10.01.2010

pear gingerbread cakes

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Ahhh, Gingerbread. Another one of my fall favorites. The aroma of fresh ginger, molasses, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg floating around in my kitchen as it bakes is just heavenly! The ideas for this recipe comes from one of my new favorite blogs, Darjeeling Dreams.

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The recipe also calls for a bit of Guinness. This past spring I used some Bridgeport stout in my chocolate oatmeal stout muffins and they were outstanding so I couldn't wait to try it again with this gingerbread. The recipe over at Darjeeling Dreams also includes a poached pear recipe to go along side the gingerbread. Well, I was feeling a bit lazy so I just added some diced pears to my gingerbread and turned the bread into mini cakes by using my trusty muffin pan. I topped my little cakes with some honey whipped cream and ground nutmeg.

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They were incredibly moist and flavorful. I'm thinking this is my new favorite gingerbread recipe!

Pear Gingerbread Cakes
inspired by Darjeeling Dreams

makes 16-18 cakes

1/2 cup Guinness
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup honey
1/2 brown sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
1/2 cup diced pear, peeled and cored
1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp ground white pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Lightly spray oil paper liners.

In a large bowl, combine the Guinness, molasses, eggs, honey, brown sugar, oil, fresh ginger and pear. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.

Fill lined muffin cups 1/2 full. Bake for 16-18 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool in pan 5 minutes before placing them on a wire rack. Cool completely.

Top with honey whipped cream, which is simply heavy whipped cream sweetened with honey instead of sugar. Sprinkle with ground nutmeg.

Print recipe

I hope you'll give these a try as soon as it's cool enough to brave turning on your ovens. Please be sure and pay a visit to Darjeeling Dreams as well.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and hope you have a fantastic week as well!





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31 comments:

Gloria Baker said...

I love these lovely Cakes, look really yummy! gloria

Joanne said...

I'm actually quite the Darjeeling Dreams fan as well! I love mixing stout into baked goods...it gives it such a subtle oomph. these look delicious especially with that honey whipped cream topper!

pam said...

I love that you turned them into little mini cakes!

UrMomCooks said...

Can't believe you made these! I was just looking at Emeril's pear gingerbread! Luv the idea of the stout so I am thinking I will try this version! Looks fantastic!

Christo Gonzales said...

the post the comments the honey whipped cream topper the stouts this is making me crazy!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Yummy! Those look so goooood! I shared it on my TT&J FB page and linked back to you :)

I hope you are having a great weekend!!!

xox
Jen

Unknown said...

They look so yummy and great on a cold night with a cup of hot chocolate

BarbaraJean said...

I'm lovin your last two recipes. It makes me want to feel that crisp fall air and have some hot apple cider along with these yummy cakes and muffins. By the way, I have seen you in person recently. Did you just eat them all? Is that why you didn't bring me one? :)

Monet said...

What a lovely fall dessert. I've been making pumpkin bread, apple cake, spice cake...but as of yet, no gingerbread! This needs to change, and I believe I've found the recipe I'm turning to! I love recipes that require a bit of spirits too. Thanks for sharing love!

scrambledhenfruit said...

I love all of the spices in these- they sound marvelous!

Mimi said...

This looks amazing. My husband & I love gingerbread!

Mimi

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Those are beautiful! SO, what you're saying is I'm not going to get a reprieve from only Mommy working for comforting? HA!

Barbara Bakes said...

I don't think I've ever had Gingerbread that wasn't hard and crispy. This looks fabulous, moist and delicious!

Emily Z said...

Seeing as I've really only grown to enjoy baking in recent months, gingerbread is not something I have baked yet. But the way you describe the smells it generates in your home, it sounds utterly mouthwatering. My tummy even is grumbling!

Evan @swEEts said...

Yum! I was just looking over a gingerbread pear upside down cake and by the looks of yours I can only hope mine tastes just as good! I'm a huge fan of gingerbread as well!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Gingerbread is high up on my list of comfort foods Kim.

Kim said...

I love the look of these cakes baked in the muffin tins! And, I really like the sound of honey whipped cream.

Stella said...

Ooh, ginger bread cake sounds so delicious right now. And yours looks so moist, Kim. I might have to try this-putting stout on my grocery list now...;)

Claudia said...

Smelling the aroma and dreaming of these cakes. Perfect fall delicacy.

Jenn said...

I love it how the fall flavors are now making their way into dishes. Yum yum!!!

chow and chatter said...

her blog is amazing I agree and you did it justice love it

LimeCake said...

such pretty little cakes! they look delicious!

Anonymous said...

Such scrumptious mini cakes! Love the pear here!

Joyti said...

What a great version of gingerbread! The white pepper and the pears inside the gingerbread both look great. And the cakes are so pretty.
Also, thank you very much for the mention :)

Reeni said...

This is a perfect fall treat! Gingerbread is one of my favorites - and the idea of stout in it only makes it better!

Beth said...

I love gingerbread, and this recipe looks wonderful. The addition of stout is so interesting -- who would have guessed?

clearlytangled said...

loving all these autumn inspired recipes. it's such a delicious time of year... and these look perfect.

FOODESSA said...

We may not be the biggest fans of pears at my house...however, how can I not try this scrumptious dessert...it may just make us love pears after this ;o)

Flavourful wishes,
Claudia

MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College said...

This is an amazing picture of a stunning cake. I love that it is outside.

I think this recipe is going on my "to-do" list right now!

Mimi said...

These looks like a perfact fall dessert.
Mimi

Magic of Spice said...

Beautiful cake :) I love anything gingerbread, but these are so pretty...

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