Dark Chocolate, Pear, Pistachio Cake

Submitted by BB2011

"This was proclaimed the best cake ever by my family at our Thanksgiving meal. It's from Technicolor Kitchen."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 14
• Yields: 1 cake
• Serves: 10

ingredients

• CAKE

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 7 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1⁄2 cup pistachios
• 2⁄3 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pear, cored and coarsely chopped

• CHOCOLATE GANACHE

• 1⁄3 cup heavy cream
• 3 1⁄2 ounces dark chocolate
• pistachios, for decorating

directions

1. CAKE.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F Butter a 9in springform cake pan, then line the bottom with baking paper and butter the paper.
3. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Process the chocolate and pistachios in a food processor until coarse crumbs form.
5. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, beating until well combined, then beat in the vanilla.
6. Stir the flour mixture into the butter/sugar mixture, then add the pistachio and chocolate mixture and the pear.
7. Pour into the springform pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 30-40 minutes. Place the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes then carefully remove the mold.
8. CHOCOLATE GANACHE.
9. Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat to just BELOW boiling. Watch carefully to avoid scalding.
10. Add chocolate and stir until smooth.
11. Remove from heat and set aside until slightly thickened (5-10 minutes).
12. Pour ganache over the cake, scatter with pistachios, and place in the refrigerator to set (20-30 minutes).
13. Enjoy!

Reviews

[Studentchef]

I really enjoyed this cake, it totally hit the spot, when it comes to chocolate. The pears I had on hand were really small, because they came from my pear tree, so I added three of them, and I'm really glad I did. I think the pears went nicely to the cake, and the pistacios added a nice crunch to it.