SOUR CREAM COFFEE CAKE WITH PEARS AND PECANS

Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Pears and Pecans image

Yield Makes 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

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Topping
1 1/2 cups pecans (about 6 ounces)
1/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Cake
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled pears

Steps:

For topping:
Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until nuts are coarsely chopped. Add butter; using on/off turns, blend until coarse crumbs form.
For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add both sugars and beat until well blended. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then lemon peel and vanilla. Blend sour cream and milk in small bowl. Beat in sour cream mixture alternately with dry ingredients in 3 additions each. Spread half of cake batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle half of topping over; cover with pears. Spread remaining batter over; sprinkle with remaining topping.
Bake until top is brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan on rack. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)