Home

Chocolate, Pear, and Walnut Cake

17/11/2023

The Chocolate, Pear, and Walnut Cake is a delicious blend between the intense flavor of chocolate, the sweetness of pears, and the crunchiness of walnuts. It is a cake that lends itself very well to being a dessert at the end of a meal or for a refined snack. Here is the recipe to make it:

Ingredients

  • 200 g of dark chocolate
  • 3 ripe but firm pears
  • 100 g of shelled walnuts
  • 150 g of soft butter
  • 150 g of sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 100 g of type 00 flour
  • 50 g of cocoa powder
  • 1 sachet of baking powder
  • A pinch of salt
  • Powdered sugar (optional, for decoration)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and butter and flour a cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave and let it cool down slightly.
  3. In a bowl, cream the soft butter with the sugar until the mixture is fluffy.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring well after each addition.
  5. Incorporate the melted chocolate into the butter and egg mixture.
  6. In another bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
  7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until the dough is homogeneous.
  8. Peel the pears, remove the core, and cut them into cubes or slices, as you prefer.
  9. Roughly chop the walnuts with a knife.
  10. Add the pears and chopped walnuts to the batter and fold gently.
  11. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the oven for about 40-45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  12. Let the cake cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  13. Before serving, if desired, you can dust the cake with powdered sugar.

Curiosity

The combination of pears and chocolate is very much appreciated in many culinary traditions, not just in Italy. The contrast between the sweetness and softness of the fruit and the intensity of the chocolate creates a very pleasant balance of flavors on the palate. The walnuts add a touch of crunchiness that makes each bite even more interesting.

This cake goes well with a good glass of sweet red wine, such as a Recioto della Valpolicella, which with its fruity notes and sweetness will compliment the chocolate and pears beautifully. 🍐🍫🍷