Jamie Magazine
By Dean McClumpha
Winter ginger, pear and almond cake
Not Too Tricky
serves 16
About the recipe
This flourless upside-down cake, with a base of ginger-poached pears, is spicy, sweet and satisfying. And because this uses ground almonds instead of flour, it’s suitable for gluten-intolerant friends and family members.
Recipe From
Ingredients
200g butter
200g caster sugar
4 large free-range eggs
220g ground almonds
CARAMELISED GINGER PEARS
300g ginger
1 vanilla pod
550g caster sugar
4 pears
20g butter
Method
- For the pears, peel and finely grate the ginger. Split the vanilla pod and scrape out the seeds, then place it all into a pan.
- Add 400g of the sugar and 700ml of water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for a few minutes for the flavours to develop.
- Using a spoon, carefully lower the pears into the hot liquid and simmer for 10 minutes, until tender.
- Remove the pears from the liquid and set aside to cool.
- Line the base of a 25cm springform cake tin with greaseproof paper.
- Combine the remaining 150g sugar and 100ml of water in a pan and place over a high heat, simmering for about 15 minutes until it turns a dark golden brown.
- Stir in the butter until you get a caramel, then pour it into the cake tin.
- Cut the cooled pears into slices and carefully arrange them in the warm caramel.
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas 4.
- For the cake, beat the butter and sugar with a whisk until smooth (an electric one will be best for this).
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each one. Add the almonds and mix to combine.
- Pour the cake mixture over the pears and bake in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until firm to the touch.
- Leave to cool in the tin, then remove and carefully flip upside down to serve.
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