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    Home » Desserts

    French pear cake

    July 9, 2021 by Caroline's Cooking

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    French pear cake

    This French-style pear cake is a wonderful combination of tender-crumb cake and juicy chunks of pear. It's easy to make and perfect just as it is for a snack or dressed up for dessert. 

    Jump to Recipe
    slice of French pear cake in front of rest of cake with pears to sides

    This post may contain affiliate links, where we earn from qualifying purchases. See more details in the policy page.

    We do definitely love apples in our house and get through a lot of them, but I still think pears might be my favorite fall fruit. Maybe it's partly that they are a bit more temperamental and it's worth waiting until they are in season locally, but there is something special about a good, just-ripe pear. 

    Cooking with pears

    Much as I enjoy raw pears, I also find pears are really nice to cook with. The two most classic methods are poaching or nestled in a batter, whether cake or otherwise.

    Both methods really bring out the pear's natural sweetness and flavor, like in my pear clafoutis. We I've also tried pre-roasting pears for my roasted pear and fig scones which was really tasty too.

    whole cake in tin just out the oven

    French cuisine seems to share my appreciation of pears since they appear in a few classic dishes. Many French recipes combine poaching and baking, having you poach the pears in a syrup first.

    I can understand that this helps enhance their sweetness and makes for a softer texture, but if you dice the pears as here, it doesn't really feel necessary. As a result, this cake is a lot less fuss to prepare, but the result is still most definitely delicious.

    This cake was an instant favorite in our house. I don't bake larger cakes too often as we sometimes struggle to get through them unless we know we have visitors to help. Some friends helped us with this and it was quickly and happily enjoyed by all.

    bowls with flour, butter, sugar and creme fraiche with eggs and butter to side

    It's sweet, but not overly so (I have reduced the sugar from traditional recipes as I'm less of a sweet tooth but it's certainly still sweet enough). It has a lovely light texture and the juicy little chunks of pear are an extra treat as you eat it, too.

    Tips for making this cake

    This cake is pretty easy to make but there are a couple things to keep in mind to help it be a success. 

    You start by creaming the eggs and sugar together, then add the butter. This might seem a bit unusual - you often cream butter and sugar together first - but the reason is this way you get a bit of air into the mixture as the eggs and sugar combine and the sugar starts to dissolve.

    whisking eggs and sugar

    So take a few minutes to get the mixture glossy, but also don't beat heavily (you're not making a meringue).

    For baking, you are best to use ripe but still gently firm pears. Very ripe pears will tend to fall apart and bruise easily. Under-ripe won't have as good a flavor, so just ripe is the best fit. I feel like I'm writing about Goldilocks saying that, but hopefully you know what I mean!

    Use a teaspoon or melon baller to help get the core out. Pear flesh is relatively soft, so this is a great easy way to remove the bit you don't want to eat.

    scooping core from pear and diced pear in front

    In terms of the additional liquid, some recipes use milk and others use sour cream. I've gone with crème fraîche as this is a French cake after all. And the smooth texture and slightly sour flavor works well.

    Don't skip the sugar on top! I know you might think the cake is sweet enough already, but the sugar on top gives a lovely little crust once it bakes. And it's really nice as you take a bite. 

    This French pear cake is a wonderful combination of soft, tender cake and juicy chunks of pear. It's easy to make and the result feels more fancy than the effort involved. There's no need to tell, just let everyone enjoy, as they will!

    slice of pear cake on plate with rest of cake behind

    Try these other tasty cakes:

    • French lemon yogurt cake (a classic French cake, that's also light and delicious)
    • German plum cake (more of a bar, in some ways, but incredibly tasty)
    • Kladdkaka (Swedish sticky chocolate cake - similar to a fudgy brownie)
    • Austrian apricot cake (a super simple sponge with apricots nestled on top)
    • Sour cream mocha cake (great with a cup of coffee)
    • Plus get more dessert recipes in the archives.

    I'd recommend using a springform cake tin for this such as this one to make this easy to remove from the pan.

    See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store. 

    slice of French pear cake in front of rest of cake
    Print Recipe
    5 from 15 votes

    French pear cake

    This cake is a delicious combination of tender, moist cake with juicy chunks of pear. Easy to make and an instant favorite.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 12 approx
    Calories: 193kcal
    Author: Caroline's Cooking
    SaveSaved!

    Ingredients

    • 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour plain flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 pears (ripe but not overripe)
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
    • ¼ cup creme fraiche
    • 2 tablespoon sugar (to top)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350F/180C and line an 8in/20cm springform round cake tin.
    • In a small-medium bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
    • Peel and core the pears. Cut them into a relatively small dice, around ½ - ⅔in (1 ¼-1 ¾cm). Set aside.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and ½ cup sugar until the mixture is relatively glossy and the sugar is starting to dissolve. Add the butter in a steady stream while whisking it in at the same time. Add the creme fraiche and mix this in as well.
    • Mix the flour mixture into the egg mixture and stir until combined but try not to over-mix. Fold in the pears carefully so that they are mixed through but you don't break them up.
    • Pour the mixture into the lined cake tin and spread the mixture to the edges with a spatula and flatten out the top. Sprinkle on the 2tbsp sugar then bake for approximately 40-50 minutes until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean and the cake is a gentle golden brown color.
    • Leave to cool on a cooling rack for at least 10 minutes before loosening around the edges to remove from the cake tin. Works well both served warm or at room temperature, as it is or with cream/creme fraiche on the side.

    Video

    Notes

    If you can't find creme fraiche then sour cream will work as a substitute.
    It's best to use a relatively fine white sugar for this (regular sugar is usually fine as long as it is not too coarse a grain).
    I'd suggest a relatively firm non-grainy pear such as Bartlett or D'Anjou for this.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 65mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 318IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!

    Remember to pin for later!

    This French-style pear cake is a wonderful combination of tender-crumb cake and juicy chunks of pear. It's easy to make and perfect just as it is for a snack or dressed up for dessert.  #pear #cake

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    1. Jenny Erdmann says

      March 06, 2025 at 3:56 pm

      5 stars
      This was SO lovely. A crisp sugar top and delicate pear flavor-yum!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        March 06, 2025 at 7:37 pm

        So glad you enjoyed, I agree it's a delicious combination.

        Reply
    2. Julie says

      October 25, 2024 at 10:39 pm

      5 stars
      This cake was WONDERFUL! I ended up doing 1.5 the recipe and baked it in a 9" springform tin. Had more pears than I needed, but chucked them in anyway. Instead of folding my very ripe pears into the batter, I added half of the cake batter to the tin, spread it around, topped with pears, and covered with remaining batter. I was afraid this would be overly sweet, but it truly was perfect with a cup of tea. I wish pear season lasted a bit longer, but am thinking this might work with raspberries or even stewed apples... Great recipe!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        October 27, 2024 at 9:05 am

        I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it! Indeed, it's definitely not one of those cakes that's overly sweet - instead just sweet enough, but works well. Indeed, I definitely think this would work with gently stewed apple and possibly raspberries too - the only thing with berries is I think they may sink to the bottom but you can help them a little by tossing them in flour, and adding in layers between the batter rather than mixing through.

        Reply
    3. Leah says

      May 10, 2024 at 11:03 pm

      5 stars
      So so good Spongie light. I used 4 medium sized pears, added vanilla essence, had no fraiche but used milk. I love it very much. Subscribed.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        May 11, 2024 at 6:43 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It's definitely one of our favorites, and I agree, a lovely light texture.

        Reply
    4. Nickie says

      April 21, 2024 at 1:43 pm

      5 stars
      This turned out excellent, I added a bit of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the mix.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        April 21, 2024 at 2:09 pm

        So glad you enjoyed, and sure the warm spices worked well too (though I do also love it without).

        Reply
    5. Joanne says

      January 29, 2024 at 9:05 pm

      5 stars
      So easy and perfectly delicious, plain and warm. Good thing I gave half of it away immediately! Using melted butter means it can be done on the spur of the moment.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        January 29, 2024 at 10:29 pm

        So glad you enjoyed! It's certainly one of our favorites.

        Reply
    6. Rosemin Ibrahim says

      January 22, 2024 at 9:48 pm

      Can you add pecans to this recipe?

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        January 23, 2024 at 10:46 am

        I haven't, and while in theory you could, I would be a little concerned that the more bitter flavor and texture would distract from the tender, sweeter pears, personally.

        Reply
    7. Erin says

      January 02, 2024 at 11:16 pm

      I would like to use a 9 inch springform pan to make this cake. Should I increase ingredients by 1.5 or double the recipe?

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        January 03, 2024 at 9:51 am

        Hi, so assuming approximately a 2 inch depth to the pans (which is pretty common for cakes), then an 8 inch round would hold approximately 6 cups, and a 9 inch round would hold approximately 8 cups, so that would be 1.33 times the original. With the 8 inch, it doesn't come right to the top so you could get away with making it 1.5 times I think to be easier to multiply up. Just remember it will need longer to bake being bigger.

        Reply
        • Erin says

          January 03, 2024 at 8:00 pm

          Thanks Caroline! I’m making this tonight. I’ll let you know how this goes. By the way, my daughter’s name is Caroline! 😊

          Reply
    8. Sherril says

      December 15, 2023 at 2:22 pm

      I just made this cake and while it tastes beautiful, it really didn't rise and looks too thin. The amount of liquid when spread out in the spring form cake tin looked like a very low amount. It is an 8 inch spring form cake tin.
      The correct amount of baking powder was used and correct amount of other ingredients. The only other thing I added was a small amount of thin slices of candied ginger. Any idea why it turned out so flat?

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        December 15, 2023 at 8:40 pm

        So in general, this is not a super airy cake, it does have a bit of a tighter crumb, but there are a couple things that could be worth thinking about. First - when you say the amounts were right, did you weigh or use volume measurements? Weighing is more accurate, so if it seemed thin, it maybe didn't have enough flour. In terms of being flat, is your baking powder a bit old, as it doesn't work quite as well when not fresh. Also, did you whisk the egg and sugar until going pale and glossy? As this process not only dissolved the sugar, it gets air into the mixture. Then as you add the dry ingredients, you want to mix in lightly and not over-mix so you don't lose that air. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    9. Linda says

      November 20, 2023 at 3:20 pm

      I used ricotta cheese, slightly less sugar, and placed it in a cake pan. It came out perfectly after 40 minutes. It’s like a light European cake, and it’s just absolutely delicious!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        November 20, 2023 at 7:47 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed, and yes it has a lovely lightness to the texture, I agree.

        Reply
    10. Dawn says

      October 07, 2023 at 9:55 am

      5 stars
      Love this! Simple yet with an elegant taste! I'm going to try it with apples, too, in place of the pears. Thank you, Caroline!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        October 07, 2023 at 10:49 am

        I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed! It's one of our big favorites, too. And yes, there is indeed an apple version, too - I'd just suggest you make sure you use an apple that is good for cooking (eg Fuji, Honeycrisp), and cut the apples small-ish (around 1in/2.5cm dice max) so the texture works best.

        Reply
    11. Glenda says

      October 05, 2023 at 9:17 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious, light and not too sweet

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        October 06, 2023 at 8:31 am

        Glad you enjoyed!

        Reply
    12. Susan says

      September 20, 2023 at 8:14 pm

      Moist and delicious. I did not have crème fraiche or sour cream so
      I used Greek yogurt. Definitely will make this recipe again.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        September 20, 2023 at 9:48 pm

        I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed! And yes Greek yogurt works well as an alternative.

        Reply
    13. Ellie C. says

      September 16, 2023 at 6:22 pm

      Making the cake for the second time!
      We received a gift of Harry & David pears - perfect use. I add a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg, lemon zest and vanilla; really perks the flavor up!
      Thank you, Ellie

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        September 17, 2023 at 8:27 pm

        I'm glad to hear you enjoyed. Indeed, those flavors can pair well, though I also really like the simplicity of the original and you do have to take a little care the flavors don't overpower the delicate pear.

        Reply
    14. Becky says

      September 09, 2023 at 3:21 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today and it is absolutely delicious! Family agree! Will definitely be making it again. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        September 09, 2023 at 4:06 pm

        I'm so glad to hear you all enjoyed. It's definitely one of our favorite cakes.

        Reply
    15. Annie says

      July 17, 2023 at 5:59 pm

      Hi Caroline and everyone, I like to replace the butter with oil. Would I use the same amount, so 1/2 cup. Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        July 17, 2023 at 9:29 pm

        Yes, I'd suggest the same amount (by volume) should be about right.

        Reply
    16. Irene says

      March 14, 2023 at 3:47 am

      Hi I was just wondering if anyone had used apple sauce in cake, don’t have crème fraiche thank you

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        March 14, 2023 at 8:25 am

        So apple sauce can sometimes be used in place of both fat and sweetener is some recipes, though you often have to adjust some other quantities to get it to work. I wouldn't particularly recommend substituting it in here, given both the pear in there already and general texture. If you don't have creme fraiche, then I would suggest you could use sour cream, or cream plus a little squeeze of lemon instead, or milk.

        Reply
    17. Patricia says

      November 14, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      I am making this cake a second time already. It was a great recipe to use up the pears I had. My husband loved it and so did I. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        November 14, 2022 at 7:45 pm

        So glad to hear you enjoyed! It's one that always seem to be popular with whoever I offer it to (us included!)

        Reply
    18. Grey says

      October 23, 2022 at 11:13 pm

      Love this cake! Have made it a couple times, substituting the crème fraiche with mayonnaise! Delectable. This time, I just made it again with half mayo and half 14% sour cream, which I’m sure will work great as well. I think this will be the best so far, as the pears were really juicy today…can’t wait!!!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        October 24, 2022 at 9:52 am

        Glad to hear you have been enjoying! And yes I have made this with sour cream as well when creme fraiche hasn't been available and it works well.

        Reply
    19. Michelle says

      September 25, 2022 at 10:27 am

      Hi can you help the grams seem to be out when you adjust the servings

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        September 25, 2022 at 11:04 am

        Unfortunately the tool doesn't quite work to get both units to adjust - I'd recommend just not adjusting servings and divide/multiply separately if you are using grams. Or else comment back what you are trying to do and I can do a quick calculation.

        Reply
        • Caroline's Cooking says

          February 22, 2025 at 4:47 pm

          Just updating a response in case anyone else reads and is unsure about the metric scaling- with changes to the recipe template, I've now changed how the measurements work so both metric and imperial adjust when you use the scaling up and down.

          Reply
    20. Elise Carroll says

      August 27, 2022 at 10:10 am

      Oh wow! Just made this cake and I have to say it tastes absolutely divine! I used more pears than asked for in the recipe (a large soup bowl’s worth) as I had some fallen pears to use up. Thank you so much for this recipe. I always find fruit recipes going a bit soggy and not baking well. Not so with this one! Absolutely perfect and a keeper!!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        August 27, 2022 at 11:30 am

        I'm glad to hear you enjoyed - it is definitely one of our favorite cakes and yes, I know what you mean with fruit softening sometimes but indeed, the fruit stays with a lovely texture here.

        Reply
        • Mary says

          October 16, 2022 at 11:26 am

          5 stars
          Amazing recipe , lovely cake

          Reply
          • Caroline's Cooking says

            October 16, 2022 at 5:46 pm

            So glad to hear you enjoyed - it's one of our favorites as well.

            Reply
    21. Stephanie Jones says

      August 09, 2022 at 2:56 pm

      I have a pear tree in my garden that is full of pears so thinking of making a couple of these cakes but do you know if they freeze well??

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        August 09, 2022 at 7:35 pm

        I haven't tried it yet myself but I think it should work to freeze.

        Reply
    22. Agnes says

      November 12, 2021 at 12:08 am

      If we use milk instead - what amount is reccommended ?

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        November 12, 2021 at 5:20 pm

        Assuming you are using the milk to replace the creme fraiche, then using the same volume should be fine.

        Reply
    23. Mary Elizabeth says

      October 01, 2021 at 7:47 am

      5 stars
      My goodness!!! This cake is insanity!!!! And oh so simple to make. A scrumptious treat with a cup of tea or coffee. Thank you so very much for sharing your goodness. 😍

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        October 01, 2021 at 12:11 pm

        Glad to hear you enjoyed so much!

        Reply
    24. Dina says

      September 24, 2021 at 5:35 pm

      5 stars
      I just baked this cake and tried my first little slice. I have never left a recipe review but this came out so darn phenomenal that I just had to say so. I followed recipe exactly and it's just perfect-light, tender and not too sweet. I will make this recipe again and often. Wow! Thanks for posting and sharing.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        September 24, 2021 at 6:41 pm

        That's so lovely to hear! This is definitely one of our favorites so it's great to hear when others find it the same.

        Reply
    25. Erin says

      September 16, 2021 at 4:58 pm

      I’m looking forward to trying this, thank you! Just a question - is the 1/4 cup creme fraiche supposed to be added to the batter at some point or is it only for serving?

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        September 16, 2021 at 7:10 pm

        Oops, that bit seems to have been chopped from the recipe instructions, somehow - now updated, you add it right after the butter (as shown in the video). Enjoy!

        Reply
      • Jacqueline says

        February 22, 2025 at 12:31 pm

        5 stars
        Very good recipe! I followed it exactly except that I added 1 tsp of vanilla essence and 1 tsp of ground cinnamon. It was delicious 😋. Ate the first slice after the initial 10 minutes cooling, and it was delicious hot. So the next day, we heated up our slices in the oven. Will definitely be making it again. The mixture of the pear and the moist sponge cake really works. Highly recommended!

        Reply
        • Caroline's Cooking says

          February 22, 2025 at 4:42 pm

          So glad you enjoyed it, and yes it's lovely warm as well.

          Reply
    26. Angela says

      September 07, 2021 at 10:42 am

      5 stars
      My boys are obsessed with pears this year. This recipe made it even worse, haha. They want me to make this every weekend now. Warning to others - this is almost too fantastic for your own good.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        September 07, 2021 at 8:56 pm

        So glad to hear! We do love this as well (and agree, adds to the loving pears!)

        Reply
    27. olivia says

      August 16, 2021 at 10:06 am

      5 stars
      Made it last night - really fantastic cake. I was drawn in by the picture, which didn't look nearly as goopy and dense as most other recipes, and true enough, it was light and flavourful, with just the perfect hint of sweetness.
      I did add a few specks of cardamom, but otherwise made it verbatim.
      This will be a regular one for me:)

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking says

        August 16, 2021 at 11:40 am

        So glad to hear you enjoyed, it's a cake we really love as well and so can understand it being a regular 🙂

        Reply
        • Julia says

          December 19, 2024 at 3:30 pm

          Hi Caroline, this looks delicious and I’m going to give it a try. Just wondering if I don’t have a springform could it work in a Bundt pan?

          Reply
          • Caroline's Cooking says

            December 19, 2024 at 4:50 pm

            So it's a relatively soft cake so I would be worried with a bundt cake pan, especially if it's one with any kind of decoration, that it may be tricky to release and come out of the pan. Instead, I'd suggest making in a loaf pan or a square pan, in both cases lined, would be better. If you use a larger loaf pan (9x5 inch) or an 8 inch square, both should work (the square will just be a little less deep of a cake).

            Reply
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