You may have noticed that we’re entering into the new cookbook season. It is my very favorite time of year. We got things kicked off with Chocolate Mousse and Cookie recipes from David Lebovitz’s newly revised classic, Ready for Dessert. This week I get to share another one of my baking heroes with you.
Dorie’s Anytime Cakes
Dorie has written so many of my favorite baking books and just when you might think she’s finally outdone herself, she produces yet another classic. Dorie’s Anytime Cakes is going to be a trusted companion in your kitchen. It’s all the delicious cakes we love without the fuss and time. She always knows what we want at every turn. People are busy but still crave a soul satisfying cake and that’s exactly what Dorie delivers.
I am so lucky to have spent time with Dorie as a fellow baker and friend. She is as generous and kind as she is talented. She is sharing her First-of-Fall Pear Bundt with all of you and sat down to offer us some of her caking wisdom and inspiration. I always love talking to her and seeing how a true visionary produces her work.
As you may know, Dorie has collaborated with the great Julia Child and French pastry chef Pierre Hermes in the past, now she is collaborating in a new way, with illustrator Nancy Pappas. Their connection is rare and so lovely. The work that came of their sweet relationship is truly unique and makes this new book stand out.
This cozy cake is studded with fall fruit throughout. The batter is sweetened with brown sugar and maple syrup, which creates a rich, decadent, but also homey flavor. Mix the apples (or pears) with cinnamon and you have the absolute perfect cake for the season when the wind kicks up and we need something warm and comforting. The caramel is the perfect blanket for the cake, which Dorie says is optional, but it is toooooo delicious to skip!
Giveaway!
You need this book in your kitchen! Dorie was kind enough to give away THREE copies of her book! Just leave a comment below and you’ll be entered for a chance to win! US addresses only. Leave a comment by Monday, October 27, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. central time to be entered.
Video
Ingredients
For the Apples (or pears)
- 2 large apples (about 1 pound / 455g) peeled and cored
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
For the Cake
- 2 3/4 cups (374g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) brown sugar
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120ml) pure maple syrup
- 1 cup (240ml) neutral oil
- 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (120ml) full-fat buttermilk (well shaken before measuring) at room temperature
- Confectioners’ sugar for dusting optional
For the Caramel
- 8 Tbsp (4 oz; 113g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (200g) brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) evaporated milk, half-and-half or cream
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Center a rack in the oven and preheat it to 350℉.
- Choose a 10-cup Bundt pan, preferably one that doesn’t have a complicated design; coat it with baker’s spray or butter it, dust the interior with flour and tap out the excess.
- Cut the apples into small chunks. Try to keep them less than 1/2 inch, but don’t fuss over neatness here; even a rough chop will work. You should have between 31/2 and 4 cups of chunks (but again, precision’s not necessary).
- Put the apples, sugar, flour and cinnamon in a large bowl and toss together to coat the apples; set aside.
- Whisk the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
- Working in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the brown sugar and eggs together on medium speed for about 3 minutes.
- Still working on medium, and scraping the bowl and beater(s) as needed, blend in the maple syrup, followed by the oil and then the vanilla.
- Turn off the mixer, add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are almost incorporated.
- Pour in the buttermilk, and mix just until incorporated, then add the remainder of the dry ingredients and mix just until they disappear into the thin batter.
- Give the apples a quick stir, scrape them into the batter—include any syrup that has accumulated—and mix them in with a flexible spatula. Pour the batter into the pan.
- Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until the cake just starts to pull away from the sides of the pan and, more important, a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. The batter may have baked a bit higher than the center opening, but that’s fine.
- Transfer the cake to a rack and let it sit for 10 minutes, then unmold it onto the rack and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- If you won’t be finishing the cake with the caramel glaze, dust it with confectioners’ sugar, if you’d like.
- Optional Caramel:
- Put the butter, brown sugar, milk (or half-and-half or cream) and vanilla in a medium saucepan set over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil and keep at a bubble, stirring, for 2 minutes.
- Use the caramel immediately as a glaze for the cake (put the cake on a rack set over a baking sheet or a piece of parchment paper and pour over the caramel) or as a sauce over slices of cake, or over ice cream, if you’re serving it.
- The caramel can also be covered and refrigerated—warm gently before using.
Used ripe pears. Big hit along with the pies after Thanksgiving.
Great recipe! Made it last night and wow everyone loved it. Used pears instead of apples. Also am vegan so used flax eggs, soy milk with lemon for buttermilk and oat cream. Turned out great even with the substitutions.
Looking forward to making this cake with pears first, and then with apples!!
I will definitely be making this cake! It looks absolutely delicious….
I love to bake! Can’t wait to try this delicious looking cake… with pears!
Thank you, Dorie and Zoe! I’ll be trying it this weekend.
This looks like the perfect fall cake! I was just telling someone that I needed more fall fruit recipes, and I’m excited to try this out.
This looks delish. I can’t wait to try it.
I’m so inspired to bake this cake and many others from Dorie’s new book. I enjoy baking bundt cakes, I’m planning on using pears this time, the caramel looks delicious too. Thank you Dorie and Zoe.
❤️❤️
Thank you for this opportunity, I can’t wait to bake this cake and many other from Dorie’ new book “Anytime cakes” (I hope I win the book). Thank you Dorie!
Thank you Zoe!
Between my Viennese mother the Zoë-Dorie Duo, and armed with my Bundt pans, I’m ready and invigorated for the Fall!
This looks wonderful! I’m delighted to add another pear cake to my fall recipe collection. Grateful for all you share!
Bundt cakes take me back to my childhood. I look forward to making this recipe with fresh fall apples in Minnesota. Merci boucoup!
Saw the photo and had to come for the recipe! Have a ton of home grown apples so baking this immediately!
Pears are my favorite to bake! This cake will be a great addition to my holiday desserts. Thank you for sharing.
Perfect birthday bundt (for myself :)!
I subbed apples for pears, though. Definitely added the caramel sauce that I flavored with apple pie spices. I also made a companion ice cream.
So delicious!
Today is my bday (wink wink) – a new baking book would be a nice surprise.
Just happened to have bought enough pears to try this amazing cake. Hope to add this book to my collection soon. Thank you Dorie and Zoe!
It looks delicious! Thank you for always sharing delicious recipes!
Scrumptious looking cake. Looking forward to making it. Thanks.
Oooh yes! Delicious!
The cake is absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe! I have a recipe for a bunch cake that utilizes apples and Chipotle pepper. It has a bit of a kick but it’s delicious and warming and the glaze is caramel.
The combination of apples and chipotle sounds amazing!!
Looking forward to making this cake! Thank you for sharing.
Looks fabulously delicious
Love this idea, what a gorgeous cake!
I have the same bundt cake pan I can’t wait to try it
“There’s a hole in this cake!”
I’ll have mine with pears!!
What a beautiful, intriguing idea to have the cakes illustrated instead of photographed! The illustration of this cake is incredibly accurate too. Looking forward to this beautiful book!
This looks amazing. Thank you for sharing!
This dessert looks fabulous.
Made with pears
Delicious
The Carmel sauce is amazing
Great recipe
I’m baking this cake this weekend!
Thank you for sharing and the opportunity to win
This sounds like a wonderful cake to celebrate all things Fall! A nice option other than pumpkin and apple!
This sounds like a great cake!
I am planning on making the cake for next Saturday for a friend dinner!
This looks amazing!
Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Can’t wait to make this! Yummmm!
I have a ton of ripe pears sitting on my counter and can’t wait to try this. I sounds divine!!
I have seen many apple cake recipes, but never a pear cake. This one, oh my God!, looks so comforting… I see myself on a cool and rainy fall day just sitting relaxed having a slice of it with a cup of coffee or tea. I WILL have to make it.
I can’t wait to make this cake! Perfect fall cake!
This looks delicious, can’t wait to get the book!
I love Dorie! And this recipe couldn’t have come at a better time! Thank you!
Good morning,
That cookbook cover is so colorful & inviting. This is the perfect time for a new baking book right before the holidays. ❤️
I’ve been looking for the perfect fall pear cake, and I just found it. Thank you Zoe and Dorie!!
I’ll be trying this with some pears I bought at the farmers market today. Thank you for the recipe!
Looks amazing!!!
I am definitely baking this today!!! I used to bake a lot more, but life got in the way. Thank you for bringing me back to my “happy place”!
Looks incredible! Huge congrats to Dorie on another beautiful book
Looks delicious. I’m going to try one pear version and one apple version.
This looks like the perfect fall bake. And swapping the apples for pears is a great variation
I love cooking with Dorie’s recipes and can’t wait to explore this book!
Dorie is the best! Can’t wait to look over this book! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
I love finding recipes that use oil instead of butter. They stay moist longer and given the price of butter, more economical. The cake was yummy.
Wow, this looks delicious! I picked up some Seckel pears the other day out of curiosity. This sounds like a wonderful way to eat them. My family no doubt will love this, thanks for sharing! Would be very happy if I won a copy of the cookbook!
I’m making this cake in the morning for sure. Looks like rain tomorrow morning and I love baking on a rainy day
I can hardly wait to make this cake, either pear or apple. Why not both? And why not go all the way with vanilla ice cream and the caramel sauce on top. Sounds like a whole lot of perfect in my book.
This cake and recipe look awesome. Love pear or apple recipes and of course, anything with caramel, makes it that much better. And why not go all the way, as Dorie suggests, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream I’ll have another piece, thank you.
When I read your e-mails, you inspire me to up my baking!
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely recipes in your new book and for the generous giveaway, Dorie! I can’t wait to make this cake – it looks and sounds absolutely scrumptious! Thank you, Zoe, for sharing the recipe and the giveaway! Between you two ladies my family thinks I’m a baking genius! Shhhhh
I love Dorie’s books and I have baked many of Zoe’s creations from her books too!
I can decide if I want to try this cake first with apples or pears! It sounds and looks delicious
I’m in awe, absolutely salivating over this gorgeous recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks Dorie and Zoe
I’m in awe, absolutely salivating over this gorgeous recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks Doris and Zoe
Can’t wait to try this recipe – and Dorie’s book looks fab!
This looks fabulous! I cant wait to use the pears I got at the farmers market today, my family will love this cake.
This recipe looks fantastic. Between Zoe and Dorie, I will never lose those 5 lbs!
Looks delicious!
I always forget the lovely pear when it comes to baking. Definitely going to try this.
So excited to try another one of Dorie’s recipes! This looks amazing and perfect for the season!
Thank you to Dorie for generously providing the giveaway books and this recipe!
I love Dorie’s recipes and would love another of her books!
Can’t wait to try this with pears! A perfect fall cake!
I made this with apples and it was amazing! Next I’ll try with pears. I am covering that Bundt pan (hint to my husband for Christmas)!
I would love Dorie’s book. I adore her! I also love your recipes. THANK YOU.
I love Dorie’s books! Looking forward to the new one.
I have some pears from my Dad’s grove and can’t wait to try this recipe!
Can’t wait to try this recipe! Pears are my favorite fruit. Would also love to add the cookbook to my collection.
Perfect for fall and winter! Can’t wait to make it!
This looks fantastic. Can’t wait to bake!
I was looking for a cake to make for Book Club tomorrow night and just now openend my email. VOILA!! Here it is! Truth be known, I was originally planning on making Dori’s Carrot Cake — which I LOVE — but her “new cake” looks so delicious and perfect for the season right now! YUMMY!!!!
I have several of Dorie’s cookbooks and she definitely does not disappoint. This recipe looks like another winner and I look forward to making it. Another cookbook in my collection would be a plus.
The cake looks amazing! I’d love to win the book.
Dear Dorie, I think you knocked it out of the ballpark with this recipe! With the combination of apples, cinnamon, buttermilk, and maple syrup? Well how can something like that fail to taste mouth-watering delicious? From one cake-liver to another; Thank you!
Dorie’s Lisbon Chocolate Cake is one of my go-tos, can’t wait to try this one! I’ve only made pear muffins, but not a cake…
The photo with the cake sliced and the pieces “on the lean” looks very inviting. That is a terrific way to serve it. Thanks for doing the giveaway.
The photo of the cake already sliced with the pieces “on the lean” looks very inviting. I think that is a terrific way to serve. Thank you for ding the giveaway.
Can’t wait to try the recipe, amazing details with tidbits and how to really helps us still learning bakers to do better and better!!!!!!
Cannot wait to try this recipe ,looks perfect for a rainy day!
I love her recipes. I have 3 of her books. I will cherish this one. Good luck to everyone.
Looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it.
Looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it.
new addition to my library of Dorie’s cookbooks!
Never had or made a pear bundt, but this is inspiring!
What a perfect fall cake! I’m happy when I hear from my two favorite bakers. My only addition is, since I’m from the South, its mandatory
that I add few pecans!
I didn’t think anyone else knew about keeping a cake “even” and cutting a piece bit by bit! We’re kindred spirits
I love Bundt cakes…would love the cookbook!
Caring for my mom in hospice and have a neighbor in hospice too, so this recipe will surely brighten their day. Thank you, Dorie and Zoe!
You are both so engaging and generous! Thank you for all that you share with us!
Perfect and dangerous name for these cakes, Cut Away cakes. Who can possibly stop cutting away at these delicious cakes by Doris! I look forward to seeing her new book!
Looks delicious! Thanks.
Lucky for me I still have a few Bosc pears on my tree. Between Dorie and Zoe my home baking library makes family and friends happy year round
This cake looks delicious, and I’d love to have Dorie’s newest book, thanks Zoe!!
Dorie is such an inspiration! Her recipes are luscious, and the community she has created on Facebook (Bake and Tell) is a wonderfully supportive group of bakers who share successes and flops, tips and questions, with Dorie always leading the way with encouragement and élan. I’m putting pears on my shopping list for this recipe!
Pears and Apples equal Fall. How about a bit of fresh grated ginger with the pears?
this cake looks delicious!
What’s not to love about a bundt cake with two of my absolutely favorite things…pears and caramel!! The cake is incredibly moist and gooey at the same time!! Love love everything about this recipe!!
This cake looks delicious! I love pears! I will definitely be making this!Thank you for sharing!
So delicious. But then again all of Dorie’s recipes are always a winner
I’d love her free book to add to my other Dorie books
Love your interview with Dorie. Can’t wait to bake this cake
I love Dorie’s cookbooks not only for the recipes but also for the insights on how to tak my baking up to the next level
I love all things Dorie, the GOAT! THANK YOU for the recipe, cannot wait to bake it this weekend ❤️
Thank you for this recipe while I wait for my turn at the library copy of this book! It looks amazing.
This cake (and book) looks amazing! Thanks for a great giveaway.
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe – a pear Bundt cake with caramel sauce sounds too scrumptious not to bake.. the ratio in the recipe sounds like it’s gonna be a moist and well balanced flavored cake that’s not too sweet. Can’t wait to bake !
oh, this looks like the perfect fall starter cake recipe. Can’t wait to try it. The cookbook looks fantastic.
I loved the interview and can’t wait to try this recipe. It’s a rainy day perfect for a fall cake. Thank you
Sounds yummy! Great for Thanksgiving dessert!
I have apples and pears on hand! I might just make this with a combination of both! I would love this new cookbook!
I LOVE Dorie’s recipes and I cannot wait to try this one!
This cake sounds amazing and I can’t wait to try it!
I need to make this cake ❤️
Pear cake? Yes! I just happen to have some ripe pears and some time to try this recipe. And I would love to have a copy of Dorie’s new cookbook.
I love Dorie’s recipes! Her book looks absolutely gorgeous….can’t wait to try this recipe!
I going to make this tomorrow when my kids come over for our monthly family dinner!
I’ve got my pears queued up and ready to bake!
Can’t wait to try this recipe! Thank you!
Love the idea of making this with pears. Not enough recipes with pears and they are such a quintessential fall fruit!
This looks amazing and can’t wait to make it. What a fall treat.
What a joy, another Dorie book and a simply delicious cake to share.
This cake looks delicious and easy to make. I’ll be making it on repeat especially for Rosh Hashanah! Thanks Zoe and Dory! I love the cover of your new cookbook, it’s very eye-catching.
Can’t wait to try this recipe. We had a pear tree in my paw paw’s yard when I was young. My mama always made a pear Bundt cake with the fruit. It was her special cake. The pears were grated and she used fall spices! Such good memories!!
This cake looks scrumptious! I can’t wait to bake it. Dorie’s recipes never disappoint!
Just brought in the last few apples and pears from our trees- so this is perfect timing! Thanks!
This cake looks simple yet delicious. I can’t wait to give it a try and share it with my loved ones. There’s nothing better than sharing sweets and smiles!
I bake apple cakes often…I can’t wait to try this version and with pears! Thank You Zoe & Dorie!!
Baking with apples in fall is the best. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
You had me at “fall” and “Bundt”. Can’t wait to give it a whirl!
Wonderful recipe and the cake looks so beautiful. The caramel for glaze elevates it. Thank you.
Fall is in the air!! Time to get baking and fill my home with wonderful scents of the harvest. It is my favorite time of year!
Thank you, Zoe & Dorie! I can’t wait to try this with the apples & pears from my sister’s tree. Lucky me & family!
Yum. I am going to make this this weekend!
I can’t wait to try this recipe by Dorie, she’s one of my favorite cookbook authors! And I like that you’ve substituted pears for the apples in the recipe.
This cake looks amazing and the caramel sauce also. I’m going to make for our Friendsgiving but I can’t wait until then so I’ll make next week to eat a little everyday. Love Dories recipes. Thank you for sharing.
This is the perfect recipe for a cool fall day. I will be making this cake for sure!
Looks amazing!
I love Dorie’s and Zoe’s recipes
Very excited to try this recipe this weekend! I have some Harry & David pears that need to be used asap and this recipe is perfect!
On my way for pears – this cake sounds amazing!
This sounds amazing! I would love to win a copy of the book!!
I have been searching for an apple cake. This sounds perfect. I’ll bake it for my book club next week.
I’ll have to check the size of my Bundt pan – if it’s too small I will need to buy another because I NEED to make this cake and I need it to be as large as possible! Also, Bundt is just a fun word to say – it reminds me of the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and makes me laugh every time, so the more Bundts in my life the better!
This looks delicious!
My husband just gifted me a fancy Bundt pan and this cake would be perfect for it!! Dorie is such a fabulous baker and you can’t go wrong with any of her recipes!
I just ordered 5 pounds of apples and this cake is the first baking project on my list once they arrive! Great interview
Bakers got to bake! Love pears in a bundt!
This looks great! I will definitely make it for Thanksgiving, but maybe will try it out before because I don’t want to wait.
Sounds wonderful Dorie’s first book was my bible
Everything Dorie is delicious Anytime! She is an amazing lady, baker and Grandma. Thank you for sharing the sweetness.
This sounds like the perfect fall cake to share with my coworkers. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I need this cookbook!
I cannot wait to make this cake this afternoon. It looks amazing!
Adding this to our Thanksgiving dessert buffet! Yum!
This recipe looks delicious and pretty simple to make. I love a good caramel that doesn’t get hard over time. I can’t wait to try this recipe and share it with my daughter!
Fall baking season is the absolute best!
I would love to learn to bake better. This cake is a start and having one of her cook books would be so beneficial. Hello from the Plains of Oklahoma! I miss Zoe Bakes on TV!
Can’t wait to try this with local apples!
I have been baking since I was 10 years old. My joy comes from sharing my baked goods with family, friends, and coworkers.
My two favorite bakers introducing a pear cake. This maybe the cake for Thanksgiving week. Look forward to baking it.
Enjoyed reading your interview with Dorie. Her new book must be her best yet. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
Sounds delicious can’t wait to bake this c
This looks PERFECT! I love Dorie, and I love you, Zoe! Sending love to you.
Looks so delicious! I’m baking it today!
Dori Greenspan’s cookbooks are a treasure. I read cookbooks like novels and always love her recipes and illustrations and comments. I have several of Zoe.s cookbooks, too!
Zoe you mentioned in your newsletter that you made this with pears… In Dorie’s recipe she talks about what kind of apples to use. Could you tell me what kind of pears you used or what you recommend? Thanks!! Pear desserts are my favorite desserts
I love pears and I’m excited to bake this cake! It looks delicious!
Such interesting, innovative recipes—-and so reliable!
I have used her recipes for years. A friend gave me pears from his tree, so going to bake this for a dinner party next week.
Excited to try this recipe!!
I have never baked a pear cake! Where have I been?? Wow!!
This book would be a perfect addition to my collection of cookbooks. When friends and family come over to visit they get excited because they know I’m going to make something delicious! Thank you!
Looks delicious! Perfect for fall!
Love this recipe. Thank you for sharing
Really looking forward to seeing Dorie Wednesday night in Brooklyn.
Looking forward to baking this beautiful cake. Love the fall flavors!
Thank you so much for this recipe. I smell it baking already!
I love Dorie! I have been following her since the early days when she wrote for Bon Appetit. This cake looks delicious, can’t wait to try it.
Have never baked a pear cake! Where have I been? Yum!!!
Yummmmmmmmm
Would love to win the cookbook and make this cake
This sounds delish and the perfect cake to bring to a family event coming up soon! Thank you
This sounds amazing!
I am so excited to make this recipe with pears. My fun weekend baking project. Yah!
This looks like the perfect fall cake!