Name: Black Sesame-Pear Tea Cake
Yield: Makes 10-12 servings
Ingredients: ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more; 1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 cup almond flour or almond meal; 2 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 2 tablespoons plus ½ cup black sesame seeds; 1 ⅓ cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 large egg; 1 large egg yolk; ¾ cup buttermilk; 1 (medium) firm but ripe Bosc pear, peeled, cored, cut into ¼" cubes; Ingredient info: Almond flour is sold at some supermarkets and at natural foods stores. Black sesame seeds are available at some supermarkets and at Asian markets.

Black Sesame-Pear Tea CakeWilliam Abranowicz

Finely ground black sesame seeds create a deeply flavored and dramatically hued cake.

Recipe information

Yield
Makes 10-12 servings

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more

1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup almond flour or almond meal

2 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons plus ½ cup black sesame seeds

1 ⅓ cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

¾ cup buttermilk

1 (medium) firm but ripe Bosc pear, peeled, cored, cut into ¼" cubes

Ingredient info: Almond flour is sold at some supermarkets and at natural foods stores. Black sesame seeds are available at some supermarkets and at Asian markets.

Preparation

Step 1
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter one 9x5x3" loaf pan or six 4x2x2" paper or metal loaf pans. Whisk 1½ cups flour, next 4 ingredients, and 2 tablespoons sesame seeds in a medium bowl. Grind remaining ½ cup sesame seeds in spice mill to form a thick paste, about 2 minutes.
Step 2
Using an electric mixer, beat ½ cup butter and 1⅓ cups sugar in a large bowl until well combined, 2-3 minutes. Add sesame paste and beat, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, until blended, 1-2 minutes. Add egg and egg yolk. Beat until pale and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. On low speed, beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Toss pear with remaining 2 tablespoons flour in a small bowl; fold into batter.
Step 3
Spoon batter into prepared pan; smooth top. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
Step 4
Bake until a tester comes out clean when inserted into center, about 1 hour 40 minutes for large loaf and 45-55 minutes for small loaves. Let cool in pans on a wire rack.

TagsLoaf Cake Cake Dessert Almond Flour Flour Buttermilk Dairy Pear Fruit Snack Breakfast Brunch Make Ahead Baking Electric Mixer Bon Appétit

Recipe notes

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