Sometimes even simple baking needs to be made easier. If you keep a packet of cake mix in your pantry, you'll be able to fool your friends into thinking this fab-tasing cake was made from scratch.

Ingredients

• 1 pear
• 2 tblsp lemon juice
• 550-600 gram packet vanilla cake mix
• 1 tblsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup sliced Brazil nuts or almonds

Topping

• 50 grams chocolate, melted

Method

1. Peel, quarter and core the pear. Cut each quarter into 4 thick slices and toss in the lemon juice. Set aside.
2. Make the cake mix according to the directions on the packet, using cold coffee in place of any water and adding the cinnamon.
3. Spread the mixture into a greased and lined 23cm or 24cm flan tin. Arrange the pears and Brazil nuts on top.
4. Bake at 180ºC for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool. Serve in slices or wedges drizzled with chocolate, with a little whipped cream on the side.

Cooks Tips

When buying cake mixes, each brand has a different weight and the end products can be quite different. This recipe was tested with Betty Crocker mix. The flavour will be fine whatever mix you choose.