Italian Chocolate Pear Cake is a mouthwatering dessert that combines sweet pears with rich chocolate cake. It’s excellent for everyday treats or special occasions — and so easy to make!
Like Torta di Mele and Torta Caprese, you will often find this chocolate pear cake across Italy — when pears are in season.
And it’s easy to understand why.
Known locally as ‘torta di pere e cioccolato,’ it combines fresh, sweet, and juicy pears with moist, rich chocolate cake— giving you a perfect combo of taste and texture in every bite.
I generally use conference pears when making this cake, but feel free to use whatever type of pear you have!
FOR MORE CLASSIC ITALIAN CAKE RECIPES, CHECK OUT THESE POSTS!
Ingredients
- Pears – depending on the size, you would need two to three pieces of pears: peeled, cored, and chopped thinly.
- Flour – you only need all-purpose flour to make this Italian chocolate and pear cake recipe.
- Butter – unsalted and melted.
- Yogurt – use a plain (non-flavored) one.
- Eggs – medium-sized and at room temperature.
- Sugar – caster or superfine sugar is excellent for this recipe. If you only have regular granulated sugar, pulse it briefly in a food processor or blender to get a finer texture (not powder!).
- Cocoa powder & chocolate chips – a good cocoa powder for baking and dark chocolate chips.
- Vanilla extract & baking powder – just use your favorite brand for these baking staples.
Preparation
Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Grease a 9-inch (23 cm) cake pan with butter, dust it lightly with flour, and set it aside.
Strain the flour, baking powder, and cocoa powder, then mix.
Using a separate mixing bowl, combine sugar and eggs.
Mix until you get a creamy texture, then add the yogurt, vanilla extract, and melted butter.
Continue mixing to combine everything evenly.
Add the strained, dry ingredients from earlier.
Mix just enough to combine, then add the chocolate chips.
Fold the chocolate chips with the rest of the ingredients using a rubber spatula.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan — use an angled spatula to even the top.
Arrange the chopped pears on top, pushing each piece into the batter to stay upright when the cake bakes.
Place the cake pan in the oven for forty to forty-five minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
Set aside for at least ten minutes to cool.
Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top — and serve!
Helpful tips
- The best way to prepare the ingredients is by weighing them on a scale.
- It’s okay not to cut the pears evenly. As long as the slices are not too thick, they will soften as you bake the cake.
- This recipe uses dark chocolate chips. Note that using milk chocolate chips will directly impact the sweetness of the cake.
What to serve with Italian chocolate pear cake?
Coffee tops the list, but you can also enjoy it with a cup of tea.
And when serving for dessert, a glass of your favorite wine will surely go well with it. 🙂
So, what are you waiting for? Give this torta di pere e cioccolato a try tonight, and let me know!
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📖 Recipe
Italian Chocolate Pear Cake Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large pears, peeled, cored and sliced
- 170 grams flour (6 ounces or about 1 cup)
- 30 grams cocoa powder (1.05 ounces or 1/4 cup)
- 150 grams sugar (5.30 ounces or 1/2 cup, heaping)
- 4 grams baking powder (.15 ounce or one teaspoon)
- 70 grams butter (1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon), unsalted and melted
- 2 medium eggs
- 125 grams yogurt (4.40 ounces or 1/2 cup)
- 50 grams chocolate chips (1.75 ounces or 1/3 cup)
- 4 ml vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Grease a 9-inch (23 cm) cake pan with butter and dust it lightly with flour; set aside for later.
- Strain and combine the flour, baking powder, and cocoa powder.
- Using a separate mixing bowl, combine sugar and eggs.
- Mix until you get a creamy texture, then add the yogurt, vanilla extract, and melted butter.
- Continue mixing to combine everything evenly.
- Add the strained, dry ingredients from earlier.
- Mix just enough to combine, then add the chocolate chips.
- Fold the chocolate chips with the rest of the ingredients, using a rubber spatula (or a wooden spoon).
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan — use an angled spatula to even the top.
- Arrange the chopped pears on top, pushing each piece into the batter to stay upright when the cake bakes.
- Place the cake pan in the oven for forty to forty-five minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
- Set aside for at least ten minutes to cool.
- Serve your Italian chocolate pear cake with a dusting of powdered sugar — and enjoy!
Notes
- Weighing the ingredients is the best way to prepare them.
- Refer to the ‘helpful tips’ section on the post.
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