Pear Sponge Cake Mary Berry Food

PEAR & GINGER LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease and line the base and sides of a 900g/2lb loaf tin with baking parchment, ensuring the parchment comes 2cm above the top of the tin. Beat the butter and sugars together until pale, then gradually stir in the eggs and vanilla extract. Fold the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt into the mix, then quickly stir through the stem ginger and pears. Pour the mixture into the loaf tin, smooth the surface, then bake for 1 hr - 1 hr 10 mins or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin.
• To make the glaze, mix the syrup with 1 tsp water and the sugar. Poke the surface of the loaf all over with a skewer, then pour on the syrup. Serve warm with cream, or allow to cool completely.

MARY BERRY'S TOFFEE PEAR PUDDING

Steps:

• 1. You will need a shallow 2 litre (3½ pint) ovenproof dish, measuring about 30 x 20 x 6cm (12 x 8 x 2½in). Preheat the oven to 180°/160° fan/Gas 4 and lightly grease the dish with butter. 2. Slice one pear half into thin horseshoe shapes and set these aside for decoration. Cut the remaining pears into 1cm (½ in) pieces. 3. To make the pudding, measure the butter and sugar into a mixing bowl. Using an electric hand whisk, beat until light and creamy. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk again to make a smooth, thick batter. Stir in the chopped pears. 4. Pour into the prepared dish. Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes until the pudding is well risen, coming away from the sides of the dish and springy to the touch. 5. To make the sauce, measure all the ingredients into a saucepan and heat gently until the butter has melted. Increase the heat and boil for a couple of minutes, stirring all the time until the sauce has thickened slightly. 6. Arrange the reserved pear slices along the centre of the dish. Pour half the sauce over the pudding, then pour the rest into a warm jug. Serve the pudding warm with the sauce and some ice cream, custard or cream. Prepare ahead: Can be made and cooked, without the sauce, up to 6 hours ahead. Sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead. Get your copy of Mary Berry's essential new guide to comfort cooking, with over 120 delicious, foolproof recipes:

MARY BERRY'S GINGERBREAD CAKE

Steps:

• This mix makes enough to fill 2 x standard 7inch Victoria sandwitch tins or 1 x 10inch diameter tin. Grease and base line your tin(s) with baking paper; preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3.
• Gently heat the margarine, sugar and treacle together in a pan, stirring until smooth. Allow to cool a little.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour and ground spices. Pour in the treacle mix and stir thoroughly to combine. Mince the stem ginger finely and stir with the eggs into the mix.
• Warm the milk gently in a saucepan, stirring gently to avoid it burning at the base of the pan. Add the bicarb of soda and let it foam a little. Stir into the gingerbread mixture until well blended.
• Pour into the prepared tin(s).
• Baking time: for 2x 7 inch cakes is 25-30mins (bake both together). For 1x 10inch cake bake for approx 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
• This cake keeps really well in an airtight tin, and actually improves over the first 2-3 days. Enjoy!