Episode 2 Showstopper Bake: Nicole's A Partridge in a Spiced Pear Tree Cake

A Partridge in a Spiced Pear Tree Cake

INGREDIENTS:

For the Pear Cake:

• 6 cups of all-purpose flour
• 4tsp baking powder
• 2tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp fine sea salt
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 cup unsalted butter (room temp)
• 2 cup light brown sugar
• 8 large eggs
• 2 tbsp vanilla bean paste
• 2 cup full fat sour cream
• 4 cups of diced pears in 100% fruit juice
• 2 cup pecans
• 1 cup golden raisins

For the Icing:

• 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• ½ cup water
• 8 eggs (whites only)
• 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 4-6 TBSP honey (to taste)

For Filling Pear Simple Syrup:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup dole diced pears (canned) pear puree, strained

For Sculpting:

• Rice Krispy cereal (1box)
• Mini marshmallows (1 bag)
• 1 stick unsalted butter

For the sculpting:

• Gold sheen airbrush color
• gum paste
• gum paste wire
• fondant (white)

METHOD:

To make the pear tree cake:

• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50-55 min.

To make the icing:

• Whisk egg whites. Add in water, sugar and vanilla. Mix in honey.

To make simple syrup:

• In a small saucepan on medium-high heat, combine 1 cup granulated sugar,1 cup water, and 1/2 cup strained pear puree. Heat, stirring gently until the sugar is dissolved. Bring
the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture has reached a full boil, let it continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove the mixture from the heat, and let cool to room temperature.

Material needed for sculpting:

• Spray wafer paper gold using airbrush. Cut out leafs using a punch (I have that). Roll gum paste thin using small roller. Cut out 12 days impressions and spray gold. Sculpt tree using Rice Krispy Treats and wooden dowels. Add wafer paper leaves to tree using buttercream.

• Sculpt the partridge out of fondant and spray with copper and peach airbrush color.