Enjoy the delicious taste of my vegan maple loaf cake, paired with soft poached pears.
This vegan pear cake is a delightful dessert that showcases my passion for vegan baking, utilizing plant-based ingredients to create a moist and flavorful cake. The real highlight is the gently poached pears, bringing a rich touch to each slice. Get ready to delight in the perfect combination of sweetness and fruity flavors in this irresistible treat.
WHY THIS pear cake RECIPE WORKS
This pear cake recipe contains whole pears that are peeled and poached with cinnamon and lemon to add a tasty fall flavor and aroma. The pear stems will peek on top of the cake and I think that’s what makes it look very beautiful and appealing.
It's a perfect treat for those who embrace a vegan lifestyle or simply appreciate the goodness of plant-based desserts. With its delicate balance of natural sweetness and fragrant spices, this loaf cake is sure to captivate your taste buds and leave you craving for more.
This cake is particularly great for the holidays and will surely impress your guests, especially as the pears remain whole, this creates curiosity, “How did you bake the cake and what will it taste like?".
Regarding the use of whole pears in the cake, note that I did cut the bottom of the pears a little bit just to make them stand straight in the pan. When cutting the cake, be sure to remove the seeds inside the pears.
If you happen to have an abundance of pears, I highly recommend giving my pear feta salad a try too.
how to make a pear cake
Start by gently poaching fresh, juicy pears in a delicate syrup infused with aromatic spices like cinnamon and vanilla. This poaching process enhances the pears' natural sweetness and imbues them with a captivating flavor profile. The poached pears are then nestled within a luscious vegan cake batter, carefully crafted to achieve the perfect texture and taste.
Besides the whole poached pears, the cake has vanilla and maple syrup flavors, you can also add half a teaspoon of instant coffee if you want even more flavor.
The recipe yields one loaf cake; you can double the ingredients if you need a bigger cake.
Tips to help you bake a delicious Vegan Poached Pears Loaf Cake:
Choose ripe and flavorful pears
Select pears that are ripe but still firm. This ensures they hold their shape during poaching and add a natural sweetness to the cake.
Infuse the poaching liquid
Enhance the flavor of the poached pears by infusing the liquid with spices like cinnamon and vanilla. Simmer the pears in the syrup for a sufficient amount of time to allow the flavors to meld together.
Use quality maple syrup
Opt for pure maple syrup instead of artificial or flavored syrups. The rich and distinct flavor of real maple syrup will elevate the taste of your cake.
Adjust sweetness to your liking
Taste the poaching liquid and cake batter as you go along to adjust the sweetness. Add more maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter flavor or reduce the amount if you prefer a more subtle sweetness.
Don't overmix the batter
When combining the wet and dry ingredients for the cake batter, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense texture.
Grease and line the loaf pan
Grease the loaf pan with vegan margarine or coconut oil, and line it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the cake after baking.
Keep an eye on the baking time
Check the cake regularly while it's baking to prevent over or undercooking. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake, and if it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, the cake is ready.
Allow the cake to cool before slicing
After removing the cake from the oven, let it cool in the loaf pan for about 10-15 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. This helps the flavors to develop and ensures clean slices.
Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup
For an extra touch of decadence, drizzle some maple syrup over the sliced cake before serving. It adds a beautiful shine and enhances the maple flavor.
FAQS
While pears work beautifully in this recipe, you can experiment with other fruits like apples or stone fruits such as peaches or plums. Just make sure to adjust the poaching time accordingly based on the fruit you choose.
Yes, you can substitute maple syrup with other liquid sweeteners like agave nectar or date syrup. Keep in mind that it may alter the flavor slightly, so adjust the quantity to taste.
Absolutely! Feel free to customize the recipe by adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the batter. You can also include dried fruits like raisins or cranberries for extra texture and flavor. Fold them into the batter before baking.
Absolutely! You can use a gluten-free flour blend or a combination of gluten-free flours like almond flour, rice flour, and tapioca flour. Just ensure the correct ratios and consider adding a binder like xanthan gum if needed.
The cake can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can refrigerate it for extended freshness, especially during warmer weather.
Yes, this loaf cake freezes well. Wrap individual slices or the whole loaf in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw the slices in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature before enjoying.
Make this pear cake today!
Whether you're hosting a dinner party, celebrating a special occasion, or simply treating yourself to a delightful dessert, my vegan poached pears loaf cake is sure to impress. Its visually stunning presentation and irresistible taste make it an excellent centerpiece for any dessert table.
Other cake recipes you should try:
If you are looking for more vegan recipes, you are welcome to check out my vegan recipe index.
Vegan Pear Loaf Cake
Ingredients
For the poached pears:
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Zest and juice of one lemon
- 3-4 small firm pears peeled
For the cake:
- 1 cup flour
- 3 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup any vegetable oil
- ¼ cup applesauce
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Instructions
- In a big pan that can contain the pears, place the water, sugar, cinnamon, lemon and peeled pears. Bring to a gentle boil.
- After boiling, simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
- Set the poached pears aside to cool in the liquid.
- Heat the oven to 180°C / 350°F with fan.
- In a mixing bowl, mix the applesauce, water, oil, maple syrup and vanilla and salt.
- Add the sugar to the bowl and mix until it dissolves in the batter.
- Sift in the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder. Mix until unified again.
- Add the vinegar and mix again.
- Arrange the pouched pears in a greased loaf cake mold.
- Pour the batter into the mold with the pears.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the cake part.
- Cool the cake at room temperature.
- Dig in!
Notes
In this post, I am mixing it up as I am happily collaborating with my vegan blogger friends to create a vegan Pear themed list of recipes, Sarah from sarahsveganguide.com created a Spicy Pear Chutney and Talida from hazelandcacao.com created Spiced Oat Pear Muffins. Double YUM!
I was inspired by my sweet tooth and have created a cake that fits to this (LOL). Therefore, we have you covered with three delicious ideas for all kinds of sweet and savory recipes to explore and to inspire you to cook yummy vegan dishes with pears.
When a particular fruit or vegetable is in season, that’s the best time to cook with them. Sure, you can get just about any fruit or vegetable all year around however they are fresher and have a better taste when they’re in season.
Leave a Reply