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To make the topping, gently melt the butter in a small saucepan, add the sugar and stir for a couple of minutes. Smooth over the base of a 20cm cake tin with a removable base, 7cm deep. Arrange the pears on top, cut-side down, with a few walnuts around the outside, flat-side down
3
To make the cake, sift the flour, bicarb and spices into a bowl, and add a good pinch of fine sea salt. Blend the egg, sugar, treacle, soured milk and butter in a separate large bowl, and fold in the flour mixture. Beat with a wooden spoon until smooth and then pour the mixture over the fruit in the tin
4
Place on a baking tray and bake for 40-50 minutes. To test the cake is done, insert a skewer into the centre and if it comes out clean, it’s ready. Try to skewer a patch of cake rather than a pear by the way! Remove from the oven, run a knife around the edge and set aside to cool for about 10 minutes
5
To serve, remove the collar and invert the cake onto a plate or cake stand and cut into slices. Best enjoyed warm or at room temperature. And the aforementioned dollop of vanilla ice-cream always goes down a treat too