Chocolate-Pear Tea Bread … Love Baking for Friends
“The key to successful baking is just to enjoy it. Don’t fuss, don’t stress, and don’t try to make it ‘perfect’.”
Kathleen King
A Chocolate-Pear Tea Bread from Baking for Friends by Kathleen King flooded our home with warmth and happiness yesterday! Kathleen’s baby, Tate’s Bake Shop needs little introduction. Iconic in the US, a must stop over in New York. The shop is called a ‘destination … worth putting miles on the odometer’ by the New York Times, and her books a must have on the kitchen shelf!
The creator and owner of the acclaimed Tate’s Bake Shop has an inspiring story. She began her baking career at eleven, selling her all-natural baked goods off a card table on her family’s farm. Her award winning cookies are now sold at over 5,000 gourmet retailers throughout the US.
I got down to baking the day I received my copy for review! First Milk Chocolate Brownies, then little Chocolate Raspberry Tarts! If the feedback from the teens is anything to go by, the book is a winner! I connected with Kathleens style of thinking and writing almost instantly. The little snippet before each recipe, the reaction to a test bake, her sons comment on his first bite of the Hurricane Irene Cookies, “Oh, don’t give these to anyone” … all part of my everyday life as a home baker! 
It’s a tough {read delicious} cookbook to put down. The very idea of an Apple-Italian Plum Deep Dish Pie had me swooning. Then came PUMPKIN recipes!!! Sometimes I wish I lived in canned pumpkin country as Kathleen offers a number of winners now that Fall is here. For those who can grab a can, the book is full of delectable options – pumpkin apple cake, pumpkin whoopie pies, two-recipe pumpkin pie, pumpkin mousse pie … and more!
Yesterday I was bitten by the Bread Baking Day bug, and though I had some itty bitty yeasty ideas, they radically changed. It was time for tea bread from my new fave baking book! {Sorry the post is a day late but I have had a plethora of internet issues with the service provider, Firefox etc. Now experimenting with Google Chrome!} 
The book has something for everyone. Since I love baking with fruit and since it was Bread Baking Day yesterday, the Chocolate-Pear Tea Bread was my pick! It baked as I furiously punched away at my keyboard, the house filled with the most amazing bakery aromas. Tate’s Bake Shop must feel like home!!
Did I tell you I did everything from scratch that morning? Made a big batch of butter, then saw the recipe had applesauce listed. Was tempted to substitute but what the heck!! Had a bowlful ready in a matter of minutes and I think that might be the secret of this moist tea bread! Chocolaty, moist and fruity …. it tasted even better the next day!
The Chocolate-Pear Tea Bread is part of the Fetish Fridays at Javelin Warrior.
The book has an interesting chapter on “health & lifestyle baked goods” which includes gluten free and vegan recipes. The book is therapeutic because it connects the baker in me to the bake shop, the beginnings of the success story, touches base with reality and makes you believe in the goodness of natural, home baked comfort food. For me, more so after the rather pathetic recent experience of Rose Cafe. I needed some sense of reaffirmation in bakeries and cafes, and this was it! 
Baking for Friends is much more than a book of recipes. It’s about the sweetness of connecting with the ones you love. Kathleen welcomes you into her kitchen in the Hamptons, debuting more than 120 delectable, easy-to-bake recipes—from plump scones and muffins to mouthwatering pies and tarts to scrumptious gluten-free treats. Kathleen shares precious time-saving tips, designed to help you breathe easy in the kitchen without sacrificing taste.
I did a few other bakes which should show up here on PAB soon. The first was a batch of Milk Chocolate Brownies as I was curious to see how they fare since I am a dark chocolate person. I never buy milk chocolate {as a rule} but the hub got me a few bars from HKG and they weighed heavy on my conscience.
Kathleen convinced me to try them, and they were winners in my kids eyes. Fudgy, chocolaty and indulgent, well worth the bake. The lad even inquired if I had added melted chocolate on top {which I hadn’t}, and the continued to unwrap the little parcels like a birthday present!
And then I made these absolutely sinful little Chocolate Raspberry Tartlets. The book has one large chocolate tart in a chocolate pastry base. I used another pastry recipe from the same book and made mini tarts. Absolutely divine!! The recipes also include a buttermilk pastry dough which is used extensively through the book. I’ve bookmarked it to try it next! 
In celebration of the highly anticipated release, Tates has partnered with KitchenAid to sponsor a Baking for Friends Bake-Off on Facebook. Join the Baking for Friends Bake-Off contest on the Tate’s Bake Shop Facebook Page. Put your own spin on one of Kathleen’s recipes, then supply a photo/recipe for a chance to win $1,000 or a KitchenAid Artisan series stand mixer.
I can also offer readers of Passionate About Baking a $5 discount on the cookbook from the website. The discount code is BAKEOFF, which entitles you to $5 off a copy of the book .
[print_this]Recipe: Chocolate-Pear Tea Bread
Summary: Delicate pears, brown sugar and butter come together with dark chocolate chips to make a specially delicious moist and flavourful quick tea bread. A delightful fall special from ‘Baking with Friends‘ by Kathleen King.Serves 10
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 210g {1 3/4 cup} plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 100g {1/2 cup} unsalted butter
- 115g {3/4 cup firmly packed} brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup applesauce {recipe follows}
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 400g pears {about 2 cups diced} or 2 large {or 3 small pairs}, chopped
- 150g {1 cup} dark chocolate chips
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180C. Lightly butter a (9 X 5 X 3 loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Sift together the plain flour, baking powder and salt. Reserve.
- With an electric beater, whisk the butter and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one by one, followed by vanilla extract and applesauce
- On low speed beat in the flour mix.
- Fold in the chopped pear and chocolate chips with a spatula, and transfer batter to prepared tin.
- Even out the top and bake for about an hour until tester inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean.
- Let it cool in pan for ten minutes. Then gently invert onto cooling rack and remove parchment paper. Gently turn right side up and leave to cool completely before slicing {we couldn’t resist it of course!}
Recipe: Applesauce
Summary: Basic applesauce recipe. Makes about 1 cup.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 Apples, cored, peeled and sliced
- 1-2 tbsp water {as required}
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp lime juice
Method:
- Put all the ingredients in a sauce pan and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. {I cooked it for 3 minutes in the microwave and then another 2 minutes. Did not add any water}
- Mash the mixture using a potato masher or an electric mixer until it is smooth.
- You can add a dash of cinnamon if you like. I didn’t
[/print_this]
This recipe featured on Huffington Post – Dark Chocolate Recipes
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Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
39 Comments
Lora
I love the chocolate pear combination. What a beautiful little loaf of deliciousness!
Himanshu
can I have a slice….yummylicious it is Deeba
sangeeta khanna
What a legacy this cake carries
The book looks like a promising friend for a baker. The cake, as I have tasted already, is yummy.
Sarvani (baker in disguise)
I absolutely adore tea breads.. for me thats what home baking is all about.. fuss-free and homey!! pears n chocolate are an unbeatable combination.. and you’ve made everything look soo good!!
Kankana
I can only imagine how beautiful your home must be smelling as you bake this bread! Looks beautiful!
Sanjeeta kk
What gorgeous clicks, Deeba..wish I could take a bite from the loaf….am waiting for the other two treats here!
Lubna Karim
Love the ingredients used to make this loaf….Awesome pics…..Applesauce is making me drool….
vimitha
Gorgeous clicks as usual… Am waiting for the milk brownies recipe… Looks so fudgy… And the bread looks awesome
Mansi
The entire post looks so yummy Deeba! I’m waiting for my copy of Kathleen’s book too, wonder which one I’ll try first:) loved your Pear Cake!:)
Vijitha
Such a treat to the eyes. Loved your pear cake. I need to check Kathleen’s book. I am not much into baking as I end up eating them all. I always fear about gaining weight because of that
But I do enjoy them once a while.
gloria
aah Deeba look beautiful and love Pablo Neruda too!
Preveena
I am sipping onto my morning coffee at work and how i wish i could have a slice of that bread. I recently bought a chocolate pear spread from France and loving it. I cant wait to try your recipe for the bread.
chinmayie @ love food eat
Have you considered selling your bakes Deeba? I really wish I could taste all these! I am sure there are tons of people like me out there
Swati Goyal
Lovely!
FYI – the recipe says add eggs one by one.. but not how many..
Deeba @ PAB
2 eggs Swati. Thanks for letting me know.
I seem to have this things with eggs and keep forgetting to add them to the list of ingredients!
Rituparna
Deeba, when will we see a book by you? Those brownies looks delicious. My brownies tend to deflate at the center. Any advise?
I love that book too …
Deeba @ PAB
Beginning to work on it soon Rituparna. Maybe they deflate because the tin size is wrong? Come over one day and we’ll do a batch together!
Rituparna
Done. I have a long list of to do’s with you.
I am actually planning to bake some today as well. The last time I did them, it was a 6″X6″ tin. I also have an 8″X8″, should I use that.
Alli
The tea cake does look amazing
Sonali
Haven’t tried chocolate -pear combo but am sure it will taste delicious. From the pictures and your writing I can feel how your home must be smelling while baking the bread.The bread looks awesome.You are always an inspiration.
Shibi Thomas
Looks yummy!!!! I bet it tastes yummy too!!!
keira
The bread looks awesome.I want to try it…Thanks a lot for sharing..
Javelin Warrior
Thanks for the review of the cookbook and it sounds like it’s filling with marvelous recipes. I love the look of this tea bread, although I’ve never combined pear and chocolate in a bread before… I’m featuring this post in today’s Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution as always). Thanks for continuing to inspire me with your creations…
Deeba @ PAB
Thank you for the feature Mark. Always a pleasure to be included in Fetish Fridays. Will link back to JW!
Have a good weekend!
vandana rajesh
Wow this is simply superb Deeba. I am such a big fan of your blog and can’t wait for what it will be next time. You come up with such amazing posts and recipes. Thank you for the apple sauce recipe, hommade is any day the best.
Sarah @ Snap a Bite
Your recipe looks amazing and it’s just made me very curious as to how this tastes. I haven’t eaten any kind of tea bread yet and I’m bit reluctant but this one has chocolate so it must be a total winner! I should try this soon!
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com
This bread looks delicious! Would love to make it and have it with my hot tea!
Beth
I’m loving the look of that chocolate pear bread. Wow!
Natalie D.
You had me at the pear and dark chocolate. I love curling up at the end of the night with a cup of hot tea. Guess what would be even better? Curling up with this bread! Yummy.
Rosa Mayland
A bread that looks incredibly addictive and so irresistible!
Cheers,
Rosa
zorra
Love it, even it is more a cake than a bread.
Thank you for baking for Word Bread Day. Hope you will join us next year again, then with a yeasted bread! ;-9
Deeba @ PAB
Thank you for being so generous Zorra. Yeast it will be next year!
puff pastry recipe
The last dish is damn adorable. I wonder if there’s such a thing as a maple-flavored dessert, because that would be awesome.