Pear and Walnut Cake Recipe

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 20:33:23 +0000

This Pear and Walnut Cake recipe is packed full of fruit and spicy deliciousness. Over the years I have modified this recipe and it’s become one of my family’s favorite harvest-time treats. The original recipe has quite a history and has been enjoyed by so many, so we could not resist passing it along to you.

Growing up in Northern California I spent my summers packing pears and the Fall usually meant picking walnuts. On special family occasions, we would head down a country road to the Oak Barrel Restaurant. Their tasty cake blended two locally grown products to showcase the best of the area.

I remember my time at the restaurant with fond memories because of the wonderful owners, the amazing food, and the warm family feeling. Sometimes I would drop in just for a piece of this Pear and Walnut Cake and a cup of coffee. The owners were gracious enough to share the recipe. In fact, it was published in a 1988 issue of Bon Appetit magazine.

Freshly Baked Pear Cake
Cake with Ice Cream
Cake with Cinnamon Whipped Cream

Ingredients for Pear and Walnut Cake Recipe

All-purpose Flour
Cinnamon
Baking Soda
Freshly Grated Nutmeg
Salt
Vegetable oil
Eggs
Sugar
Water
Vanilla Extract
5 ripe firm Bartlett Pears, unpeeled
Walnuts
Vanilla Ice Cream or Fresh Whipped Cream (my father’s favorite was always “a la mode”)

What pears should you use for baking?

With all the different varieties on the market, it can be confusing to select the best pears for baking. For this recipe, we recommend Bartlett Pears or Anjou Pears because they soften but hold their shape while baking.

Bartlett Pears and Walnuts
Toasted Walnuts

How to toast nuts for baking on the stovetop:

If possible buy the nuts whole, toast them quickly in a saute pan and grind or chop them yourself for the freshest flavor. Toasted nuts are the key to a rich flavor for this Pear Walnut Cake. For this recipe, the nuts were toasted after they were chopped.

Place nuts in a heavy saute pan over medium heat

Shake the pan frequently until the nuts begin to smell fragrant and look lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes

Remove from pan and cool completely

Grind with a nut grinder or small food processor, or put in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin to crush. You can also roughly chop with a large knife on a cutting board.

Smooth Batter for cake
Pear Walnut Cake mix ready to bake
Freshly Baked Pear Cake

How to make Pear and Walnut Cake:

Preheat oven to 350°F
Butter and flour a 9″ x 13″ baking pan
Chop and then toast walnuts, set aside
Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt in a medium-size bowl
Using an electric mixer beat together the brown sugar, oil, eggs, sugar, water, and vanilla until it is very smooth
Add in the dry ingredients. Mix until combined
Core pears and cut into 1/2 inch unpeeled cubes
Hand stir in pears and walnuts – the batter will be lumpy but do not overmix
Pour batter into prepared baking pan
Bake until the top is medium brown and a toothpick comes out clean, about 55 minutes.
Cool completely and cut into squares
Serve with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream once cooled

Ideas for additional sweets and treats on our site:

Mixed Berry Cobbler
Cinnamon Baked Pears
Mexican Wedding Cakes
Our Easy Salted Caramel Sauce would be fantastic drizzled on top of this cake!

The Oak Barrel Restaurant closed many years ago but by passing on this incredible cake recipe you too can enjoy it in your home. We hope you will enjoy it as much as we do.

Cake with Cinnamon Whipped Cream