SPICED RUM AND PEAR CAKE

Spiced Rum and Pear Cake image

The flavors in this cake really make it stand out as a special-occasion dessert. With raisins, fresh sweet pear chunks, rich spices, crunchy walnuts and rum, it's a fine finale for your holiday spread. If you don't cook with alcohol, try substituting apple juice for the rum-it will still be delicious! -Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h10m

Yield 20 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1/2 cup spiced rum
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4 large pears (about 2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup golden raisins
GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons rum

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a small heavy saucepan, heat rum over medium heat. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half, 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat; cool., Beat sugar, eggs, oil, vanilla and cooled rum until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Sift together the next 5 ingredients; gradually beat into rum mixture. Stir in pears, walnuts and raisins. Transfer batter to a greased and floured 13x9-in. baking pan., Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack. , For glaze, mix confectioners' sugar and rum; spread over cake. Cut into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 337 calories, Fat 13g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 28mg cholesterol, Sodium 179mg sodium, Carbohydrate 52g carbohydrate (35g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 4g protein.