Pear Spice Cake Wcream Cheese Frosting Pecan Praline Topping Food

SUPER MOIST SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13 inch pan. I always use this glass pan.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and other spices together in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Whisk the oil, brown sugar, applesauce, eggs, vanilla extract, and molasses (if using) together in a medium bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until combined. Fold in the shredded apple until combined.
• Spread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you find the top of the cake is browning too quickly in the oven, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
• Remove the cake from the oven and set on a wire rack. Allow to cool completely. After about 45 minutes, I usually place it in the refrigerator to speed things up.
• In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add 3 confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add the extra 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar (I add it). Spread the frosting on the cooled cake. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. This helps sets the frosting and makes cutting easier.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for 5 days.

OLD FASHIONED PEAR SPICE CAKE [WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING]

Steps:

• In the large bowl of an electric mixture, combine sugar, oil, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger salt and flour.
• Mix to blend; then beat at medium-high speed for 5 minutes.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold pears and nuts into batter.
• Spread in an ungreased 9 by 13 inch baking pan.
• Bake in a 350 oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (50-55 minutes).
• Let cool in pan on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, prepare Cream Cheese Frosting.
• For frosting:.
• Beat [butter, cream cheese and vanilla] until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in powdered sugar until frosting is of good spreading consistency.
• Spread frosting over cool cake.

PEAR WALNUT SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the raisins in a bowl and toss them with 2 tablespoons of the flour until lightly coated (this will prevent them from sinking in the cake batter during baking).
• To make the cake: Beat the eggs and sugar in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer) until fluffy. With the mixer running, slowly pour in the vanilla and the oil. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Mix into the egg mixture. Mix in the pears and nuts, then stir in the raisins by hand, distributing them evenly in the batter. Spoon into a 10-inch tube pan and bake about 45 to 60 minutes, until springy and dry in the center. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack, then turn it out. Freeze until ready to use or just wrap and store for up to 2 days.
• To make the glaze: Stir the maple syrup and sugar together in a bowl. Glaze the cooled cake by spooning the glaze around the top of the cake and letting it drip down the sides.

PEAR SPICE CAKE W/CREAM CHEESE FROSTING & PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Butter two 9" cake pans, and line bottoms with parchment paper. Mix dry ingredients for cake in a large bowl. Stir 1/2 cup butter in small saucepan over medium heat until melted and brown, about 3 min. To the dry mixture, add pear nectar, eggs, molasses and crystallized ginger, then add brown butter. Using an electric mixer, beat batter 2 min on medium speed. Fold in pears. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake until cake is dark brown and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist crumbs attached, about 25 min. Layers will be very thin. Cool cake in pans on racks for 15 min. Shake pans gently to be sure cake is free (run knife around edge if necessary), dump out and turn back onto parchment side, finish cooling on racks. Meanwhile, make frosting by beating cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until most of it is incorporated. Taste for sweetness, adjust to taste. Add sour cream, beat until incorporated. Add vanilla, beat until frosting is light and fluffy. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day in advance.) Peel parchment off, torte layers. Place first layer on cake board or serving platter. Put a layer of frosting on. Repeat with next two layers, then put the last layer of cake on top, smooth side up (no crumbs!). Do not frost top. Frost sides of cake smooth, then pipe an edge around the top to hold the praline topping. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. Shortly before serving, make topping by stirring butter, brown sugar and heavy cream in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat until smooth. Boil 3 min, stirring often. Stir in pecan halves. Take cake out of fridge, spoon warm topping into center. Serve immediately for gooey texture, or later for a more southern praline texture.

APPLE PEAR CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 8 ingredients. Combine dry ingredients; stir into the fruit mixture. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 325° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool on a wire rack. , For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and butter until smooth. Beat in the milk and vanilla; frost cake. Store in the refrigerator.

PEAR CAKE WITH LEMON-HONEY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and spices in large bowl. Make well in center of flour mixture. Add oil, eggs, milk and vanilla; whisk just until evenly moistened. Fold in pears and nuts; divide between pans.
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks.
• For frosting:
• Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and lemon peel in large bowl until fluffy. Add honey and beat until smooth. If frosting is very soft, chill until firm enough to spread.
• Cut around cakes; turn out of pans. Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on platter. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with second layer, flat side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.

PEAR SPICE BUNDT CAKE WITH WALNUT PRALINE TOPPING

Steps:

• Cake:.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F Butter and flour bundt pan.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.
• Beat together butter, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg in another bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or 4 with a handheld. Add yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla.
• Reduce speed to low, then add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in batches, mixing well after each addition.
• Fold in pear pieces and chopped walnuts.
• Beat egg whites in another bowl with cleaned beaters until they just hold stiff peaks, then fold whites into batter gently but thoroughly.
• Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top, and bake until a wooden pick or skewer comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then invert onto rack and cool completely.
• Walnut Praline Topping:.
• Stir golden brown sugar, whipping cream and 1/2 cup butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat until smooth. Boil 3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in walnut pieces. Spoon warm topping over warm cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PEAR SPICE CAKE WITH PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Stir 1/2 cup butter in small saucepan over medium heat until melted and brown, about 3 minutes. Pour into large bowl. Add spice cake mix, canned pear nectar, eggs, molasses and crystallized ginger. Using electric mixer, beat batter 2 minutes. Fold in pears. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until cake is dark brown and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Cool cake in pan on rack 15 minutes. Run knife between pan sides and cake to loosen. Release pan sides. Place cake on platter.
• Stir golden brown sugar, whipping cream and remaining 1/2 cup butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat until smooth. Boil 3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in pecan halves. Spoon warm topping over warm cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PECAN SPICE LAYER CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour cake pans, knocking out excess flour.
• Sift together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices into a large bowl.
• Beat together butter (1 1/2 sticks) and brown sugar in another bowl with an electric mixer (fitted with paddle attachment if using a stand mixer) at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low, then add flour mixture and sour cream alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture and mixing until batter is just smooth. Mix in pecans until just combined.
• Spoon batter evenly into pans, smoothing tops, then rap pans once or twice to expel any air bubbles. Bake until pale golden and a wooden pick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in pans on racks. Run a thin knife around edge of pans, then invert racks over pans and reinvert cakes onto racks to cool completely.
• Make frosting:
• Beat together cream cheese, butter, and zest in a bowl with clean beaters at medium-high speed until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Sift in confectioners sugar and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined, then add lemon juice and beat at medium-high speed until frosting is smooth.
• Assemble and frost cake:
• Halve each cake layer horizontally with a long serrated knife using a gentle sawing motion. Put 1 layer, cut side up, on a cake stand or large plate and spread with about 3/4 cup frosting. Stack remaining cake layers, spreading about 3/4 cup frosting on each layer and ending with top cake layer cut side down. Spread top and side of cake with remaining frosting (about 3 1/2 cups) and coat side of cake with pecans (1 1/3 cups), gently pressing to help them adhere.

PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

Steps:

• Melt butter over medium heat in a small pan. Stir in brown sugar, whipping cream and vanilla.
• Cook and stir until it reaches a full boil then reduce heat and boil gently for three minutes stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and stir in chopped pecans (and shot of rum if serving the adult version). Serve warm.

PECAN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended.
• Beat at high speed until smooth; stir in pecans.

PECAN PRALINE BUTTER CREAM ICING

Steps:

• -Pecan Pralines-.
• Melt butter over medium heat in a saucepan.
• Add sugar to the saucepan and stir frequently (do NOT use a plastic spoon, use a wire whisk). Stir until completely melted and resembles an amber color.
• Add in pecans and continue to stir mixture until the sugar is hot and bubbly (do NOT use a whisk for this part, use a metal spoon).
• On parchment paper, spread out the pecan mixture and let cool completely.
• Break pecans into pieces and place into a food processor. Process until it resembles brown sugar (slightly moist, but not pasty).
• -Butter Cream Icing-.
• Add a dash of salt to the egg whites and beat for 30 seconds.
• Place the whites over a double broiler and add sugar 1/2 cup at a time.
• Gently whip the mixture with a whisk until the egg whites no longer feel grainy when rubbed between your fingertips.
• Whip mixture on medium high until bowl is cool to the touch.
• Cut up the cold, but not hard, butter, and slowly add it to the meringue.
• Mix butter into meringue on medium-high with cake mixer. Keep mixing until you hear a "slapping" sound. This is when the butter cream is ready.
• Add vanilla.