Warm Pear And Walnut Cake With Lemon Custard Sauce

Serves: 4

Madilyn Boehm

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

52

Spice

45

Sweetness

52

Sourness

44

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.2

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2 large

Egg Yolk

3 tbsps

Water

1 tbsp

Baking Powder

1 tsp

Salt

2 large

Egg

3 tbsps

Brandy

Directions:

1

Make sauce: Whisk sugar and egg yolks in medium bowl to blend

2

Bring half and half and lemon peel to simmer in heavy medium saucepan

3

Gradually whisk hot half and half mixture into yolk mixture

4

Return to saucepan

5

Stir over medium heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 5 minutes (do not boil)

6

Strain custard into bowl; discard solids

7

Whisk lemon juice and vanilla into custard

8

Chill until cold, about 3 hours

9

(Can be prepared 2 days ahead

10

Cover and keep refrigerated

11

) Whisk sugar and egg yolks in medium bowl to blend

12

Bring half and half and lemon peel to simmer in heavy medium saucepan

13

Gradually whisk hot half and half mixture into yolk mixture

14

Return to saucepan

15

Stir over medium heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 5 minutes (do not boil)

16

Strain custard into bowl; discard solids

17

Whisk lemon juice and vanilla into custard

18

Chill until cold, about 3 hours

19

(Can be prepared 2 days ahead

20

Cover and keep refrigerated

21

) Make topping: Preheat oven to 350°F

22

Butter 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides

23

Stir sugar and water in heavy small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves

24

Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 10 minutes

25

Pour caramel over bottom of prepared pan

26

Overlap pears atop caramel

27

Preheat oven to 350°F

28

Butter 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides

29

Stir sugar and water in heavy small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves

30

Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 10 minutes

31

Pour caramel over bottom of prepared pan

32

Overlap pears atop caramel

33

Make cake: Mix flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl

34

Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until creamy

35

Add eggs and lemon peel; beat until light and fluffy

36

Combine milk and brandy in small bowl

37

Mix dry ingredients into batter alternately with milk mixture in 3 additions each

38

Stir in nuts

39

Pour batter atop pears in pan

40

Bake cake until golden on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour

41

Cool in pan 5 minutes

42

Run small knife around edges of pan to loosen cake

43

Place platter over cake and invert onto platter

44

Let stand 1 minute

45

Remove pan

46

Serve cake warm with cold sauce

47

Mix flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl

48

Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until creamy

49

Add eggs and lemon peel; beat until light and fluffy

50

Combine milk and brandy in small bowl

51

Mix dry ingredients into batter alternately with milk mixture in 3 additions each

52

Stir in nuts

53

Pour batter atop pears in pan

54

Bake cake until golden on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour

55

Cool in pan 5 minutes

56

Run small knife around edges of pan to loosen cake

57

Place platter over cake and invert onto platter

58

Let stand 1 minute

59

Remove pan

60

Serve cake warm with cold sauce