Step 1

Preheat the oven to 170°C. Lightly grease and line a 21cm spring-form cake pan with baking paper.

Step 2

Peel, core and dice the pears. This will make 3 cups. Place in a bowl.

Step 3

Finely grate the lemon rind and squeeze out the juice. Pour the lemon juice over the pears and stir to coat.

Step 4

Melt the butter in a small saucepan until golden. Cool. Place in a medium bowl with the grated lemon rind, vanilla and caster sugar. Beat until creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs.

Step 5

Sift the flour, baking powder and mixed spice together. Fold into the butter mixture. Add the pears and mix gently.

Step 6

Spread evenly into the cake pan. Bake for about 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool on a rack before removing from the pan.