Spiced Pear Cake

Step 1: Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan forced).

Step 2: Grease and line a 30cm x 20cm (base measurement) slice pan with baking paper, extending paper at long sides for handles.

Step 3: Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in a small bowl until pale and creamed and then beat in eggs, one by one, until combined.

Step 4: Stir in golden syrup (can use honey), then transfer mixture to a large bowl and sift flour, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice over butter mixture and add 1/4 cup hot water, stirring until just combined and then spread mixture into prepared pan, smooth surface.

Step 5: Peel, core and quarter pears and slice thinly and then arrange pear, overlapping slightly, over cake mixture in pan and then bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted at centre comes out clean.

Step 6: Remove cake from oven, then stand in pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 7: Dust with icing sugar and serve with custard.