Butter Pear Cake

Submitted by gailanng

"A German butter cake with southern gooey goodness. Adapted from Alison Ladman with The Associated Press."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 45mins
• Ingredients: 19
• Serves: 14

ingredients

• For the cake

• 2 medium fresh pears, peeled, cored and diced (or 1 1/2 cups diced canned pears, patted dry)
• 2.46 ml ground cardamom
• 118.29 ml milk, room temperature
• 7.39 ml instant yeast
• 44.37 ml sugar
• 4.92 ml salt
• 1 egg
• 473.18 ml all-purpose flour
• 88.74 ml unsalted butter, room temperature

• For the topping

• 118.29 ml unsalted butter, room temperature
• 113.39 g cream cheese, room temperature
• 236.59 ml granulated sugar
• 2.46 ml salt
• 2 eggs
• 9.85 ml vanilla extract
• 59.14 ml corn syrup
• 177.44 ml all-purpose flour

• To finish

• powdered sugar
• toasted sliced almonds

directions

1. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, toss the pear with the cardamom, then set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the milk, yeast, sugar, salt, egg and flour. Mix on medium until a smooth dough has formed. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and mix until fully incorporated. Repeat with the remaining butter. This should take 6 to 8 minutes.
4. Scrape the dough into the prepared baking dish and, using greased hands, spread over the bottom of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
5. Heat the oven to 350°F Sprinkle the pears over the top of the dough.
6. To make the topping, in the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter, cream cheese, sugar and salt. One at a time, add the eggs, beating until well mixed. Stir in the vanilla and corn syrup, then mix in the flour. Dollop this mixture over the pear covered dough.
7. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the center is slightly set but still jiggly. Allow to cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and toasted almonds to serve. Refrigerate any leftovers.