Most of the pears we picked have finally been canned, ready to enjoy another day, but I have enough left to play with. Now, I'm doing things like making Spiced Pear Cake . . . and what is a Spiced Pear Cake without a rich and creamy caramel glaze? So I had to do that too, of course.
I realized as I was baking this delicious cake that I don't make cake very often. It's not the difficulty of making a cake that keeps me from doing it, because a cake like this really is simple. I think it's more that cakes seem like they belong to special occasions. And yet, we enjoyed this cake for no good reason on a Saturday afternoon and it was splendid. The cake was the occasion.
My girls were in love with the idea right away - an unexpected afternoon cake party, oh yes! Esme and Eila peeled and diced the pears while Adelaide and I whisked together the other ingredients. While the caked baked, and sent its spicy autumn aroma through every room of the house, Esme said it felt like a holiday. For the rest of the day, I couldn't help but smile when I realized how a simple cake had turned an ordinary weekend afternoon into something special and perhaps even memorable.
Maybe the girls will someday see these photos, years from now, and the memory of an afternoon spent together in the kitchen will come rushing back - the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg, the sweet taste of fingers dipped in caramel, the sticky pear juice on their hands. A cake holiday, enjoyed all together.
If you're having any reservations about trading in Summer for Fall, this Spiced Pear Cake will get you off the fence. If you need further encouragement to get into the kitchen, I can also say this pear cake can turn an otherwise uneventful afternoon into a delicious holiday of sorts.
The cake is rich and moist, thanks to the addition of Greek yogurt. The spices taste like Autumn and combine perfectly with the tender morsels of pear in every bite. Pour that caramel glaze over the top and you have a truly decadent dessert.
Spiced Pear Cake with Caramel Glaze
Ingredients
For the Caramel Glaze
Instructions
To prepare the Glaze:
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
This cake is gorgeous! Loving that glaze!
somethewiser@gmail.com says
Thanks Katrina! The kids can't decide which is better, the cake or the glaze.
Kristina @ Love & Zest says
I'd love to dip my fingers in that caramel sauce. Making a cake for no reason reminds me of my grandma, she would always have a baked good and mostly cakes around for their family of 9!
somethewiser@gmail.com says
I was just telling someone yesterday that I think making cakes used to be something that people did more often. My grandma is the same way - there doesn't have to be any occasion to necessitate a cake. More cakes I say!
Andrea says
Mmmm.. this looks so good. Can't wait to have my kitchen and oven back to make this. I think a cake holiday during school break next week is in order.
somethewiser@gmail.com says
We have a school holiday coming up too and with the weather cooling off I'm sure we'll be doing a lot of baking too. Hope you get back into the kitchen soon! Enjoy!
Aimee @ Simple Bites says
I am ohh-ing over this cake tonight! Looks like the perfect dessert for our Sunday dinners.
Kimberly Espinel (@TLPlantation) says
Lovely, lovely cake.
Baking is a great way to spend quality time with children, don't you think?
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kimberly
Kristin says
Goodness, that looks AMAZING!!