Pecan, Pear and Sweet Mince Squares

Pecan, Pear and Sweet Mince Squares

Ingredients
200g/8oz Self Raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
175g/7oz softened butter or fat
150g/6oz caster sugar
3 eggs – lightly beaten
50g/2oz ground almonds
Few drops vanilla essence
1 lemon – rind only
25g/1oz pecan nuts – coarsely chopped
2 pears – cut into large chunks
4 tbsp mincemeat

***25g/1oz cranberries or blueberries – optional**

With or without cranberries or blueberries

A cake with the best of the festive flavours which can be made in many shapes - round, square or rectangular. Add a few fresh cranberries to it if you like as they come into season. Blueberrys also work instead of cranberries.

Method:
1.Line a 7 inch (approximately) tin with greaseproof paper.
2.Pre-heat the oven to 375°F/Gas No 5.
3.repare the pears. Peel, core and cut into chunks.

To Prepare the Cake Mixture either in a Blender or Bowl.
1.Place the softened butter, caster sugar, lightly beaten egg, sifted flour, baking powder, lemon rind, ground almonds, vanilla essence together and beat well until smooth and creamy.. You may need to add 1-2 desert spoons of milk to form a soft dropping consistency.

2.Transfer half the cake mixture into the prepared tin then scatter over the chopped pears, mincemeat. Spoon over the remainder of the cake mixture then smooth and scatter with coarsely chopped pecan nuts and a few cranberries.

3.Bake in oven until golden, well risen and firm.

4.Remove, dust with icing sugar and cut into squares.