Autumn Italian Almond and Pear Cake
Celebrate the flavors of autumn with this charming Italian dessert. Ripe pears and ground almonds come together in a moist, tender cake that is easy to prepare and perfect for a cozy weekend treat. Allow the cake to cool before serving with a dusting of confectioners' sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup ground almonds
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground almonds, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
- Fold in the pear slices gently into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, spreading evenly.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, dust the cake with confectioners' sugar before serving.