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Home » Dessert » Moist Pear Cake Recipe

Moist Pear Cake Recipe

4.97 from 115 votes
Rate this Recipe
Total 1 hr 5 mins
Cook Time 55 mins
Serves 12 servings

By: Mariam E.  |  August 27, 2021This post may contain affiliate links, read my disclosure policy for details

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Loaded with pears, perfectly sweet and melts in the mouth – this Super Moist Pear Cake recipe is divine! Whether you are that person who loves to have a piece of cake with your cup of tea or coffee, or just that person who has a sweet tooth for cakes anytime during the day or after a filling meal, I am sure this will satisfy your cravings.

zoom in shot showing a piece of pear cake from the top.

This cake is the perfect go to cake recipe. It’s so moist and delicious, you will want to make it over and over again. Made with simple cake ingredients and overripe pears, this cake will be a staple in your family’s household.

If you are looking for simple and delicious cake recipes, try my Super Moist Blueberry Bundt Cake, No Bake Chocolate Cake, Molten Chocolate Lava Cake , and this Blueberry Lemon Bread recipe.

close up shot showing a piece of the pear cake.

Why you’ll love this Moist Cake recipe

  • Convenient: This recipe is not only easy to make, but it’s made with simple ingredients found in your pantry.
  • Tastes perfect: This recipe was tested many times. The sweetness is perfect, the flavor is perfect, the texture is so moist, it melts in your mouth with very bite.
  • Very adaptable: You can make this recipe with any kind of fruit you want. Test with your some of your favorite fruits and choose your favorite.

Ingredients needed to make a Pear Cake

ingredients of the pear cakes in ramekins laid out on a marble slab.
  • AP Flour- I find that this works best for the recipe.
  • Sugar– I like using granulated cane sugar
  • Confectioner Sugar– Perfect for dusting because it melts in your mouth.
  • Butter– Makes the cake soft.
  • Vegetable Oil– Also adds moisture to the cake.
  • Baking Powder– Helps the cake rise.
  • Vanilla Extract– To add a delicious hint of flavor.
  • Eggs– large eggs, any kind works.
  • Milk– I like using whole milk to keep the cake rich.
  • Pears– Use your overripe pears. Any kind works, as long as it’s ripe and peeled. I like using green pears.
  • Salt– to balance the flavor.
  • Lemon Zest– Always a great addition to any baking recipe.
  • Toppings: Brown sugar and cinnamon powder.

How to make a Pear Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Peel and slice the Pears. Set aside.
steps showing how to slice the pears.
  • In an electric mixer bowl, whip up the sugar and softened butter until well combined for about 1 minute.
  • Add in the vanilla, lemon zest and eggs. Continue mixing on high speed for 1-2 minutes until they are well combined.
Before and after the butter, eggs and sugar got mixed in a glass bowl.
  • Add in the baking powder, sifted flour and a pinch of salt. Mix again for about 1 minute.  Gradually add the milk and oil while mixing on low speed. Mix for another minute or two on low speed.
pear cake mix in the mixer bowl before adding dry ingredients ,milk and oil .
  • Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and grease or spray a round spring foam baking pan then pour the batter into the pan. Ideally, a 10 x 3 inch deep pan is the best size.
  • After placing the batter in your pan, spread a layer of the sliced pears to cover the whole batter. Sprinkle some cinnamon and the brown sugar on top of the pears.
steps showing pear cake in a pan, before and after adding pears, then after baking.
  • Bake in a pre-heated 350 F oven for 40 minutes then lay over an aluminum foil wrap on top to cover the cake and bake for another 10-15 minutes. Depending on your oven and thickness of your pan, it might take extra baking time. Mine took exactly 50 minutes. Try not to over bake the cake so doesn’t dry out. Always insert a wooden skewer to make sure it’s completely clean before removing the cake out.
pear cake before and after dusting with powdered sugar.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and cover with a kitchen towel to let it cool down. It may take up to 1 hour. Dust with some confectioner sugar right before serving.

Recipe Tips:

  • Always use room temperature softened butter.
  • If you are not serving right away, I recommend not dusting the cake right away. The moisture of the pears will absorb the sugar. Dust the cake right before serving.
  • Only use real butter. No fake butters.
  • Do not use a smaller pan other than what is recommended, which is 10 x 3″ round spring foam pan (easy release pan).
  • Do not use under ripe pears. Always use soft pears, but not mushy pears
  • Depending on your oven and thickness of the pan, the cake might take less or more time. Insert a tooth pick or skewer into the center of the cake to check if it comes out clean.
  • You may add nuts or raisins right before the pears before baking, if you like. Just dust them with a little bit of AP flour before doing that.
  • If you like pears in your cake batter, add 1/2 cup of ripe pureed/mashed pear in the cake batter before baking. It may just take a few more minutes to fully cook over the normal cook time.
close up shot showing the inside of the pear cake where a piece was cut out from.

FAQ’s for making a moist pear cake

How do you make moist pear cake?

Always use overripe pears to make this cake moist. The juices from the pear gives so much moisture to the cake. Also, always use real, whole fat butter. This also helps with the cake’s texture. Never use butter substitutes.

How do you peel and slice pears?

Prepare the pears by peeling, then slicing in half from the stem end to the bottom. You can then use a small spoon to scoop out the seeds and also remove that tough, thin spine that runs up to the stem end.

What to serve with Pear Cake?

This pear cake is great on its own. It can be served warm, room temperature, or cold from the fridge. It’s also great with a scoop of ice cream, coffee, tea or a dollop of whipped cream!

Do I have to peel pears before baking?

I highly recommend peeling the pears before baking, as their skin grows tough when heated.

What to do with lots of ripe pears?

Well of course, make this pear cake! If you have way too many, you can always bake a cake for your neighbor or a friend.

Can I freeze Pear Cake?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze this pear cake. However the texture of the pear slices will change a little after freezing. I would also wrap it very well to preserve any freezer burns, which will dry up the cake. You can freeze for up to one month. But this cake will not last more than a couple of days, so I highly doubt you will need to freeze it. It will be gone in no time.

A piece of cake being taken out of the whole pear cake.

Mouthwatering sweet treats to try

  • Strawberry French Tarte
  • Baked Oats Cake { 3 Ways}
  • Overnight Chia Pudding
  • Coconut Cheesecake Bars

I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this delicious Super Moist Pear Cake recipe. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it, and share it with your friends and family!

If you try this recipe and liked it, please leave a star rating and comment below. Use my hashtag to share it with me on Instagram so I can see your delicious recreations! Also, follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.

zoom in shot showing a piece of pear cake from the top.

Super Moist Pear Cake

4.97 from 115 votes
Created by Mariam E.
Loaded with pears, perfectly sweet and melt in the mouth – this Super Moist Pear Cake recipe is divine! Easy to make and it looks gorgeous, perfect for dessert or afternoon treat!
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 55 mins
Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
servings

Equipment

  • 10 x 3 inch Round Spring Foam pan (Easy Release)

Ingredients

  • 2¼ cups cake or all purpose flour sifted
  • 1½ cup sugar fine granulated white sugar
  • ½ cup butter soft, unsalted
  • ⅓ cup canola oil or vegetable oil
  • 2 tsps. baking powder
  • 2 tbsps. vanilla extract
  • 4 whole eggs
  • ½ cup milk
  • 3 whole ripe pears peeled and thinly sliced
  • ⅛ tsp. salt Just a pinch
  • 1 tsp. lemon zest (optional)
  • 2 tbsps. confectioner suger for dusting after baking

TOPINGS before baking:

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar or less as desired
  • ¾ tsp. cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Peel and slice the Pears.
  • In an electric mixer bowl, whip up the sugar and butter until well combined for about 1 minute.
  • Add in the vanilla, lemon zest and eggs. Continue mixing on high speed for 1-2 minutes until they are well combined.
  • Add in the baking powder, sifted flour and a pinch of salt. Mix again for about 1 minute.  Gradually add ½ cup of milk and ⅓ cup oil while mixing on low speed. Mix for another minute or two on low speed.
  • Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and grease or spray a round spring foam baking pan then pour the batter in. Ideally, a 10 x 3 inch deep pan is the best size.
  • After placing the batter in your pan, spread a layer of the sliced pears to cover the whole batter. Sprinkle some cinnamon and the brown sugar on top of the pears.
  • Bake in a pre-heated 350 F oven for 40 minutes then lay over an aluminum foil wrap on top to cover the cake and bake for another 10-15 minutes depending on your oven. Insert a wooden skewer to make sure it's completely clean before removing the cake. It may take less or a bit more time depending on your oven.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and cover with a kitchen towel to let it cool down. It may take up to 1 hour to completely cool down. Dust with some confectioner sugar right before serving.

Video

Notes

    • Always use room temperature softened butter.
    • If you are not serving right away, I recommend not dusting the cake right away. The moisture of the pears will absorb the sugar. Dust the cake right before serving.
    • Only use real butter. No fake butters.
    • Do not use a smaller pan other than what is recommended, which is 10 x 3″ round spring foam pan (easy release pan).
    • Do not use under ripe pears. Always use soft pears, but not mushy pears
    • Depending on your oven and thickness of the pan, the cake might take less or more time. Insert a tooth pick or skewer into the center of the cake to check if it comes out clean.
    • You may add nuts or raisins right before the pear before baking, if you like. Just dust them with a little bit of AP flour before doing that.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Rate the recipe below and mention @cookinwithmima and tag #cookinwithmima so I can see your recreations.

This recipe was originally posted in March 2019 and updated with new photos.

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  1. Cayla says

    October 5, 2021 at 3:07 pm

    I followed all the instructions. The batter rose over the pears, most of which fell down to the bottom. Still tasted good, but more like a pudding than a cake.

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      October 12, 2021 at 9:54 am

      Hi Cayla,
      I am sorry the cake didn’t work for you. It’s been tested so many times. The cake batter should be thick, which prevents the pear from sinking. Some sink but most stay up. If the batter is too loose, they will all sink. I am not really sure what went wrong. I do have a video along with this recipe, if you want to take a look at it.

      Reply
  2. Susan Knorr says

    September 3, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    5 stars
    Made it in a Bundt pan and this cake is DELICIOUS! Thank you 😊

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      September 6, 2021 at 1:25 pm

      So glad to hear that Susan! Thanks for leaving a review.

      Reply
  3. Katrina says

    August 19, 2021 at 8:32 am

    4 stars
    This cake was so delicious! I used coconut sugar instead of granulated. I did find it a tad dry not sure if I cooked it too long?? The flavours were amazing though. Next time I think I’ll try adding some pears to the batter too. Would that work? Otherwise great cake.

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      August 21, 2021 at 10:02 am

      Hi Katrina,
      I am not sure what happened there. The cake is very moist. It may have been cooked longer or maybe it was from the coconut sugar. It’s usually dry and not a great substitute for this recipe.

      Reply
  4. Rita says

    August 3, 2021 at 4:43 pm

    Please can you add gram measurements, I’d love to make this and don’t want to get the amounts wrong?

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      August 9, 2021 at 4:39 pm

      Hi Rita,
      I will try to see if there is a setting to convert the recipe to grams.

      Reply
  5. Manuela says

    July 16, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    5 stars
    I LOVE this recipe! I tweaked it a bit by halving the sugar in the cake batter and replacing a cup of flour with almond meal. Obviously ok if you’re not allergic to nuts. It still comes out super moist and beautifully sweet.

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      July 27, 2021 at 12:50 am

      Hi Manuela!
      Thanks so much for leaving a review. Glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  6. Manuela Bon says

    July 11, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    I LOVE this recipe. Have tweaked it myself by replacing 1 cup of flour with 1 cup of almond meal. Ok if you’re not allergic to nuts. I have also halved the sugar content and it is still beautifully sweet.

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      July 27, 2021 at 12:56 am

      Hi Manuela!
      Glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for leaving the review.

      Reply
  7. Samia says

    July 11, 2021 at 12:35 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this! It looks and tastes amazing🤩 so rich and flavorful. Thank you for sharing! Appreciate that you left a note on using less sugar it was just right for me and my family❤️.

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      July 27, 2021 at 12:56 am

      Hi Samia!
      Thanks for leaving a review. Glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  8. Nomsa says

    May 9, 2021 at 4:15 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much. I made this for mother’s day and it tasted AMAZING!!!! It was so Fluffy and burst with flavor

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      May 12, 2021 at 12:08 pm

      Hi Nomsa,
      Happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe and it worked out well for you. Thanks for the review.

      Reply
  9. Gaye Nickles says

    May 9, 2021 at 4:07 pm

    5 stars
    I always fiddle with recipes, and I always read the comments. This time, however, I made this recipe almost exactly as written. 40 minutes was perfect + 15 covered with foil. Skewer came out clean, the pears stayed on top, and the cake is golden brown. I used up some overripe pears and they came to life in this recipe. But as I said, “almost exactly as written”: I used 1 3/4 tsp of vanilla and a 1/4 tsp teaspoon of almond extract. Almond extract may be my signature baking flavor. In all likelihood, I will sprinkle the cake with sliced almonds after I dust it with confectioner’s sugar. Though I am tempted to sprinkle the sugar while the cake is warm so the almonds stick in what would become a light glaze. (BTW: I did not have to adjust for my high altitude. I’m in the Sierra foothills at 5200 ft.)

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      May 12, 2021 at 12:05 pm

      Hi Gaye!
      Glad you enjoyed the recipe and adapted it to your liking! Thanks for the review and for adding some extra tips for others.

      Reply
    • Pattie says

      August 20, 2021 at 6:58 am

      Thank you for commenting on higher elevation, as it’s often different. I’m pretty new to having to consider elevation at 4500, so it helps to know no need to adjust.

      Reply
  10. Janice Soon says

    May 7, 2021 at 9:06 pm

    Hi, I’m thinking of trying this recipe tonight. I’m just wondering if the use of canola / vegetable oil is for the purpose of having a neutral-flavoured oil? Could I use olive oil (which flavour I suppose might come through abit, and may even complement it) which is healthier?

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      May 8, 2021 at 9:36 am

      Hi There,
      Sorry I just saw this I wasn’t on last night. It’s because of the neutral flavor. If you prefer healthier you can use light tasting olive oil. The lightest you can find.

      Reply
  11. Darlene says

    April 14, 2021 at 9:56 am

    Hi! I want to try this recipe but I don’t have a springform pan. I do have several different sizes of bundt pans. Would this recipe work with a bundt pan? If so, would I need to tweak any of the ingredients to compensate for the bundt pan?

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      April 15, 2021 at 9:44 am

      Hi Darlene,
      I haven’t tried it but it will take a lot longer to cook. You will also have to cover with aluminum foil after it rises, this way the inside cooks well since it’s a deeper pan. Because the longer it cooks, the sides and top will get more brown and the inside will stay raw. You can use a normal round non-stick pan that’s the same size as recommended in the recipe and line the bottom with parchment paper. Also spray well with baking spray. Once you cook it, use a knife to detach the sides a little if stuck on the side of the pan and allow it to cool completely. Once it cools down well, use a plate to cover the cake, flip it over, and reflip it to another plate so the top is facing back up. Sprinkle with some powdered sugar and serve.

      Reply
  12. Cecily Muller says

    April 11, 2021 at 6:52 pm

    5 stars
    I converted this to gluten free and is absolutely delicious. I served with whipped cream. Awesome, thank you 😋💖

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      April 13, 2021 at 9:48 am

      That’s great to hear. So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for leaving a review.

      Reply
  13. Marie says

    March 20, 2021 at 5:33 pm

    I had a bunch of pears nobody in my family wanted to eat, so I googled “pear cake” and came across this recipe.This turned out sooooo good. Even my son who doesn’t enjoy cakes loved this one. Definitely will be making again! I followed all the instructions as written, the only thing is I had to bake for almost 1.5 hrs. It is perfect!

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      March 23, 2021 at 10:31 pm

      Hi Marie,
      Thanks for leaving a comment review! Sometimes cooking time will differ depending on the pan and the oven. But I am glad it worked out as you liked in the end.

      Reply
  14. maria kennedy says

    March 19, 2021 at 2:30 am

    this is a delicious cake— however the pears sank to the very bottom, saturated the paper and stuck to it beyond lifting. i would like to make this cake successfully- can you please help.

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      March 19, 2021 at 8:01 pm

      Hi Maria,
      It’s very odd. Something must have gone wrong somewhere. The cake batter is thick, which doesn’t allow the pears to sink. They should be sliced very thin so they don’t sink from their weight, and the cake batter should be thick. No one has mentioned that problem before. I have tested it many times.

      Reply
  15. Leila says

    February 12, 2021 at 7:03 pm

    Same problem as above — took much longer to cook than recipe says. Used 9″ springform pan.

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      February 13, 2021 at 8:48 am

      Hi Leila,
      9 inch is a smaller pan, so the batter will be more deep. It will take longer time. I recommend 10 inch pan, which I have tested many times. Cover the cake with foil wrap at around 40 minutes and cook for an extra 15-20 minutes. Also, all ovens are different so cooking time may vary for everyone.

      Reply
  16. Sarah says

    February 10, 2021 at 11:43 am

    5 stars
    I made this cake using Gluten-Free flour and it worked very well.
    My family ate it all in one sitting.
    Thank you for sharing this recipe.
    It’s great !

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      February 12, 2021 at 11:38 am

      Hi Sarah!
      Thanks so much for leaving a rating. I am happy to hear you and your family enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  17. Margot says

    February 7, 2021 at 10:32 am

    4 stars
    This is very tasty. I also had to add an extra 30 min to get it baked all the way through and I used a 10” springform pan. My only complaint is with that thickness, the bottom was very dry and the top was nice and moist. I will do some experimenting the next time I make it. Overall, delicious! (I sprinkled a little cinnamon over the pears before baking)

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      February 8, 2021 at 6:03 pm

      Hi Margot,
      Thanks for leaving a review. Glad you enjoy the recipe.

      Reply
  18. Jen says

    January 5, 2021 at 7:19 pm

    Made this tonight and it was amazing! Had some pears that were going to go to waste, would never have thought to make cake with them! So good, thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      January 5, 2021 at 11:30 pm

      Hi Jen,
      Thanks so much for leaving a comment. I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
      • Carol says

        January 19, 2021 at 4:27 pm

        4 stars
        what a wonderful cake recipe~I did not have the proper pan to use; however, that did not make a difference. IT came out wonderful! Pretty to look at and yummy to eat!
        Thanks for the recipe
        Carol

      • Mariam E. says

        January 20, 2021 at 12:48 pm

        Hi Carol
        Thank you so much for leaving a review. Glad you enjoyed it. My kids love it. I am about to make it for my family since I have some overripe pears!

  19. Helga says

    January 3, 2021 at 11:54 am

    5 stars
    Love it! Is my first time making anything with pears and the whole family loved it. Thanks for this amazing recipe ❤️

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      January 3, 2021 at 4:59 pm

      Hi Helga
      So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe with your family!

      Reply
  20. Bobbi J Smith says

    December 20, 2020 at 10:32 am

    5 stars
    I split the recipe in half and cooked it in a plain pie plate. I also added salted caramel chips to the batter, and I added salted caramel chips on top before I cooked with the foil. This is absolutely fabulous. The cooking time was almost the same. I did 30 minutes uncovered and 10 minutes covered. First time I have made anything like this, and I would say that it will be made again.

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      December 21, 2020 at 8:14 am

      Hi Bobbi,
      Caramel chips sound amazing with the pears! Glad you made this the recipe the way you like and enjoyed it!

      Reply
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