Easy Caramel Pear Pudding Cake Recipe

This caramel pear pudding cake is a perfect fall dessert! Made with ripe pears, warm spices, and pecans, it forms a rich caramel sauce underneath the cake as it bakes.

Serve it with vanilla ice cream for a memorable dessert that’s special enough for dinner parties but simple enough for a weeknight treat.

Several years ago, I called my mom looking for a recipe to use up some fresh pears. She said that I absolutely must try a recipe called Caramel Pear Pudding. She said that it was the bomb. OK, not her actual words, but you get the idea.

So I tried it. Oh my. Best pear dessert I’d ever tasted. And it was so easy to make! It’s very similar to my hot fudge cake recipe, just with a fall twist. 

You simply mix up a cinnamony cake batter with lots of pears, then pour the sauce ingredients on top of the cake batter. As it bakes, the cake part rises to the top, and you have a yummy layer of caramel sauce on the bottom.

That caramel sauce just screams for ice cream, so I insist that you serve it warm with a scoop of your favorite flavor. We’ve had it with both vanilla and cinnamon ice cream, and both are delicious!

Why You’ll Love This Caramel Pear Pudding Cake

• Easy to make: Simple ingredients and prep, no electric mixer needed.
• Perfectly cozy: Pears, caramel, and warm spices are a wonderful combination for fall and winter.
• Magic sauce: As it bakes, the sugar dissolves and a lovely caramel sauce forms at the bottom of the cake!
• Last-minute dessert: Unlike regular cake, this pudding cake doesn’t need cooling. You can serve it straight from the oven.
• Delicious with ice cream: Warm caramel pear cake and cold vanilla ice cream are a perfect match.

How to Make Caramel Pear Pudding Cake

1. PREP: Peel and chop your pears. Spray an 8″ pan with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Start boiling the water.
2. CAKE: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in a mixing bowl. Fold the milk, pears, and pecans into the flour mixture. Spread in the prepared pan.
3. SAUCE: Mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and boiling water until the butter melts. Pour over the batter; don’t stir.
4. BAKE: Bake the cake in a preheated oven at 375° for about 45 minutes. The top should be set, but the bottom should be saucy.
5. SERVE: We like this dessert best hot or warm with ice cream. It’s particularly yummy with my cinnamon ice cream recipe!

Tips for the Best Pear Pudding Cake

• Use firm-ripe pears. They should be sweet and juicy but firm enough to hold their shape during baking.
• Don’t mix the caramel into the batter. Pour the sauce over the top and leave it alone. The magic happens in the oven as the sauce moves underneath the cake.
• Don’t overbake. The center should barely be set. Overbaking can cause the pudding layer to dry out.
• Serve it warm. This cake is at its best when served hot or warm, while the caramel sauce is still gooey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Pears Are Best?

For the best results, choose pears that are ripe but still slightly firm. Bartlett, Anjou, or Bosc pears are all good choices.

Avoid pears that are extremely soft or overripe, since they can release too much liquid during baking and make the pudding cake overly wet.

Can I Make This Pear Cake Ahead of Time?

Unfortunately, this dessert is best served right after baking. As it sits, the caramel sauce soaks into the cake. It’s still delicious, but you lose the sauce.

Can I use canned pears?

Fresh pears are recommended for the best texture, but canned pears can work in a pinch. Drain them very well and pat them dry before adding them to the batter.

Can I double the recipe?

Absolutely. Just make it in a 9×13-inch cake pan. You may need to add a few minutes to the baking time.

Can I use apples instead of pears?

Yes. Apples can be substituted for pears for a delicious caramel apple pudding cake. Choose a firm baking apple like a Granny Smith so it holds its shape during baking.

Why is this called a pudding cake?

A pudding cake is a dessert where thick cake batter and sauce bake together, creating a soft, moist cake with a pudding-like or saucy layer underneath. This makes the dessert especially rich and comforting.

More tasty treats using fruit:

• Pumpkin Cobbler
• Raspberry Peach Crisp
• Caramel Apple Crumble Pie
• Double Crumb Apple Crisp
• Banana Pudding Cake
• Peach Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
• Strawberry Pizza
• Cherry Crisp

This caramel pear pudding cake is the perfect cold weather dessert! Sweet pears and fragrant spices are baked into a tender cake with a rich caramel sauce underneath.