Kaffee & Kuchen is at the heart of German life, uniting friends and family over steaming coffee and sweet treats. Imagine a table piled with cakes and mugs of fresh brew—my favorite is the Pear & Chocolate Cake, where tender pear meets rich chocolate in every bite. It comes together quickly, so you can spend more time chatting and less time baking. Enjoy it fresh for maximum flavor!
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease one 10 inch cake pan. I like to line the bottom with a parchment paper.
Melt Chocolate: Microwave your chocolate, checking every 20 seconds to ensure it doesn’t clump.
Prepare the Batter:- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened margarine and sugar until light and fluffy.- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.- Stir in the vanilla extract.- Once everything is well combined, add the melted chocolate. Ensure it is not too hot and has cooled down slightly.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and cocoa powder.
Mix Together: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the heavy cream and milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined and smooth.
Pour into Pans: Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.
Peel & Cut Pears: Peel and cut the pears in quarters , remove core from the pears. Press the pears into the chocolate mixture with the rounded side facing up in a circle shape. I usually start with 3 pears and peel more if necessary, as depending on the size of the pears, you might need 4 or 5.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. I typically like to check around the 30-minute mark as ovens can vary. So, keep an eye on your cake.
Cool: Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for approximately 10 minutes. Next, use a sharp knife to gently outline the cake, making sure to detach any sides that may be stuck to the pan. After that, remove the base of the cake pan and carefully transfer the cake onto a wire rack.
Serve: Once cooled, you can add powder sugar, or even a chocolate drizzle.
Enjoy your homemade cake and make sure to leave a comment if you tried the cake.
