Pear Cake

One of the items I baked over the holidays that I wanted to share was a pear cake made with fresh pears. My brother sent me a box of pears for the holidays and I couldn't eat them all so I went in search of a recipe I could use them in.

The cake was very good and the taste of pears made this unique. It was a hit at a my Christmas Eve gathering.

Pear Cake

Ingredients

4 cups fresh pears (peeled, cored and chopped)
1 1/2 to 2 cups white sugar (depending on taste; I used the lower amount and would probably add more next time)
3 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
4 egg whites
2/3 cup oil (I used Smart Balance)
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1.Combine the pears and the sugar and let stand for one hour (I let it stand for over two hours).

2.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spray a 10 inch bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray.

3.Slightly beat the egg whites and combine them with the oil, chopped pecans and pear mixture.

4.Stir the flour, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Stir in the pear mixture. Pour batter into the prepared bundt pan.

5.Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Remove from oven; cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from pan.

I added a glaze to the cake, which the recipe did not call for but which I think added to it:

Glaze

Ingredients
1/3 cup margarine or butter (I used butter)
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 to 4 tablespoons hot water

Directions

Heat margarine/butter in saucepan until melted. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in water a little at a time until mixture is desired consistency. Pour over cake.