White Chocolate and Pear Cake

My sister decided that she would host us for my dad's birthday in early August. A first for my little sister, she fretted about having a number of lunch guests at once. I volunteered to bring dessert; I did want to make things easy for her but I also wanted to try out the pear liqueur I purchased at the Chocolate Apple Factory in Shepparton.

This cake is delicious. No other words needed. Everyone went back for seconds (even thirds!) and it was a hit all round. Here's how you make it:

300g white chocolate

200g butter

1 cup milk

3/4 cup sugar

1 tbls pear liqueur

2 small pears, diced

2 eggs, lightly whisked

1 cup plain flour

2/3 cup self raising flour

200ml whipping cream

Flaked almonds, to decorate

Preheat oven to 160 celsius (140 fan forced) and line a 20cm cake tin with baking paper.

Place chocolate, butter, milk and sugar in a saucepan and stir over low heat until melted and well combined. Set aside and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes.

Sift flours into a large bowl. Add liqueur and eggs to chocolate mixture and stir until combined. Pour a little of the chocolate mixture into the bowl of flour and stir until a paste forms. Keep adding small amounts of the chocolate mixture and keep stirring to ensure mixture remains free of lumps. Stir in diced pear.

Pour batter into prepared cake tin and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

When cake is cool, whip cream until medium peaks form. Spoon on to cake and decorate with flaked almonds.

Enjoy!