Ila's Pear Cake

One word describes this cake ... Divine!! Serve with ice cream or creme fraiche.

• Ready In: 1 hr 25 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 2  lbs pears, firm but ripe
• 2  cups flour
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 2  tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1  egg, lightly beaten
• 1⁄2 cup almond paste
• 2  tablespoons lemon juice, fresh
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 1  tablespoon flour
• 2  tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
•  vanilla ice cream or  creme fraiche

Directions

1. Peel, core and slice pears.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Butter an 8 inch baking dish.
4. In a food processor, pulse 2 cups of flour with 3/4 cup of sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder and salt.
5. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
6. Add the egg and pulse just until combined.
7. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead several times.
8. Divide the dough roughly in half; leave one piece slightly larger.
9. Flatten into disks, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
10. Wipe out the food processor; add the almond paste, lemon juice, cinnamon, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon flour.
11. Process until smooth.
12. Scrape into a bowl and gently stir in the pear slices.
13. On an unfloured work surface, roll out the larger piece of dough to an 11" square.
14. Put the dough into the baking dish, pressing it three quarters of the way up the side.
15. Spoon the pear filling into the cake pan in an even layer.
16. Roll out the remaining dough to an 8 1/2" square.
17. Set the dough on top of the pears and press the rim to seal.
18. Bake for 55 minutes or until golden brown.