Cinnamon Pear Struesel Cake

Cinnamon Pear Struesel Topping 

A simple Cinnamon Pear Coffee Cake is the ideal way to slow down and savor the morning. It's the perfect treat with your favorite cup of coffee or tea. The cake is moist made with buttermilk and studded with cinnamon pears. The crunchy struesel topping is the piece de resistance. 

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER 

The Cake and Topping

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¾ cups dark brown sugar
• ¾ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon Saigon cinnamon or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 
• 2 teaspoons apple pie spice mix
• 3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (almonds or pecans also work well)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla

The Pear Filling

• 1 ½ pounds (4 medium) pears (I used 4 Bartletts)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9” x 9” baking pan with cooking spray.
• Peel, core, and coarsely chop the pears. Toss with the cinnamon and brown sugar, and set aside. 
• Pulse the flour, brown sugar, salt, and spices in a food processor four or five times until combined. Add baking soda and baking powder to the dry ingredients in the food processor and pulse twice or thrice. Add the butter and process for about three to four times until the butter is pea-sized. 
• Remove ¾ cups of that mixture to be used for topping. Place it in a small bowl with the nuts, stirring to combine. Set aside. 
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs on low speed. Add the buttermilk and vanilla and mix well.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until smooth.
• Half of the batter should be in the prepared baking pan. The pear filling mixture should be spread over the batter, and then add the remaining batter over the pear filling. 
• Sprinkle on the struesel topping.
• Bake for about 45 minutes or until the lightly touched center springs back.
• Allow to cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before cutting.

Enjoy!!