Adapted from “Cake” by Brooke Bell
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1¾ teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup crème fraîche
- 1 pound pears, peeled and diced
- 3 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger, divided
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour a 10-inch enamel-coated cast-iron skillet.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter and 1½ cups sugar with a mixer At medium speed until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in almond extract.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with crème fraîche, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition. Fold in half of pears and 1½ tablespoons ginger. Spoon batter into prepared skillet, spreading to edges. Arrange remaining pears and remaining 1½ tablespoons ginger on top, slightly pressing into batter. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar.
4. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 50 minutes, covering with foil to prevent excess browning, if necessary. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
