Cinnamon and Pear Crumble Cake

Hello Lovelies,
as I mentioned in my previous post, I was lucky enough to pick up a bag of pears for free at the weekend, kindly left at the roadside by someone who must have a bumper crop this year....



If I'm being totally honest I have to say that Pears are not my favourite fruit ( it's the texture ) so I was keen to do some baking with them.
There are lots of  tempting pear recipes on the interweb but many of them would have meat a trip to the shops for additional ingredients.
 After a bit of searching I found THIS recipe. I LOVE cinnamon and  had all the ingredients.

 I struggled with the measurements , a strange combination of grams and cups. I know a lot of the world works in cups ( I think this recipe is Australian ) but it's not common in the U.K. so I had to google how much the cups were equivalent to in grams.

 I've rewritten it here in a format I find easy to follow ( with a few alterations I found were needed )...I though you lovelies might like to try it and it will make my life easier next time I make this yummy cake.....because I'm sure there will be a next time.
If you like working in cups the original recipe will probably be easier for you to follow.

Cinnamon and Pear Crumble Cake
ingredients:-
125g softened butter or margarine
150g caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 medium eggs
128g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 tablespoons ground almonds
100 mls of milk
2 large or three small pears, peeled cored and chopped

Crumble topping
90g plain flour
1 1/2 tablespoons soft brown sugar
60g softened butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Method:-
1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius or gas mark 3
2. Grease and line the base of a round loose bottom or spring form cake tin.
3. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer till pale and creamy
4. Gradually add the eggs...I add a little flour with the eggs to stop them curdling.

5.Sift in the remaining flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Add the ground almonds and mix well.
6.Fold through the milk and pears.....My mixture was very runny so I've reduced the amount of milk slightly from that in the original recipe.

7.Topping combine the flour, sugar and baking powder in a bowl.
8. Add the butter and rub in with fingertips.
9. Pour cake mixture into prepared tin and sprinkle with  crumble topping
10. Bake for 55minutes ..... check with a metal skewer....if it come out clean the cake is cooked, if not check again at five minute intervals till done.My fan oven took only 55 minutes.
11. cool on a wire rack

As you can see I had some issues with my topping. It was very sticky and hard to make crumbly so in this version I've added a bit more flour ...hopefully that will help.

This cake made the kitchen smell wonderful and it's beautifully moist with a crunchy top.
Happy baking
Jacquie x