The warm spices of this freshly baked ginger beer poached pear cake will fill the air of your cozy hobbit hole with this hobbit-inspired recipe.
Autumn in Middle Earth
As the fall season is upon us, we can imagine the transition from bright florals and vibrant green botanicals to the golden hues and burnt colours of autumn spreading across the foliage of JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth. We can’t help but wonder, what would Gandalf drink to wind down on a crisp Autumn evening? Or what enchanting autumnal delicacies would the Elves enjoy amongst the falling leaves of Rivendell? Let us explore together some of the culinary delights from different lands for an Autumn Feast in Middle Earth.
The Shire
Let us journey to the Shire to the cozy comforts of a hobbit hole, to enjoy a slice of spicy ginger beer cake. Sweet pears are poached with cinnamon and ginger beer until tender. They are then baked into a soft, spiced ginger cake for a delightful teatime treat. An ode to ginger, this cake uses not only ginger beer, but both dried and fresh ginger as well. Topped with a dollop of whipped cream, this ginger beer poached pear cake is the perfect sweet finish to any harvest meal!
Ingredient Notes
Ginger beer: Spicy ginger beer is used to poach the pears and included in the cake batter. Traditionally made by natural fermentation, ginger beer has a strong ginger flavour. It is not the same as ginger ale. I used Fever Tree ginger beer in this recipe.
Golden syrup: Molasses is a common ingredient in ginger cakes, but for this one I chose to use golden syrup. It has a milder flavour and yields a lighter-coloured cake. I used Lyle’s brand golden syrup. If you can’t find golden syrup then molasses would work as well.
Pears: I used Bosc pears in this recipe. While you can use any pear you prefer, Bosc pears have a nice overall shape. They also hold their shape well after poaching.
How to Make Ginger Beer Poached Pear Cake
Poach the pears
Peel the pears and trim the base of the pears so that they will stand up straight. Arrange the pears in a medium saucepan that fits the pears snuggly. Add the ginger beer, apple juice, sugar, cinnamon sticks, sliced ginger, and lemon juice to the saucepan. Gently stir to combine the ingredients.
Make a cartouche, or parchment paper cover, for the pears. Cut out a circle of parchment paper to fit on top of the pears. Fold into quarters and snip a small hole in the centre. Unfold and then place on top of the pears. This helps to prevent evaporation and keeps the pears from drying out on top. Cover with a lid and place over medium high heat.
Bring the poaching liquid to a gentle simmer and then turn down the heat to maintain the simmer on low. Cook the pears just until they are tender and a paring knife pierces the fruit easily, about 40 minutes. Do not overcook the pears since they will be baked again. Carefully remove the pears from the liquid and stand upright on a plate to cool.
Make the cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 10″ springform pan with parchment paper. Spray the pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, and vegetable oil. Add the golden syrup and grated fresh ginger and whisk until smooth. Add the ginger beer and stir until fully combined. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and whisk just until combined.
Arrange the poached pears in the prepared pan. Carefully pour the batter around the pears, moving them back into position if they move. If desired, you can wrap the pear stems in a little piece of foil to protect them from burning while baking.
Bake the cake for 45 to 55 minutes until done and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Run a knife around the cake to loosen it from the pan. Let cool for 5 minutes then remove the sides of the springform pan. Let cool completely.
Serve the Ginger Beer Poached Pear Cake
To serve, whip the cream. Combine the whipping cream and sugar in a mixer and whip until it forms soft peaks. Serve the cake slices with a dollop of whipped cream and enjoy!
