BROWN BUTTER PEAR CAKE

Fresh pears and nutty brown butter are a perfect match in this simple, comforting cake. The pears keep the crumb soft and moist, while the brown butter adds a rich caramel, nutty flavour. Serve with a cup of tea or a dollop of yoghurt for an easy seasonal treat.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 50 minutes

Skill: easy

Serves 10

Ingredients

3 large pears, peeled and cored

1 lemon, zest ½ Tbsp juice

85g butter, melted until golden brown, cooled slightly

1 ½ Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

150g sugar, plus 2 Tbsp for topping

2 large eggs

190g flour

1 ½ tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

120ml milk

Method

Grease and line a 20 cm round cake tin.

Preheat the oven 160C fan (180C)

Sliced the peeled pears into thin slices, add the lemon zest and juice, toss gently to combine. Set aside.

Add the butter to a small saucepan, over low heat melt the butter until it becomes fragrant and has turned a golden brown colour. Remove from the heat immediately and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

In a bowl, whisk together the cooled brown butter, olive oil, vanilla and eggs until combined.

Sieve in the flour and baking powder, add a pinch of salt.

Pour in the milk and stir gently to combine.

Pour ½ the batter into the prepared tin, scatter over the prepared pears. Finish with the remaining batter.

Sprinkle over the remaining sugar.

Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Cool in tin for 10 minutes before removing from the tin.