A moist and delicious pear-filled cake with tart berry highlights and sweet deliciousness from the maple vanilla cream cheese icing.

Recipe from The Caker: Wholesome Cakes, Cookies and Desserts by Jordan Rondell. 

180g butter, softened
150g light muscovado sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
zest of 1 unwaxed orange
2 organic eggs
200g spelt flour
50g ground almonds
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
170ml sour cream
2 small ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into segments
130g z fresh or frozen raspberries
MAPLE VANILLA CREAM CHEESE ICING:
100g butter, softened
100g light muscovado sugar
85ml pure maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
220g cream cheese
FILLING:
3 Tbsp low-sugar raspberry jam
top with:
berry coulis
toasted coconut flakes
crushed freeze-dried raspberries

Preheat oven to 170°C. Line two 22cm tin with baking paper.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar, vanilla and zest together until pale, light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Gradually add the flour, ground almonds, baking powder and soda, followed by the sour cream. Be careful not to overmix.

Evenly divide the batter between the two cake tins and dot in the pear segments and raspberries. Bake for approximately 35 minutes, or until golden in colour, springy to the touch and a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.

Meanwhile, make the maple vanilla cream cheese icing. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, maple and vanilla together until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the cream cheese until smooth.

Once the cakes are fully cooled, apply the jam to one layer and place the other on top. Ice the top of the cake neatly.

Top with a drizzle of berry coulis, toasted coconut flakes and crushed freeze-dried raspberries.

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.