Caramelized Pear Yule "Log" with Sweet Clover Cream

Ingredients

• Sweet Clover Cream

  • 1 tsp gelatin
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) cold water
  • 1/2 cup (105 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup (40 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups (500 ml) milk
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) sweet clover extract or 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) 35% whipping cream

• Pears

  • Bartlett pears, ripe but firm, cored and cut into wedges 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick
  • 1/2 cup (105 g) lightly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (60 ml) water

• Cake

  • 1 cup (150 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 6 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (210 g) lightly packed brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) molasses
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) canola oil
  • Gingerbread cookies (optional)