Fresh Ginger Cake With Caramelized Pears

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I often get asked about the name of this blog, Chocolate & Tea. The Chocolate part makes sense; this is a baking blog after all. Every other recipe seems to feature chocolate as a component. My addiction to all things dark and bittersweet is not so secret. But why Tea, I am asked. What does tea have to do with anything?
The answer to that is simple. The Tea in Chocolate & Tea represents tea time. That wonderful moment mid-afternoon when productivity lowers, the eyes grow heavy, the stomach grumbles, and a much needed break is suddenly on the menu. We want to give you ideas and suggestions to fill all of your tea times with a bit of sugar and a lot of joy.
This ginger cake with caramelized pears is the perfect tea time dessert. It feeds 6 people and is best eaten in one sitting (though I won't say no to leftovers). The fresh ginger cake has a beautiful blend of lemon, ginger, and molasses with a deep and satisfying flavor. Yet, it still manages to stay light. Served drizzled with caramel and a side of caramelized pears and you have yourself a little slice of heaven. From start to finish, this cake takes a mere 30 minutes. This dessert is truly divine.

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Bittersweet Chocolate Pear Cake

I made this cake a year ago to share with my dear friends Tom, William, and Meghan who were returning from an expedition to the Grand Tetons. My intentions were sound as I assembled the ingredients and baked the cake. However, once I tasted it, all good intentions were thrown out of the window.
I ate a fourth of the cake when it was mere minutes out of the oven. For breakfast the next morning, I ate the rest. I just wanted a taste, you see. A sliver. A tiny little bite to satisfy my taste buds. And then, well, things just got out of hand. My fork began moving of its own volition. Really. You must believe me.
It is safe to say that my returning friends received exactly none of the cake I had boasted to them about. I could have made up a story about how it didn't turn out, or how I had "accidentally" dropped it on the floor, but I didn't have the heart to lie to them about a cake so dangerously good. And this cake is good. The pears keep the cake so deliciously moist and the chocolate adds a nice contrast to the fruit flavor. And then there's the browned butter. It gives the cake this lovely nutty flavor which pulls everything together... straight into your mouth.

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