Low-Fat Pear and Cinnamon Chip Coffee Cake

Yesterday was my hubby's birthday. Typically I would bake a cake for the occasion, but as we were going to a wedding that evening, I decided on a breakfast cake. A coffee cake with pears and cinnamon chips to be exact. Have you baked with cinnamon chips before? I recommend ordering them through King Arthur Flour, though I was in a rush and got them from the grocery store. So nice for fall!

 I was extra excited about baking this weekend because I had some fun new kitchen toys to play with. The wonderful Kelly over at Cooking to Dance had raved about Demarle at Home products and asked if I would like  to try some out. Of course I said yes! And I was very impressed with what Kelly sent. I was not familiar with Demarle products, but I am now completely in love with the flexipan molds. My cake came out evenly baked and popped right out of the pan without any sticking. The molds don't even need cooking spray. I have used silicone baking molds in the past, but none this great.  I will be using this for all my cakes, casseroles, gratins, mac and cheese, etc. in the future. You have to go over and check out all the gorgeous shapes these baking dish molds come in!

I lightened this coffee cake up a bit be replacing most of the fat with pear sauce. Muffins, breads, and cakes can often be lightened with applesauce/pears sauce by replacing most of the oil. Keeping 1 tablespoon of oil or butter will help ensure a moist cake.

The addition of pears and cinnamon chips was just what we needed to make this coffee cake a little different from the usual ones. I would add some chopped pecans to the streusel the next time. Doesn't streusel just make everything better?

Okay, now I have some super duper awesome news for you! Like many of you who read my post about my upcoming half-marathon with Team GSF, Kelly was moved by the Strongs and wanted to help end SMA, the #1 genetic killer of young children. So, Kelly is offering a week-long fundraiser for GSF by donating 20% of her Demarle at Home sales generated through Yummy Mummy. All you have to do is order through her sales page at Demarle here, and then send her an email with "Yummy Fundraiser" in the subject. I also have to recommend the silpat. It's perfect for baking cookies or anything else on a cookie sheet. Now get shopping, it's for a good cause! Then make this coffee cake for a special breakfast. 

We had a great weekend and hope you did too! Here are a few quick pics I took at the beautiful ranch style wedding. Congratulations to the bride and groom. And happy birthday to my hubby! 

Pear and Cinnamon Chip Coffee Cake
printer-friendly recipe
Cake:
1 1/2 cups flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1/2 cup milk1/4 cup pear sauce or apple sauce
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup cinnamon chips
2 small pears, cored, halved and sliced
Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Whisk flour together with the other dry ingredients. Beat the egg, then add the milk, pear sauce, and oil. Pour the wet into the dry and cinnamon chips. Stir to combine. Pour into a well greased 8-inch square pan. Arrange pears over top. Mix together the streusel ingredients and sprinkle over the top of the batter. Bake at 400 about 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.