Coffee Triumph Cake with Poached Pears

Why triumph cake? Cause this recipe actually worked...although perhaps coffee procrastination cake is more appropriate as I really should be studying for my exams right about now. This was one of those occasions where you just kind of throw things together and hope for the best, and against all odds, it totally works. This cake is moist, spongy and super yummy! This makes a big cake, for a layer cake halve the mixture into two tins or halve the recipe for a smaller loaf tin. I cooked in a 30cm round spring form tin.

Coffee cake

What you'll need;

1 cup soy milk

1 tbsp vinegar

2/3 cup vegetable oil

3 heaped tsp instant coffee

2 tsp vanilla essence

4 cups self raising flour
1 cup sugar (yes its a lot)
2 tsp baking soda (bicarb)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius.
Mix soy milk and vinegar together and sit for a minute or two till it curdles, add  few tsp full of hot water to your instant coffee to dissolve and add along with all other wet ingredients to the milk mixture.

In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients until combined then add to wet mixture and beat well until there are no lumps. Place mix in a greased cake tin and bake for 45 -50 minutes or until centre is cooked.

Icing

Half tub of tofutti cream cheese
1/2 cup of milk
1 tsp instant coffee dissolved in water
1/2 cup icing sugar

Mix all ingredients until well combined and refrigerate until cake is ready to be iced. When cake is cool ice and place poached pears on top

Poached Pears

I got these awesome little mini pears the other day cause woolies had a fill a bag for $2 trolley full of (in my opinion) perfectly fine fruit and vegetables. You could do it with large pears, just serve them on the side.

6 mini pears - peeled
2 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp orange marmalade
4 strands saffron
2 tsp all spice
2tsp cinnamon (or one cinnamon stick)
2 tsp whole cloves

Put all ingredients in a small heavy bottomed saucepan and cook over a very low heat until pears are soft, may take 10 -15 minutes.


When cooked remove pears from the poaching water and reduce it over a high heat for a further 2-3 minutes. Brush some of this liquid over the cake while still hot. Cut pears in half and place on or around cake once iced. Enjoy Xx