Marguerite Danjou Pear Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan with heavy-duty foil to prevent leaking. Spray inside bottom and side of pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, gently toss pears, 2 tablespoons of the sugar and the rosemary. Layer pear slices in bottom of pan.
• In large bowl, beat eggs and 1 cup plus 6 tablespoons remaining sugar with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add oil, liqueur and orange peel, beating until blended. On low speed, beat in flour, cornmeal and salt just until blended. Pour batter over pears.
• Bake 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 2 hours. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cake; place heatproof serving plate upside down on pan. Turn plate and pan over. Carefully remove pan.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin with baking parchment and brush with butter.
• Put the prepared pears in a bowl with the lemon juice and Poire William, if using, to prevent them discolouring. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl, adding a pinch of salt and the caster sugar. Next beat in the eggs and melted butter. Finally, fold in the pears with their juices. Pour the cake mixture into the tin. Bake for about 50 mins or until a skewer comes out clean. Place on a wire rack and allow to cool slightly before removing from the tin, gently peeling away the parchment.
• To make the glaze, melt the apricot jam with 1 tbsp water and pass through a sieve to remove any lumps. Brush the cake with the glaze, dust with icing sugar and serve warm with crème fraîche.