Mānuka Honey, Chai and Pear Cake

A fragrant cake infused with warming chai spices and sweet ripe pear, elevated by the earthy richness of Mānuka honey. Moist, aromatic, and delicately balanced - this cake is the epitome of comfort and indulgence. Yes, yes and yes.

x Jordan

Serves 12

Ingredients

For the spice mix:

2 tsp ground cardamom

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground cloves

½ tsp ground black pepper

For the cake:

150 butter, at room temperature

150g coconut or light muscovado sugar

50g Mānuka Honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp vanilla paste

4 free range eggs, room temperature

50ml light olive oil

200g plain all-purpose white flour

70g ground almonds

½ tsp sea salt

3 ½ tsp chai spice mix

2.5 tsp baking powder

180g full fat plain Greek yogurt

2 large ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into 1cm cubes

For the icing:

150g butter, at room temperature

50g Mānuka Honey

150g icing sugar

1 ½ tsp chai spice mix

½ tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp vanilla paste

100g cream cheese (not light, or spreadable), at room temperature

For the decorations:

3 tbsp Mānuka Honey

Freeze-dried pear slices (optional)

Fresh / dried flowers and / or petals (optional)

Cinnamon quills (optional)

Method

  1. In a small bowl, mix the spices together.
  2. Preheat the oven to 170C on fan bake. Line 2 x 22cm cake pans with baking paper.
  3. To make the cake, in the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar, honey and vanillas until pale, light and fluffy.
  4. Beat in the eggs one by one, mixing well before adding in the next. Next beat in the oil.
  5. In a large bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, salt, spices and baking powder.
  6. In 2 parts, fold in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  7. Finally fold through the yogurt. Be very careful not to overmix.
  8. Evenly divide the batter between the 2 pans and spread out to the sides.
  9. Evenly dot in the pear chunks, pressing down lightly.
  10. Bake for approximately 30 minutes. The cakes are ready when golden in colour, springy to the touch, and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
  11. Allow the cakes to cool for about 10 minutes in the pans before turning out onto a cooling rack.
  12. Meanwhile, make the icing. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter, honey, icing sugar, spices and vanillas until very pale, light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese little by little and continue beating until the icing is completely smooth.
  13. When the cakes are fully cooled, spread some icing onto one layer using an offset palette knife. Place the other layer on top of this and neatly ice the top.
  14. Drizzle Mānuka Honey over top however you like and decorate as desired.

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

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