Pear Almond Cake

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. If your oven has a convection setting, use a convection bake setting. Line the bottom of the 9x3-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Grease the sides and the bottom of the springform pan with butter or cooking spray.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, mix flour and baking powder.

Step 3

In a large bowl, combine sugar, melted butter, and eggs, and beat using a whisk for about 1 or 2 minutes until the mixture becomes smooth, light in color, and fluffy.

Step 4

Mix in Greek yogurt, vanilla, and almond extract, and whisk just until combined.

Step 5

Add the flour mixture gradually, adding 1 cup at a time and whisking it together with the wet ingredients just until combined. Do not over-mix.

Step 6

You will use 3 pears. Chop one peeled and cored pear into small chunks. Fold the chopped pear into the cake batter.

Step 7

Slice the remaining 2 pears (peeled and cored) into thin slices. Don't add them to the cake yet.

Step 8

Pour the cake batter (with pear chunks) into the parchment paper-lined springform pan. Arrange pear slices (the remaining 2 pears) tightly on top of the cake in a circular pattern. Top with sliced almonds. See my photos (scroll up) for reference.

Step 9

Place the baking pan with the cake batter on the middle rack (this is especially important for non-convection ovens). Bake for about 50 minutes or 1 hour until the tester (or toothpick) inserted in the center of the cake (away from the pears) comes out clean.

Step 10

Remove the cake from the oven. Let it cool in a springform pan on a wire rack. After cooling the cake for about 30 minutes, release the cake from the springform pan. At this point, if the cake is cool enough, you can slide your hand (or a large wide spatula) under the cake, between the parchment paper and the bottom of the pan, and transfer the cake with the parchment paper attached to its bottom onto a cake plate.

Step 11

When serving, dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Step 12

I provide helpful step-by-step photos above the recipe card (scroll up).