Spiced Cocoa and Red Pear "Earl Grey Tea Cake"

Name: Spiced Cocoa and Red Pear "Earl Grey Tea Cake"
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 16-18
Ingredients: CAKE; 2 stick butter, unsalted; 1 c sugar; 1 c dark brown sugar; 1 Tbsp honey; 3 c flour; 1/3 c cocoa powder, unsweetened; 1 Tbsp baking soda; 1/2 Tbsp baking powder; 1 tsp salt; 3 eggs; 3/4 c cooled earl grey tea, strongly brewed; 1 Tbsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ginger; 1/2 tsp nutmeg; 1 c dark chocolate chunks; 2 red pears, diced; non-stick olive oil spray; cocoa powder for dusting; 1 Tbsp coarse sugar, large grain (optional); 1 pinch cinnamon sugar (optional); FROSTING; 2 chocolate, unsweetened squares; 1 stick butter; 1/2 tsp apple pie spice (or substitute cinnamon); 1 tsp vanilla; 1 1/2 c sugar ( i like granulated, heavily creamed, but you can used powdered); TOPPING; 1 chocolate, unsweetened squares; 2 Tbsp sugar ( i like granulated, heavily creamed, but you can used powdered)

By Tiffany Bannworth
@MissAnubis

Try this cake on a cold, winter night. It will warm you from the inside out. Serve with warm apple cider or your favorite warm winter beverage.

Rating:

★★★★★ 1 vote5

Comments:

4 Comments

Serves:

16-18

Prep:

20 Min

Cook:

40 Min

Ingredients

CAKE
2 stick

butter, unsalted
1 c

sugar
1 c

dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp

honey
3 c

flour
1/3 c

cocoa powder, unsweetened
1 Tbsp

baking soda
1/2 Tbsp

baking powder
1 tsp

salt
3

eggs
3/4 c

cooled earl grey tea, strongly brewed
1 Tbsp

cinnamon
1/2 tsp

ginger
1/2 tsp

nutmeg
1 c

dark chocolate chunks
2

red pears, diced
·

non-stick olive oil spray
·

cocoa powder for dusting
1 Tbsp

coarse sugar, large grain (optional)
1 pinch

cinnamon sugar (optional)
FROSTING
2

chocolate, unsweetened squares
1 stick

butter
1/2 tsp

apple pie spice (or substitute cinnamon)
1 tsp

vanilla
1 1/2 c

sugar ( i like granulated, heavily creamed, but you can used powdered)
TOPPING
1

chocolate, unsweetened squares
2 Tbsp

sugar ( i like granulated, heavily creamed, but you can used powdered)
1/2 stick

butter
1 tsp

heavy cream, cold
1 Tbsp

sliced almonds
2 Tbsp

honey
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How to Make Spiced Cocoa and Red Pear "Earl Grey Tea Cake"

Step-by-Step

Preheat oven to 325.
In a mixing bowl, cream sugars, honey, and butter. Then add one at a time and beat for 3 minutes.
Add dry ingredients and tea, save chocolate chunks, pears, coarse sugar, and cinnamon sugar. Beat until airy.
Fold in pears and chocolate chunks.
Take two small, square cake pans. Spray with non-stick spray and dust with cocoa.
Evenly divide batter into pans. Optionally, you may sprinkle coarse sugar and cinnamon sugar on the top of the batter of one pan. DO NOT STIR. This will be the layer that goes atop.
Place in oven for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
Remove cake and cool completely.
To make frosting that goes only sandwiched in between the two layers, melt chocolate for 60 seconds or a little more if need in a microwave safe bowl.
In a mixing bowl, cream the rest of the frosting ingredients for 3 minutes. Then mix in chocolate. Beat for additional minute.
Place in freezer until it becomes the consistency of a stiff, creamy mousse.
After both are cooled, spread atop bottom layer and place top layer on. If you make your topping ahead of time, squirt some chocolate on the bottom layer too.
To make topping, again microwave chocolate 10 seconds at a time as not to burn.
Beat the rest of the ingredients save almonds thoroughly and mix in melted chocolate. Then chill in fridge to thicken.
Place in small squirt bottle or just drizzle with spoon over the top of cake in a zig zag formation. Drizzle almonds atop.