Pear, Maple and Ricotta Cake, Maple Ice Cream

Cake

• 350g ricotta cheese
• 400g pears
• 250g plain flour
• 115g pure maple syrup
• 35g maple sugar
• 18g baking powder
• 3 eggs
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 10g butter, for greasing

Ice cream

• 4 egg yolks
• 600ml double cream
• 100ml pure maple syrup
• 25g maple sugar

CAKE

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan.
2. Peel and core pears and dice; place in a bowl with lemon juice so they don’t go brown.
3. Mix ricotta, maple syrup and maple sugar; beat and add vanilla extract.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time and add lemon zest, beating constantly.
5. Sieve four and baking powder and fold into mixture.
6. Add pears to the batter mixture and place into a pre-buttered and floured 9-inch spring form cake tin.
7. Bake for 40 minutes. If required, bake for an additional 20 minutes.

ICE CREAM

1. Whisk egg yolks and maple syrup and maple sugar over warm water.
2. Beat until thick and pale, then remove from the heat and continue beating until cool.
3. Whisk the double cream until soft peaks are formed and then fold into the cool egg mixture.
4. Place in a shallow dish and freeze overnight.

Chef’s tip

1. This dish is one that can be enjoyed all year round. Instead of the pears, use seasonal fruits such as cherries or peaches to add a touch of summer. Orchard or stone fruits are best. For the adventurous, add bacon to the ice cream to give it a savoury twist.