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Spiced pear cake with salted caramel glaze is tender and comforting, ideal for any occasion.
Note: This post was updated January 19, 2017.
Music has really been digging into my brain lately. I’m one of those who manages to connect to lyrics, with whatever is going on in my life, a trait that only gets more pronounced the longer I listen to show tunes and indie rock. I don’t know how much music I was listening to in December 2007, but if it had tipped the scales toward the emo side of my life I might not have made it through.
Back then I was in the throes of maternity leave, spending a lot of time watching daytime television in between nursings, naps, and nappies. Despite the new life I had brought into the world, I felt completely alone. I couldn’t wait to get back to work. To be among people who could hold conversations again.
It’s strange how you think nothing of day to day interactions – a passing word at the coffee pot, a debate about language, even just gossiping about the latest Top Chef results — until you’re trying to engage an 8-week-old baby on why putting Cap’n Crunch in a milkshake is so over. He doesn’t know. His palate only knows breastmilk, which, if you think too hard about it, is probably similar in taste to a Cap’n Crunch milkshake.
This is why I pranced back to work at the end of those three months. And yet…
Friday is the last day I’ll spend in my gray and tan cubicle. I am relieved and yet terrified. I’ve been working since I was 14. Quitting my job feels like a period. Full stop.
When I gave notice I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. In the days since then I’ve had nagging anxiety, stress-induced migraines, and what I can only assume is a panic attack. When you’re working on changing your life story, sailing into it on calm waters is an impractical dream.
I’ve been trying to plan out what the next month or so will entail, but I can’t even seem to catch my breath these days. I need to start slow. Too much too soon, and we’ll be right where we started, but in a more comfortably decorated location. To answer the question of what I’ll be doing, I’ll be freelancing, working on a few projects, and taking care of my son. But right now? I’m just trying to take some moments to sit and calmly be.
Everyone deserves a chance to fly.
In the grand tradition of job quitting, I made a cake. Cake always factors in at work, whether you’re getting married or diving into an unfamiliar sea of unemployment. My cake-rocking friends left the job months ago, and I knew that if I wanted cake, I should make it myself.
This cake was inspired by two women I’m in awe of. By making it, I’m hoping to channel some of their strength and wisdom. Because that’s how cake works, right?
The basis of the cake is brought on by Ruth Reichl, and Garlic and Sapphires. While her (some say dream) job at the Times can barely be compared with my days copyediting assessment tests, the end result has both of us itching for more time in the kitchen and with our families. It seemed fitting to use Nicky’s Vanilla Cake as my base — the cake that brought Reichl back home.
But with how much I’m missing true autumn, I also turned to Stephanie of confituras. Specifically, her salted caramel pear butter, a conserve that those of us in the know hoard all winter. Stephanie has had her jam business for a little more than a year, but it has already blown up all over town, and she recently quit her regular job to jam full time. Can I be as successful as Stephanie in my post-9-to-5 life? I won’t know until I know, and I won’t know until I try.
Fluffy, moist, and stuffed full of pears, this cake can pull double duty. Serve it unadorned at breakfast, and with the salted caramel glaze for afternoon tea or dessert.
Love caramel? Try my caramel apple slab pie.
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Spiced Pear Cake
Ingredients
- 16 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 5.3 ounces Greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups diced pears
For the topping
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a bundt cake pan.
- Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices, then stir into batter.
- Stir in yogurt and vanilla until well combined and no white streaks remain. The batter will be very thick. Fold in pears.
- To make the topping, combine butter, dark brown sugar, and cream in a small saucepan over medium heat and melt, stirring. Once melted, increase slightly and bring to a full rolling boil for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla (be careful, as the caramel will bubble up). Add sifted powdered sugar and whisk until completely incorporated and smooth. Whisk in salt to taste. Let cool slightly, then pour over the cake. The topping will firm up as it cools.
Notes
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate based on online calculators. Any nutritional information found on Stetted should be used as a general guideline only.
About Megan
I learned how to cook by exploring seasonal ingredients, and you can too! Meal time shouldn’t be stressful or complicated, and with fresh ingredients and easy methods, I’m here to help you enjoy the time spent in the kitchen. Read more…
Congratulations on giving notice! I’m sure that whatever the next step for you is, it wil be fabulous. Just like that cake.
That’s a big move- here’s to finding your wings and enjoying a piece of cake along the way!
The cake looks great.
SO excited for you. xo
This is a beautiful story told from the heart; the best kind. I can’t wait to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful looking cake recipe, but more importantly for the open and honest manner in which you wrote about this major transition about to happen in your life.
Venturing forth without any guarantees can be very scary and I commend you for taking this major step.
You have the knowledge and what you don’t already know, you will learn. You have the passion and most importantly, you have the belief in yourself and in your dream so I have no doubt that you will do extremely well.
Of course it is not going to be smooth sailing, some of the new opportunities will fall in your lap while some you are going to have to work harder than ever to obtain but I think you are a woman who knows what she wants and is willing to put in all the time and effort needed to achieve her goals.
It is no cliche that life is too short and it is definitely too short to not be doing what you truly love to do. So, congratulations on knowing what that is and on having the courage to go after it. No matter what, keep on believing in yourself and in your dream…it will become your reality.
P.S. I’m sorry that you are having stress induced migraines. Try to worry only about the things you can control…the rest, just deal with IF it happens.
What you are doing takes guts, honey. It’s scary, it’s exciting all in one big lump of time.
Congratulations!
Yum! This looks delicious! And many congratulations on the transition. Freelancing has its ups and downs and its own pros and cons, but on the whole I’ll take it over a staff job any day. I’m so much happier and less stressed working as a freelancer.
Congrats on your new venture! I’ve been there and can tell you the ups and downs and all the excitement that goes along with starting a new adventure makes it all worthwhile. Wish you much success.
It takes a tough person to do what you did and if anyone can make it work, it’s definitely you. Enjoy the ride and we’ll be here to cheer you on!
congratulations! it’s time to fly!!
as the famous Mater once said, “Ain’t no need to watch where I’m goin’; just need to know where I’ve been.” (yes, i’m a slave to disney/pixar)
Congrats Megan on following your heart. I cannot wait to see what the future will hold for you! Hugs XO
The feeling of relief is going to stick around a lot longer than the anxiety will. Even my couple of months of being under- and unemployed were better than being stuck in a cubicle.
Sorry to miss the bake sale but I’ll be at work! At least I get to see you Friday.
<3
I love a cake that can do mulitpule duty… This looks like it would be equally at home on the dessert tray as on the brunch table. Yum!
Congrats on your last day today (well I guess technically yesterday). Looking forward to reading about your new adventure 🙂 You have a lot of people pulling for you I am sure!
Congratulations on quitting the dreaded job! I quit my last full-time job 9 years ago and never looked back! And you made a gorgeous looking cake 🙂
Great recipe! I’ve been craving pears for the last few days, ever since my toddler spilled pear juice on our couch. I’ve been loving the smell of pears in our room, but after we got our furniture cleaned, I’d much rather bring that aroma back from a dish like this. Thanks for sharing!