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Chai poached pear and gingerbread cake

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  • Vegetarian
  • Seafood free
  • Shellfish free
  • Soy free
  • Sesame free
  • Peanut free

This spiced pear and gingerbread cake is the ultimate dinner party dessert. Made with poached pears, it’s deliciously moist and flavoursome.

  • Serves12
  • Cook time1 hour 25 minutes
  • Prep time15 minutes, + cooling time
Chai poached pear and gingerbread cake

Ingredients

  • 5 Beurre Bosc pears, peeled
  • 1/2 cup (110g) brown sugar
  • 1 tbs chai spiced tea
  • 1 cup (250ml) apple juice
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) pouring cream

Gingerbread cake

  • 125g butter, chopped
  • 2/3 cup (160ml) golden syrup
  • 1/3 cup (75g) brown sugar
  • 1 cup (150g) self-raising flour
  • 1/2 cup (75g) plain flour
  • 1/2 cup (60g) almond meal
  • 2 tsp chai spiced tea
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
  • 2 Coles Australian Free Range Eggs
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) buttermilk

Nutritional information

Per serve: Energy: 1631kJ/390 Cals (19%), Protein: 5g (10%), Fat: 17g (24%), Sat fat: 9g (38%), Carb: 54g (17%), Sugar: 40g (44%), Fibre: 3g (10%), Sodium: 146mg (7%).

Check ingredient labels to make sure they meet your specific dietary requirements and always consult a health professional before changing your diet. View dietary information here.

Percentage Daily Intake information on our recipes is calculated using the nutrition reference values for an average Australian adult.

Method

  1. Step 1

    Place the pears, sugar, tea and apple juice in a medium saucepan. Pour over enough water to just cover the pears. Top with a disc of baking paper to keep the pears submerged in the poaching liquid. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour or until pears are tender. Transfer pears to a heatproof bowl and set aside to cool completely.
  2. Step 2

    Return the poaching liquid to the heat and bring to the boil. Cook for 15 mins or until liquid reduces by half. Add the cream and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 mins or until the sauce thickens. Set aside to cool.
  3. Step 3

    To make the gingerbread cake, preheat oven to 180°C. Grease the base and sides of a 10cm x 24cm (base measurement) loaf pan and line with baking paper. Combine butter, syrup and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 mins or until butter melts and mixture is smooth. Cool for 10 mins. Transfer to a bowl.
  4. Step 4

    Add the combined flour, almond meal, tea, ginger and cardamom to the butter mixture and stir to combine. Add the eggs and buttermilk and stir to combine. Pour into the prepared pan.
  5. Step 5

    Trim the base of each pear to flatten. Arrange pears over cake batter, pressing down into batter. Bake for 50-60 mins or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool in the pan.
  6. Step 6

    Transfer cake to a serving platter. Cut into slices and serve with sauce.

Chai poached pear and gingerbread cake

Chai poached pear and gingerbread cake
  • Serves12
  • Cook time1 hour 25 minutes
  • Prep time15 minutes, + cooling time
Ingredients
  • 5 Beurre Bosc pears, peeled
  • 1/2 cup (110g) brown sugar
  • 1 tbs chai spiced tea
  • 1 cup (250ml) apple juice
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) pouring cream

Gingerbread cake

  • 125g butter, chopped
  • 2/3 cup (160ml) golden syrup
  • 1/3 cup (75g) brown sugar
  • 1 cup (150g) self-raising flour
  • 1/2 cup (75g) plain flour
  • 1/2 cup (60g) almond meal
  • 2 tsp chai spiced tea
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
  • 2 Coles Australian Free Range Eggs
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) buttermilk
    Description

    This spiced pear and gingerbread cake is the ultimate dinner party dessert. Made with poached pears, it’s deliciously moist and flavoursome.

    Method
    1. Step 1

      Place the pears, sugar, tea and apple juice in a medium saucepan. Pour over enough water to just cover the pears. Top with a disc of baking paper to keep the pears submerged in the poaching liquid. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour or until pears are tender. Transfer pears to a heatproof bowl and set aside to cool completely.
    2. Step 2

      Return the poaching liquid to the heat and bring to the boil. Cook for 15 mins or until liquid reduces by half. Add the cream and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 mins or until the sauce thickens. Set aside to cool.
    3. Step 3

      To make the gingerbread cake, preheat oven to 180°C. Grease the base and sides of a 10cm x 24cm (base measurement) loaf pan and line with baking paper. Combine butter, syrup and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 mins or until butter melts and mixture is smooth. Cool for 10 mins. Transfer to a bowl.
    4. Step 4

      Add the combined flour, almond meal, tea, ginger and cardamom to the butter mixture and stir to combine. Add the eggs and buttermilk and stir to combine. Pour into the prepared pan.
    5. Step 5

      Trim the base of each pear to flatten. Arrange pears over cake batter, pressing down into batter. Bake for 50-60 mins or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool in the pan.
    6. Step 6

      Transfer cake to a serving platter. Cut into slices and serve with sauce.