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Italian chocolate pear cake recipe

Chocolate Pear Cake (Italian Torta di Pere e Cioccolato)

Silvana Nava
Chocolate Pear Cake, or Torta di Pere e Cioccolato, is a soft and moist Italian cake made with cocoa, yogurt, olive oil, fresh pears and dark chocolate. The combination of juicy pears and dark chocolate makes this simple homemade cake especially rich and delicious.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course cake, Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8
Calories 513 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 pears - ripe but firm
  • 190 g 00 flour or all-purpose flour - 1 ½ cups
  • 30 g unsweetened cocoa powder - ¼ cup
  • 150 g granulated sugar - ¾ cup
  • 70 g light olive oil - 5 tablespoons
  • 2 large eggs
  • 250 g plain whole-milk yogurt - 1 cup, at room temperature
  • 100 g dark chocolate chips - about ½ cup
  • 14 g baking powder - about 1 tablespoon

Instructions
 

Make the Batter

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), conventional/static mode.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar for about 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture becomes lighter and slightly frothy.
  • Slowly pour in the light olive oil, whisking until well combined.
  • In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder and baking powder. This helps remove any lumps from the cocoa and makes the dry ingredients easier to incorporate into the batter.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture a little at a time, stirring until combined.
  • Then add the yogurt and mix until you have a smooth, thick but creamy batter.
  • Add 80 g (about 8 tablespoons) of the dark chocolate chips and gently fold them into the batter. Keep the remaining chocolate chips aside for the top of the cake.

Add the Pears and Bake

  • Peel the pears, remove the cores and cut them into thin slices. Use pears that are ripe but still firm, so they soften during baking without releasing too much liquid.
  • Line the bottom of a 24 cm (9½-inch) springform pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the sides.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.
  • Arrange the pear slices over the entire surface of the cake. Press some of them slightly into the batter while leaving the others closer to the surface. This creates a beautiful pear pattern once the cake is baked.
  • Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 55 to 60 minutes. Avoid opening the oven during the first 40 minutes, so the cake can rise properly.
  • Toward the end of the baking time, insert a toothpick into the cake in an area without pear slices or melted chocolate. It should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then release the springform ring and allow the cake to cool further before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 100gCalories: 513kcalCarbohydrates: 83gProtein: 7gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 281mgPotassium: 345mgFiber: 6gSugar: 51gVitamin A: 129IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 204mgIron: 3mg
Keyword chocolate pear cake, Italian chocolate pear cake recipe
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