I love traditional French cakes, so when my friend offered me a slice of her French Pear Cake, I couldn’t resist! This pear cake is everything a good loaf cake should be: flavorful, moist, and not too crumbly to serve to guests without a fork.

Ginger Pear Cake Recipe

All credit for this recipe goes to my friend, Anne, who is a self-described “not a dessert person.”

I always have desserts ready to serve at my house when I have guests (it’s mostly just an excuse to enjoy more desserts myself), and Anne is one of my few friends that refuses any treats with her tea. However, she surprised me last month when I showed up for coffee and she had this pretty little tea cake waiting for us to enjoy.

One of the few desserts that I have been successful in serving to her was my version of Sophie Dahl’s Pear Ginger muffins and this was her take on it.

This tea cake was light, flavorful and moist. It almost had the consistency of banana bread but with a spicy, pear flavor that set it apart.

Personally, I wouldn’t serve it with the glaze or any garnish. It’s a delicious slice that needs no adornments.

This cake is super versatile and you can use just about any soft fruit with it – strawberries or apples would be nice, as would pineapple!

Ingredients for Ginger Pear Cake

• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1 ¼ cups self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ cup boiling water
• 1 cup tinned pears, chopped (or more to taste)

Tip: swap out the tinned pears for your favorite soft fruit.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Loaf pan
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Electric mixer
• Kettle

How to Make a Pear Ginger Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease and line a loaf tin with parchment paper. Set aside.

Melt the butter and molasses in a saucepan over low heat until combined. Set aside.

In a small bowl, stir together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon). Set aside.

In a large bowl beat together the egg and sugar together for one minute. Add in the butter-molasses mixture, beating until well incorporated and then half of the flour mixture, incorporate, and then add in the rest of the dry mixture.

Stir in the boiling water and then stir in any chopped pears you want to incorporate.

Fold out into loaf pan.

Bake for about 45 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

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French Pear Cake

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Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1 ¼ cups self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ cup boiling water
• 1 cup tinned pears, chopped (or more to taste)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease and line a loaf tin with parchment paper. Set aside.
3. Melt the butter and molasses in a saucepan over low heat until combined. Set aside.
4. In a small bowl, stir together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon). Set aside.
5. In a large bowl beat together the egg and sugar together for one minute. Add in the butter-molasses mixture, beating until well incorporated and then half of the flour mixture, incorporate, and then add in the rest of the dry mixture.
6. Stir in the boiling water and then stir in any chopped pears you want to incorporate.
7. Fold out into loaf pan.
8. Bake for about 45 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

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This cake is flavorful and moist – the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea on a cold day!

For more delicious tea cake recipes, check out our Red Velvet Tea Cake or our Mini Lemon Tea Cakes.