Almond Pear Cake

Ingredients

• 125g Butter
• 9 Tbsp Sugar
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon (and/or other spices eg, all spice cloves, ginger)
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla
• 1/2 tsp Almond Essence
• 6 tbsp +1 tsp Flour 
• 1 1/4 cup Almond meal (ground almonds)
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 3-4 Ripe Pears (depending on size of cake pan)
• 1/3 cup Almond Flakes
• Icing Sugar (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375F (190C)
2. Grease sides of springform pan and line bottom with paper
3. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy
4. Beat in eggs one at a time
5. Add spices, vanilla and almond essence
6. Mix in flour, almond meal and baking powder
7. Spoon thick mixture into a thin layer in pan
8. Cut pears in half, peel and core
9. Place pears cut side down around pan
10. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon
11. Add flaked almost on top
12. Bake for 30-35 minutes
13. Leave to cool in pan
14. Dust with icing sugar before serving (optional)