A uniquely flavored cake using olive oil
as the fat along with a hint of black pepper and allspice add
an interesting 'bite'.
Pear Cake with Cream
Cheese Icing
- Cake:
1 (15-ounce) can pears in juice, undrained
2/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup quartered soft pitted prunes
2 tablespoons reserved pear juice
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 3/4 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup finely ground almonds or semolina flour (see Note)
1 cup Equal® Spoonful*
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
-
- Cream Cheese Icing:
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup Equal® Spoonful**
2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
- For Cake: Drain pears, reserving 2 tablespoons
juice. Chop 2 pears into 1/2-inch chunks. Pour remaining pears
with 2 tablespoons reserved juice, buttermilk, oil, prunes and
almond extract into blender or food processor; cover. Blend until
smooth.
- Combine flour, ground almonds, 1 cup Equal®,
cardamom, allspice and pepper in large bowl. Pour pear mixture
into flour mixture. Mix lightly just until combined. Fold in
pear chunks.
- Spoon batter into lightly greased and
waxed-paper-lined 8-inch round cake pan. Bake in preheated 350°F
(175°C) oven 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted
in center comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove
from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
- For Cream Cheese Icing: Blend all ingredients
until smooth and creamy. Frost top of cake with icing.
Makes 12 servings.
* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
** May substitute 6 packets Equal sweetener
Note: Semolina flour is made from durum wheat and is ground more
coarsely. It is available in some supermarkets.
Nutrition Information Per Serving (1/12
of cake): calories 276, protein 6 g, carbohydrate 26 g, fat 17
g, cholesterol 6 mg, sodium 277 mg.
Food Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 fat.
Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Merisant Corporation ® and the
NutraSweet Company, makers of Equal®
Click
for more information on the artificial sweetner Aspartame.
