Rainbow Stained Glass Pear Cake

This is the kind of cake that makes people stop mid-conversation. The secret is in the pears: thin slices soaked overnight in bowls of Butterfly Pea Flower, Moringa, Mangosteen Hibiscus, and turmeric, then slowly dried in the oven until they turn translucent, jewel-toned, and almost luminous. Arranged on top of the frosted cake, they look just like stained glass.

Underneath all the visual drama is an equally beautiful cake that is tender, fragrant, and rich in a way that feels genuinely nourishing rather than heavy: a warmly spiced, fully vegan pear and carrot layer cake made with date sugar, orange zest, and a spoonful of Golden Sun Milk for a subtle golden warmth.

Fair warning: this is a two-day project. The pear slices need at least 8 hours to soak and several hours more to dry, so plan to start them the day before. Everything else comes together in about an hour. The result is absolutely worth it. This is a celebration cake in every sense.

What Goes Into the Color

The stained glass effect comes entirely from botanical powders steeped in water: no artificial dyes, no food coloring. Here's what each one brings:

Butterfly Pea Flower: Famous for its vivid blue-violet pigment, butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) is one of the most striking natural colorants available. The color shifts from deep indigo to purple depending on pH, and lemon juice intensifies the transformation beautifully.

Mangosteen + Hibiscus: A vitamin C–rich blend of mangosteen peel and hibiscus that produces a deep magenta-pink hue. Tart, bright, and visually dramatic.

Moringa: The "miracle tree" delivers a soft sage green. Earthy and mild in flavor, it gives the pear slices an almost jade-like quality when dried.

Turmeric: Turmeric produces a deep saturated golden-amber that glows when held to the light. Use sparingly in the soaking bath if you want a lighter yellow tone.

RECIPE

Prep time: 1 hour active prep time, plus 8 hours soaking time
Bake time: 30 minutes
Cool time: 20 minutes
Recipe by: Lauren May

Stained Glass Pears Ingredients

• 2-3 firm, ripe pears 
• 8 cups water 
• 4 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp Butterfly Pea Flower powder
• 1 Tbsp Mangosteen Hibiscus powder
• 1 Tbsp Moringa powder
• 1 Tbsp turmeric

Instructions

1. Prepare the soaking baths: Add 2 cups of water to a bowl. Add in 1 Tbsp lemon juice and 1 Tbsp desired powder. Mix together and set aside. Repeat the process until you have 4 bowls with each powder mixed in.

2. Soak: Slice pears using a mandolin or a sharp knife. Place the desired amount of pear slices in each bowl and allow to sit overnight or 8+ hours.

3. Boil: After the pears have soaked, briefly boil each mixture of pears and their liquid until just softened. This helps to get the color to penetrate the fruit better.

4. Prepare oven: While the pears boil, preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.

5. Dry the pears: Place softened pears on the parchment. Blot of any excess liquid. Cover pears with another sheet of parchment and place another pan on top of the pears. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Keep a close eye on the pears to make sure they aren’t burning.

6. After 20 minutes remove the top sheet pan and parchment. Flip the pears over. Turn the oven off and return the pears to the hot oven. Allow to sit in the oven until fully dried and no longer floppy. This may take up to an hour. Allow to cool fully and store in an airtight container until ready to use. 

Pear Cake Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 - 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 2 tsp Golden Sun Milk powder
• 1 ¼ cup date sugar
• 3/4 cup plant based butter, softened
• ¾ cup apple sauce
• 3/4 cup plant based milk
• Zest of 1 large orange
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated carrot
• 2 cups diced pears

For the Frosting:

• 1 cup of plant based butter, at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of kosher salt 
• 3-6 cups of powdered coconut sugar

Instructions

1. Prepare pans: Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare 3 6-inch cake pans. Grease the pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Lightly grease the parchment paper. 

2. Make the batter: Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a bowl. Set aside. 

3. Mix: Add the butter and sugar to your mixing bowl. Mix well until light and fluffy (1-2 minutes). Add in the applesauce. With the mixer on low, add in the flour mixture and the milk alternating between wet and dry ingredients until both are evenly incorporated. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl. Add in the orange zest, vanilla, pears, & carrots. Mix until evenly incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans. 

4. Bake: Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. If using different sized pans you will need to adjust cooking time. 

5. Cool: Allow the cakes to cool in pans on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and allow to cool completely on wire racks.

6. Prepare the frosting: In a medium sized mixing bowl combine the butter, vanilla, and salt. Use an electric mixer on medium speed mixing thoroughly until smooth and creamy. Add in the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time mixing in between until desired consistency/sweetness is achieved. Tip: add in a little butter pea powder if your frosting is a little too yellow. It’ll help it look brighter. 

7. Decorate: Spread the icing evenly in between each layer and over the top and sides of the cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Decorate with pear slices and enjoy! 

Shop the Products

• Butterfly Pea Flower powder: vivid blue-violet natural colorant
• Golden Sun Milk: deep magenta, vitamin C–rich
• Mangosteen Hibiscus powder: soft sage green, nutrient-dense
• Moringa powder: warming, golden, Ayurvedic-inspired

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.