Walnut Pear Sour Cream Torte

This recipe is one of my moms very favorites, she tore it out of a magazine years ago and it has been a classic ever since. It's so delicious and not too sweet, it comes together quickly but it looks so impressive. This recipe takes a few steps but once you've made all the pieces it is easy to assemble, and always bakes up perfectly. With Thanksgiving just days away I think this is the perfect cake to add to your mix of classic pies! I am all about too much of everything on Thanksgiving, so besides your classic pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies add in a pear torte for absolute gluttony. Happy Thanksgiving!

Walnut Pear Sour Cream Torte

1 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup packed brown sugar 

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

1/4 cup butter 

1/3 cup ap flour 

2 medium pears, sliced and peeled (about 2 cups)

2 tsp lemon juice 

1 3/4 cup ap flour

3/4 tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp baking soda 

1/4 tsp salt 

1/2 cup butter soften 

1 cup sugar 

1 tsp vanilla 

2 eggs 

1 cup sour cream 

To start, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch spring form pan. Combine the 1 cup nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. For topping cut the 1/4 cup butter into the 1/3 cup flour to make course crumbs and stir in 3/4 of the nut and sugar mixture. Set the topping aside. Slice your pears and toss with lemon juice and set aside. In a medium bowl combine the 1 3/4 cups flour, baking powder and baking soda and salt and set aside. In a large bowl beat 1/2 cup butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add in the eggs one at a time and the vanilla. Next, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternating with the sour cream beat after each addition until just combined. Spread 2/3 of the batter into the pan and then sprinkle the 1/4 remaining sugar and nut mixture over the batter. Layer the pears over top and then gently spread the remaining 1/3 of batter over the pears. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the batter and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from its pan and serve warm or cool with whipped cream.