spread half the pears over the top. Top with another cake. Spread remaining pears over the top. Top with remaining cake. Spread whipped cream over the top. Garnish with chopped pecans.

PEAR-PECAN BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Grease and flour a 12 cup Bundt cake pan.
• Place the pears, granulated sugar and pecans in a large bowl; stir well to coat.
• Set aside for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 325°F
• Sift the flour, baking soda and salt over the pear mixture.
• Stir in the oil, vanilla, and eggs.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
• Bake for 1 1/4 hours, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn the cake out onto a rack and let cool completely.
• Dust top with confectioners' sugar before serving.