Spice Cake With Rosemary Poached Pears & Maple Cream
Ingredients:
Spice Cake
- 1 egg
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 4 tablespoon butter (softened)
- 2 tablespoons Milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
Rosemary Poached Pears
- 1 cup cabernet wine
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 Harry & David® Royal Riviera Pear (peeled)
- 3 sprigs rosemary
Maple Cream
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1-2 teaspoons Milk
Instructions:
For the cake
- Preheat oven to 350° F and grease a 6" round baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, combine the egg, brown sugar, molasses, butter, milk, and vanilla.
- Slowly mix in the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices into wet ingredients until combined.
- Pour the mixture into the baking pan. Bake for 25 to 27 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.
For the rosemary poached rears
- In a small saucepan, add cabernet, water, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and add the peeled pear and rosemary sprigs.
- Let the pear sit in the wine mixture for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the pear becomes soft and a deep red color.
- Remove pear from pan and place on a paper towel or plate until ready to assemble.
For the maple cream
- Using a fork, combine powdered sugar, maple syrup, and milk together in a bowl until there are no more clumps and it becomes an icing consistency.
Assembling the cake
- Using a spoon, carve a small divot in the center of the cake, just big enough so the pear can sit up on its own.
- Place the pear in the divot and drizzle with the maple cream. Top with extra cinnamon if desired. Enjoy!
Notes:
For the poached pear: Be sure to use slightly firm, unbruised pears and peel in long strokes to keep the shape of the pear (a vegetable peeler works great for this). Turning the pear in the poaching liquid periodically as it simmers will ensure the color is even all the way around.
Using herbs: Adding rosemary to the pear-poaching liquid lends an earthy flavor and brings out the sweetness of the pear. Using herbs in desserts may seem a bit unexpected yet they complement fruit-forward desserts beautifully.