It is a super easy batter to make, and fits perfectly into a large loaf tin (base measurement 25cm x 9.5cm), or a round 22cm springform cake tin
The loaf is delicious just as it is, but I couldn't help playing around with a chocolate topping that I saw recently in the Weekend Australian newspaper. The recipe comes from Gennaro Contaldo (from "Two Greedy Italians" TV program ... loved that show!), and in it he used glucose syrup which is what gives the topping extra shine and allows it to set quickly. I decided to play around with that as I know not everyone would have glucose syrup, and found that golden syrup works well too, but it takes a little longer to set and the shine is not quite so bright. So use whichever one you prefer and have on hand.
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE
200g dark chocolate callets, or block chocolate cut into small pieces
520g pears, washed, skin left on, cut into quarters and deseeded (about 3 medium)
200g butter, room temperature, cut into cubes
200g light muscovado sugar, or brown sugar
3 x 60g eggs, room temperature
200g white spelt flour, or plain white flour
100g wholemeal spelt flour, or plain wholemeal flour
30g Dutch cocoa
3 tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp bi-carb soda
1 tsp sea salt flakes, or ½ tsp fine sea salt
150g full fat yoghurt
INGREDIENTS FOR CHOCOLATE TOPPING
150g dark chocolate callets, or block chocolate cut into small pieces
100g full fat cream
20g butter
2 tsp Dutch cocoa powder
1 tsp golden syrup or glucose syrup
Instructions
METHOD FOR CAKE
Place rack into middle of oven, and pre-heat to 180 degrees fan forced
Grease and line a large loaf tin (base measurement 25cm x 9.5cms), or a round 22cm spring form cake tin
Place chocolate into TM bowl and chop 4 seconds / speed 9, put aside, do not clean TM bowl
Place pears into TM bowl and blend 5 seconds x speed 6, scrape down sides
Add butter, sugar and eggs and mix 20 seconds x speed 4, scrape down sides
Add flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, bi-carb soda, salt and yoghurt and mix 10 seconds x speed 5
Scrape around bowl and mix another 2 seconds x speed 5
Add chocolate and fold lightly into batter, then mix 3 seconds / speed 5, scrape around bowl and repeat 3 seconds / speed 5
Pour batter into tin, level top and bake for 60 to 65 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (it takes exactly 65 minutes in my oven whether I use a loaf tin or a round cake tin)
Rest loaf in tin for 20 minutes before removing and placing on a wire rack to cool
Ice if desired when completely cold
Keeps well at room temperature for a few days
METHOD FOR CHOCOLATE TOPPING
Put loaf on wire rack which is sitting on top of greaseproof paper to catch any drips
Place all the ingredients into TM bowl and heat 2 minutes / 50 / speed 3
Scrape around bowl and continue 1 minute / 50 / speed 2 to ensure the mix is completely smooth
Scrape around bowl
Drizzle topping over loaf allowing it to drip over the sides
Allow to set before cutting
Recipe by The Passionate Pantry at https://www.thepassionatepantry.com.au/pear-and-chocolate-loaf/