Walnut Spice Cake with Butterscotch Pears

Name: Walnut Spice Cake with Butterscotch Pears
Ingredients: ¼ cup mashed cooked yam or sweet potato; 1 ½ cups unsweetened plain oat milk; ½ cup unsweetened applesauce; 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar; 1 ¾ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground cardamom; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper; 1 ¾ cups plus 2 tablespoons spelt flour; 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) vegan butter, at room temperature; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract; ¾ cup chopped walnuts, toasted; 2 tablespoons vegan butter; 4 firm ripe pears, quartered and cored; ¾ cup pear or apple cider; ¼ cup packed light brown sugar; ½ teaspoon lemon juice; ⅛ teaspoon salt; ¼ cup unsweetened coconut cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ cup unsweetened coconut cream; 2 tablespoons sifted confectioners’ sugar