Acadian Syrup Cake with Roasted Pears and Caramel Sauce Recipe

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A Cajun classic, this spice cake (aka Gateau au Sirop) gets much of its sweet flavor from a Southern staple, cane syrup. We love Steen's 100% Pure Cane Syrup, made in Louisiana. If you can't find pure cane syrup, don't sub a blended syrup; use honey instead. Roast the pears and make the caramel sauce while the cake cools. To dress up the cake for serving, we used a fleur-de-lis stencil to create a powdered sugar design atop this glorious dark and deeply delicious cake.

Acadian Syrup Cake with Roasted Pears and Caramel Sauce
Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Hands On Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs
Yield:
8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cake flour

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh finely ground black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1 1/2 cups dark cane syrup or honey

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • 1 cup buttermilk

  • Shortening

  • Powdered sugar

  • Roasted Pears

  • Caramel Sauce

  • Spiced Whipped Cream

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Whisk together first 8 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Whisk together syrup and next 3 ingredients in a medium bowl; add to dry ingredients. Whisk until blended. Pour batter into a greased (with shortening) and floured 9-inch springform pan.

  2. Bake at 350° for 50 to 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Remove cake from pan, and cool 1 hour on wire rack. Sprinkle powdered sugar over cake, and serve warm or at room temperature with Roasted Pears, Caramel Sauce, and Spiced Whipped Cream.

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