Chocolate-Pear Crunchy-Fudgy Cake (Crousti-Fondant Style)

 Chocolate-Pear Crunchy-Fudgy Cake

(Crousti-Fondant Style)
A rich, decadent dessert featuring a buttery cookie crust, a fudgy chocolate cake layer, and sweet, tender pears on top. The perfect mix of textures—crunchy, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth!

Ingredients:

For the Crunchy Base:

• 3.5 oz (100 g) speculoos or butter cookies (like graham crackers or Biscoff)
• 3.5 tbsp (50 g) melted butter

For the Cake:

• 7 oz (200 g) dark chocolate
• 3.5 oz (100 g) butter
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup (100 g) sugar
• ⅓ cup (50 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 to 3 ripe pears, peeled and thinly sliced

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9-inch (22 cm) round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.

2. Make the crust:
   Crush the cookies using a food processor, or place them in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin until fine.
   Mix in the melted butter until the texture resembles wet sand.
   Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared cake pan using the back of a spoon.
   Place in the fridge while you prepare the batter.

3. Melt the chocolate and butter together using a double boiler or in the microwave in short bursts, stirring until smooth.

4. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy.
   Stir in the melted chocolate mixture and mix until combined.

5. Add the flour and baking powder, gently folding to avoid lumps.

6. Assemble the cake:
   Pour the batter over the cookie crust in the pan.
   Arrange the pear slices on top and gently press them into the batter.

7. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center is still soft and fudgy. A knife inserted in the center should come out with moist crumbs.

8. Cool in the pan, then carefully remove the cake.
   Serve warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Tips:

• Add a splash of dark rum or vanilla extract to the batter for extra flavor.
• You can swap the pears for apples if you prefer!