Pear-Filled Cowboy Coffee Cake

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 ½ teaspoon cinnamon (divided: ½ teaspoon + 1 more teaspoon for the topping)
• ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• ¼ cup toasted wheat germ
• 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

The Pear Filling

• 1 ½ pounds (4 medium) pears (I like barely ripe Bartletts) (apples, peaches, Asian pears or fuyu persimmons may also be used)
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Tiny dash of cloves (optional)
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9” x 13” baking pan with butter or cooking spray.
2. Pulse the flour, brown sugar, salt, spices (remember, only ½ teaspoon of cinnamon) and wheat germ in a food processor four or five times, until combined. Add the butter and process for about ten seconds; scrape down the sides and pulse three or four times. Remove ¾ cup of that and put in a small bowl with the nuts and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Stir well to combine.
3. Add the baking soda and baking powder to the dry ingredients in the food processor and pulse two or three times.
4. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk. Then add the buttermilk and whisk well to combine.
5. Peel, core and coarsely chop the pears; toss with the filling spices (1/4 teaspoon each of cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg, and a dash of cloves) and the tablespoon of dark brown sugar.
6. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until smooth.
7. Put half of the batter in the prepared baking pan. Spread the pears over the batter; then, cover with the remaining batter.
8. Sprinkle on the topping.
9. Bake for about 40 minutes or until the center springs back when lightly touched
10. Allow to cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before cutting.
11. Enjoy!! ;o)
12. I’ve had this recipe in my files as long as I can remember. The original recipe (whose origin is unknown) calls for shortening, not butter, calls for “milk – sour” instead of buttermilk, and does not contain any fruit. I add a bit of toasted wheat germ, too, for its flavor and texture, and increase the nuts by 50%. If you really love nuts, feel free to add some more. I also suggest using the the food processor for the initial steps of combining the dry ingredients and then cutting in the fat. It's so easy! ;o)