250g unsalted butter, softened
250g caster sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
50g plain flour, sifted
250g ground almonds
1 tsp almond essence grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
4 ripe pears, peeled and halved
icing sugar for dusting
Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Cream together the butter and sugar in a bowl until soft. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding some flour after each addition, until all the eggs and flour have been included.Fold in the almonds, almond essence, lemon zest and juice. Cut small slices from the pears. Spoon the mixture into the tin and smooth over. Top with the fanned out pears. Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
