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Cranberry Pear Spoon Cake

Cranberry pear spoon cake is easier to make than a boxed cake mix and highlights winter fruits for a simple, seasonal dessert.

Cranberry pear spoon cake in a glass pie plate with text overlay.

Use fresh fruit for this tasty dish or hit your pantry for preserved versions to make the most of your stock.

Fruit Choices

Fresh or frozen cranberries will work just fine. If using frozen cranberries, just toss in frozen but know that the bottom layer might be a little runnier than if using fresh cranberries.

A slice of cranberry pear spoon cake on a white plate with a fork and napkin.

Fresh pears, peeled and chopped work delightfully. However, some canned chopped pears, well drained, will also be perfect in this cake.

Chopped apples would also work in place of the pears.

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Lightly Spiced

There is just a bit of ground ginger mixed in the fruit layer. Add another bit of ground ginger or even cinnamon to the cake layer for more spice.

Skip the spice all together to let the fruit shine, if desired.

Cranberry pear spoon cake in a glass pie plate with pieces missing.

Serving Options

The cranberry pear spoon cake is delightful as it comes out of the oven. Do let it cool before serving.

A dusting of powdered sugar just after plating is beautiful and delicious.

Serve with some fresh whipped cream topped with some sugared cranberries for an especially elegant dessert.

Cake and ice cream is, of course, always lovely.

Looking for some other ways to enjoy cranberries? Check out our curated collection of cranberry recipes.

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Yield: 8 Servings

Cranberry Pear Spoon Cake

A slice of cranberry pear spoon cake on a plate with a fork.

A cross between a fruit cobbler and a cake this cranberry pear spoon cake is sweet, tart, and perfect for all your winter dessert needs.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

Fruit Layer

  • 8 ounces Cranberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 Cup Pears, chopped 
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • 1/3 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
  • 1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
  • 1 teaspoon Unbleached, All-Purpose Flour

Cake Layer

  • 1/2 Cup Melted, Salted Butter
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/4 Cup Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • Zest of 1 Lemon
  • 1 Cup Unbleached, All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9" pie plate.
  2. Toss all of the fruit layer ingredients together directly in the pie plate. Mix together well then spread evenly.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and lemon zest.
  4. Whisk together the melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and milk until thoroughly combined.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well.
  6. Pour the cake batter over the fruit and spread evenly. Don't worry if some of the fruit mixes in.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes. The top and edges will be golden. An inserted toothpick will come out clean.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 289Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 118mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 2gSugar: 23gProtein: 4g

We do our best to provide this nutrition information but cannot guarantee accuracy. Please double check on your own.

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