Tuesday 18 September 2012

Pear, pistachio and chocolate cake

This cake will change your life.  This is no small claim I know, but it’s true.  This cake is so good it’s starred at a wedding reception, been immortalised in a script (not written by me) and its recipe used as leverage to extract fundraising dollars at a preschool.  Unlike other loaf cakes, it’s far from homely, its cross-section studded with pistachios, chunks of pear and chocolate and flecks of orange zest.  If you’re a person who isn’t a confident baker, or even a baker at all, then this is the cake for you.  It takes one bowl, five minutes to prepare and about an hour later, you will be swimming in compliments.  Guaranteed.  



Pear, pistachio and chocolate cake
From the very sticky pages of Vogue Entertaining Cookbook: Short Order + Seasonal

This cake keeps really well, though it must be said there are rarely leftovers.


Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C and grease and flour a 22cm x 11.5cm x 7cm loaf tin. 

Put 150g plain flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 150g caster sugar, a pinch of salt, 150g softened unsalted butter and 3 eggs in the bowl of a food processor and process until just combined - about one minute: do not over-process (if you don't have a food processor, this could be done just as easily by hand). Stir in 200g chopped dark chocolate, 1 peeled, cored and diced pear, 3/4 cup of pistachio nuts and the zest of 1 orange. Transfer the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for about one hour (check after 45 minutes) or until a skewer inserted in the centre withdraws clean.  Leave in the tin a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.  Slice thickly.


12 comments:

  1. Its so great to get a recipe that's quick and easy. Its kind of essential when you have a 3 year old. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. This cake is the best, I would like to note that it climbs into new heights of deliciousness when eaten a day or two after it is baked as the flavours have time to meld

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  3. Alice made this for us one night and I agree, it gets more and more delicious if you can restrain the urge to eat it all in one sitting. Which doesn't seem possible as it's so excellent when freshly baked too. This one haunts my cake dreams... Thank you Alice!

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  4. Without question this is the most delicious cake I've had in a long time....especially when you lightly toast a thick slice of it in a sandwich press and top it with a scoop of a rich vanilla ice-cream - gooey chocolate and melty ice-cream......

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  5. How about cooking in stoneware mini loaf pans?

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  6. How about in stoneware mini loaf pans?

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  7. This might just make a baker of me :)

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  8. What kind of pears are best? Also, the pistachios should be roasted but unsalted, right? Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa - Any sort of pear will do, and yes, pistachios should be unsalted. It's not necessary to roast them (I never do) but I'm sure you absolutely could.

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  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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