- 10
Ingredients
- Softened butter for the pan
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1-3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 ripe Anjou pears, peeled, cored, and diced (about 2 cups)
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chunks or chips
- 3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
Preparation
Step 1
1. Position oven rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment or waxed paper.
2. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with electric mixer set on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. One at a time, beat in eggs, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Mix in applesauce and vanilla. With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour mixture, and mix just until smooth, scraping down bowl as needed. Fold in pears and chocolate chunks. Spread batter in prepared pan.
3. Bake until bamboo skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in pan on wire cooling rack for 10 minutes. Invert cake onto rack and unmold. Remove paper, turn loaf right side up, and let cool completely.