Cinnamon tea cake recipe with pears

This light and fluffy cinnamon tea cake fill the entire room with a delicate cinnamon aroma. It perfectly complements a warm cup of afternoon tea.

Although baking has never been my strength, this weekend brought a new level of excitement. My daughter brought her boyfriend over, who happened to be an avid baker. As we chatted over a cup of elderflower tea, he shared his love for baking and even offered to teach me a few tricks in the kitchen. Despite my initial hesitation, I found myself eagerly jotting down notes as he shared his recipe for this cinnamon tea cake. With his patient guidance, I discovered a newfound joy in baking, and the time spent in the kitchen with my daughter and her boyfriend became a cherished memory.

In this teacake, Josh added a surprising twist by incorporating pears. 

So why is this Cinnamon Cake so special?

Adding pears adds a subtle sweetness and moisture to the cake, enhancing the overall flavor and texture. Pears are a great source of fiber and nutrients, making this cake a healthier option than traditional baked goods. In addition, the combination of cinnamon and pears creates a delightful and comforting aroma making it a healthier option compared to other baked goods.

What is a tea cake?

Teacake is a small, sweet cake or cookie often served alongside a cup of tea. Typically, it is a light cake, slightly sweetened and not too heavy or rich. Tea cakes are perfect for morning or afternoon tea or as a dessert.

It is also a famous tea party food for kids.

They are simple to make and often flavored with fruits, nuts, spices, or frosted or decorated with icing, jam, or fruit. 

Ingredients for cinnamon teacake

Butter

You can use unsalted butter at room temperature, which is easier to cream with sugar and yield a tender cake with a rich buttery flavor.

Eggs

Use them at room temperature, as they will mix more easily with the other ingredients and create a smoother batter. 

Brown sugar

Using brown sugar in a cinnamon teacake recipe can add a rich, molasses-like flavor and moistness to the cake. In addition, brown sugar contributes to a tender crumb and a darker color.

You can also use white granulated sugar instead, but you may lose some of the moistness and depth of flavor that brown sugar provides. Another alternative to brown sugar is muscovado sugar, a type of unrefined brown sugar with a more complex flavor and higher moisture content than regular brown sugar. 

Flour

The best flour to use is all-purpose flour to achieve a fluffy and light texture. However, if you want to experiment with different flours, you can try whole wheat flour, resulting in a denser, nuttier-flavored cake.

As a gluten-free alternative, almond flour provides a nutty flavor and texture to your cake. Another gluten-free option, coconut flour provides a slightly sweet flavor but is highly absorbent, so you will need to use less and more liquid in your recipe.

Pears

Look for pears that are firm but not too hard. Anjou, Bartlett, or Comice pears are good for shredding as they have a sweet flavor and a juicy texture. Alternatively, use a pear butter instead.

Rhum

The best rhum to use is a dark or spiced rum. These types of rum have a rich flavor and aroma that pair well with the warm spices in the cake.

Spiced rum is also a good option for cinnamon tea cake as it has added spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. These flavors complement the spices in the cake and add an extra layer of complexity such as Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum.

Ground cinnamon

It is my favorite spice I use in Christmas baking. Make sure it has a strong, sweet aroma, so sniff it to check its freshness. 

Baking powder and baking soda

Using baking powder and baking soda ensures that the buttery cinnamon cake rises properly and has the right texture. If you were to use just one, you might end up with a cake that is too dense or needs to rise properly.

How to make an easy cinnamon tea cake

This cinnamon cake is incredibly easy to make. 

First step – prepare a cake pan.

Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Grease and line base and side of 8 inch square cake pan with baking paper or grease it with butter.

Second step – whisk wet ingredients.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs and whisk until combined and scrape down the sides.

Third step – Mix dry ingredients.

Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl.

Fourth step – combine wet and dry.

Add the dry ingredients to the egg and sugar mixture, and stir until the batter is smooth.

Fifth step – Adding pears to the mixture.

Place 2 ripe pears in the freezer for 10 minutes. Once they are firm, peel and remove the skin and seeds, and grate them using a cheese grater with bigger holes.

Mix the grated pears and 1 tablespoon of rum to the batter.

Sixth step – transfer the batter to the cake tin and bake

Pour cake batter into the prepared cake tin and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes. To check if your tea cake is done, insert a skewer in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Seventh step – prepare cinnamon sugar topping.

Combine cinnamon and sugar and set aside. 

Eighth step – Remove the cake from the oven and serve

Let the cake cool in the mold for 2 minutes, then remove it and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. While the cake is warm, brush the top of the cake with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon topping.

Serve with a cup of morning tea or coffee.

Tools to make cinnamon tea cake recipe.

• Cake pan
• Parchment paper – also known as baking paper
• Mixer – Electric mixer
• Mixing bowl
• Spatula
• Cooling rack

Variations

Substitute shredded pear for the apple in the cinnamon cake recipe and add extra cinnamon for a delicious apple cinnamon flavor.

Make Lemon Cinnamon Tea Cake. Add the zest of one lemon to the batter and drizzle the cake with a lemon glaze after baking.

Add 1/2 cup of cocoa powder to the batter and sprinkle chocolate chips on top for a decadent chocolate cinnamon flavor.

Sprinkle chopped nuts such as pecans, almonds or walnuts to the batter for a crunchy, nutty texture.

Add the zest of one orange to the batter and drizzle the cake with an orange glaze after baking.

Make Banana Cinnamon Tea Cake with mashed ripe bananas in the batter and topped with cinnamon for a delicious banana cinnamon flavor.

Tips to make a perfect cake

Don’t overmix your batter. Overmixing can result in a tough and dense cake. Instead, mix until the ingredients are just combined.

Use room-temperature butter; it should not be melted or frozen cold.

Once you remove the cake from the oven, brush it with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar on top while still warm. 

The secret tip from Josh: In the middle of baking, brush the cake with rhum and drop broken-up pieces of cinnamon sticks for decoration.

How To Store Cinnamon Tea Cake

Wrap the cake tightly with plastic wrap before placing it in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

If the cake has a topping, such as a glaze or a streusel, you should remove it before storing the cake. Instead, store the topping separately in an airtight container and sprinkle it over the cake just before serving.

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