Lately I have been feeling like time has been rushing past me at an unbelievable rate, I’ve been struggling to find enough time to get everything done and I have to admit that I have let things like cleaning the house slide a little as I struggle to fit everything in… I’m not even particularly busy, there are just so many little tasks that all add up into an overwhelming mass and I have been tired and inefficient. I always make sure I find some time to fit in a bit of baking though!
I recently came into possession of rather a lot of pears, my parents have a huge pear tree in their garden which had a bumper crop this year; and I have a couple of small trees in mine. I made a big batch of poached pears to use some of them up and have been enjoying them with porridge or pancakes; I still have quite a few left to get through though so I chucked a pear in this cake as well. Autumn really has come into it’s own with apples, pears, blackberries and damsons in abundance; I am just annoyed that I haven’t been able to find any sloes as I am rather partial to sloe gin and wanted to make some to enjoy at Christmas; I shall just have to make blackberry gin instead as I have a freezer full of those!
This dark chocolate, pear and hazelnut cake is very autumnal, with juicy pear, crunchy hazelnuts, indulgent dark chocolate chunks (I used Lindt 70%) and a hint of warm cinnamon, all smothered in Lindt 70% dark chocolate ganache. It goes wonderfully with a cup of tea, but also makes a good pudding as it is so chock full of bits and has a fairly soft, crumbly texture. The dark chocolate means that it is not too sweet, and it has a fairly grown up flavour. Served cold it has a firmer texture, with chunks of chocolate, but I also urge you to try it warm, where the chocolate melts and it becomes soft and gooey and just right for serving with custard…
If, like me, you have a crop of pears to get through, these are some of the recipes I have been eyeing up to try, Salted Caramel Pear Tarts by Vikalinka, Pear And Ginger Hand Pies With Ginger Caramel Sauce by Supergolden Bakes, Spiced Pear Vodka by Boulder Locavore, Pear And Walnut Foccacia by Seasons And Suppers or Pear And Ginger Tarte Tatin For Two by me.
Dark Chocolate, Pear And Hazelnut Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 150 g (5oz) 70% dark chocolate, finely chopped
- 75 g (2.5oz) hazelnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 large ripe pear cored and diced
- 150 g (1/2 cup + 2 tbsp) softened butter
- 150 g (3/4 cup) caster sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 150 g (1 + 1/4 cups) plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- pinch salt
Ganache
- 100 g (3.5oz) 70% dark chocolate, chopped
- 125 ml (1/2 cup) double cream
- roughly chopped hazelnuts to finish
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Grease a deep 20cm/8in round cake tin and line with baking parchment.
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Cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, add a spoonful of the flour if it looks like the mixture is going to split.
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In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt, add this to the butter and egg mixture and mix in on a low speed. Fold in the chocolate, hazelnuts and pear.
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Scrape the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 40-50 minutes until the cake is firm and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes or so then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
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To make the ganache, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until just boiling then pour it over the chocolate, leave for a couple of minutes then stir until smooth. Pour the ganache over the cake, allowing it to drip over the sides, top with chopped hazelnuts and allow to set before serving.
I am sharing this with Fabulous Foodie Fridays, Fiesta Friday hosted by Hostess At Heart and Spades, Spatulas And Spoons, Foodie FriDIY, Foodie Friends Friday and Friday Favourites
Annie Allen
September 30, 2015 at 10:43 amoh my god this looks so so delicious! what a great combination of ingredients! i would love this! definitely need to try. x
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:11 amThanks Annie 🙂 it is utterly delicious! x
skd
September 30, 2015 at 12:12 pmOoh mama!! Are these pages from an international food magazine. The photos are insane..jaw dropping insane. I need to go back and drool at them 🙂
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:11 amHa ha! Thank you 🙂 I was quite pleased with these photos!
lucyparissi
September 30, 2015 at 5:21 pmThat looks so, so good. I have been craving cake all day and you making me want to bake right here right now. That glaze is amazing. I think I need to add some more pear recipes to my repertoire!
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:14 amThanks Lucy 🙂 I often get the uncontrollable urge to bake and have been known to bake at 11pm when I really feel like it! x
Louise | Cygnet Kitchen
September 30, 2015 at 6:43 pmPears and chocolate are a marriage made in heaven, your cake is just gorgeous, Hannah! I want a slice (or two) right now, please!! x
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:15 amThanks Louise 🙂 x
vikalinkafood
September 30, 2015 at 8:07 pmOh I love this gorgeous cake! You can never EVER go wrong with chocolate and pears!
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:15 amThanks Julia 🙂 yep, it’s a classic combo for a reason! x
Julie is Hostess At Heart
September 30, 2015 at 8:12 pmThis is one gorgeous cake! I love love chocolate and hazelnut together and especially dark chocolate.
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:17 amThanks Julie 🙂 chocolate and hazelnut is one of the best flavour combinations out there, add pear and it’s heavenly!
claire
September 30, 2015 at 8:47 pmNow, these flavours just screamed “VERY Nigel Slater” at me -what with The Kitchen Diaries III just out (and such a joy to own), you’re nang on that vibe. Nicely done.
claire
September 30, 2015 at 8:49 pm“NANG”?! Sorry: bang on, there, please!
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:18 amHa ha! That never occurred to me but you are quite right, it is very Nigel Slater! 🙂
Angela - Patisserie Makes Perfect
October 1, 2015 at 9:14 amThis looks delicious Hannah. I’d love a slice of this right now to have with my mid-morning coffee.
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:18 amThanks Angela, it is lovely with a cuppa! x
Helen at Casa Costello
October 1, 2015 at 10:34 amNow that’s a good way to use up pears!! Can’t beat a nut & pear combo – Sadly I am not a fan of sloe gin but will be looking out for your blackberry gin! Thanks for joining in with #Bakeoftheweek x
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:20 amNope, can’t be beaten, especially when you add chocolate! I LOVE sloe gin and can (far too) easily drink a bottle of it by myself… x
Charlotte Oates
October 1, 2015 at 5:33 pmI’m feeling chilly today so I could just do with a warm slice of this with some custard.
All I’m seeing at the moment is people blogging about using all the amazing fruit they’ve grown in their garden. I have managed to grow rosemary and sage and that’s it. I really need to sort myself out!
Thanks for joining #FoodYearLinkup xx
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:22 amI really wish I had more growing, I’ve just got apples, pears and rosemary. My garden is really badly designed and in a state though so it needs a lot of work doing to it before I can plant anything else… It is really satisfying being able to cook with homegrown produce though! x
Winnie
October 1, 2015 at 9:32 pmThis cake looks soooooooooooooo DELICIOUS !!
Fantastic cake and beautiful photos
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:23 amThanks Winnie 🙂
Sarah
October 2, 2015 at 9:01 amThis cake is beautiful! I can’t think of a better way to use up pears than to put them in a cake 🙂
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:24 amThank you! I can think of a lot of ways to use up pears, cake is definitely the best one though!
Anita
October 2, 2015 at 11:51 amThis recipe looks so delicious! Hi, I’m Anita visiting from Foodie Fridiy.
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:24 amThank you 🙂
Kaila
October 2, 2015 at 12:52 pmThe chocolate ganache is truly mouthwatering! I love the personal connection to growing pears as well. Any cooking that comes from your heart is always just a bit better. Happy FF, and have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:25 amThanks Kaila 🙂 The ganache came out beautifully shiny! I was very pleased. It is incredibly satisfying cooking with homegrown produce 🙂
Arl's World
October 2, 2015 at 5:31 pmThis cake looks delicious!
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:25 amThank you!
thehealthyfoodblogger
October 2, 2015 at 11:35 pmYour cake looks fabulous!
hannahhossack
October 3, 2015 at 10:26 amThank you!
sarahgiebens
October 3, 2015 at 5:55 pmThat is one very delicious and gorgeous cake!
Liz
October 3, 2015 at 11:04 pmWhat wonderful pictures, and the cake looks delicious as well. I have a bag of pears in the fridge, time for baking!
Gin is not a favorite, what about blackberry vodka???
hannahhossack
October 22, 2015 at 9:05 amThank you! Blackberry vodka would work just as well, though I prefer gin to vodka personally
Angela Milnes
October 6, 2015 at 12:08 amWow this looks tasty. I’d love to try this..it’s making me hungry just reading about it and im also a hazelnut fan too! Great photos.
Angela x
hannahhossack
October 22, 2015 at 9:03 amThank you 🙂
Honest Mum (@HonestMummy)
October 7, 2015 at 8:17 pmUtterly stunning! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Divine Spice Box
October 7, 2015 at 11:16 pmWow that pic is soooo delicious… making me gain weight just by seeing it. Love the flavour combo too
hannahhossack
October 22, 2015 at 9:03 amHa ha! Thank you 🙂
Cat
October 8, 2015 at 8:21 pmI haven’t heard of these flavours together before but they sound really tasty and the cake looks beautiful.
hannahhossack
October 22, 2015 at 9:03 amThey are gorgeous together! It is an utterly delicious cake!
My Family Ties
October 8, 2015 at 8:47 pmThis cake looks so delicious! A must try and I have pinned it for later 🙂 #recipeoftheweek
hannahhossack
October 22, 2015 at 9:02 amThank you!
dishofdailylife
October 13, 2015 at 12:09 pmWhat a gorgeous cake! I love the flavor of hazelnuts! I know you shared it last week at #FoodieFriDIY but I got a bit behind. I’m sharing it on my Facebook page later today and sending some foodie love your way! Have a great day!
hannahhossack
October 22, 2015 at 8:57 amThey are my favourite nut 🙂 Thank you for sharing!