First, make the cake. Preheat oven to 350F and spray two 6" round cake pans with nonstick baking spray.

In a small bowl, whisk together the ground flaxseed with the water and set aside to thicken.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.

Add in the vegan butter, and beat on low until it's incorporated and has a sandy texture.

In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, flaxseed mixture, nondairy yogurt, and vanilla extract, and add them to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined.

Pour in the nondairy milk, and beat on medium-low until smooth and creamy. Finally, gently fold in the pear pieces and chocolate chips.

Divide batter evenly among the 2 pans, and bake for 40-45 minutes until cake is set in the center and a toothpick comes out clean.

When the cakes are completely cooled, you can make the frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the shortening, vegan butter, and vanilla extract together until completely smooth and creamy. Add in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until a thick frosting forms. Add in the salt. It is normal to need to add 1-2 tablespoon of milk to get the right consistency.

To assemble the cake, divide the 2 cake layers in half to create 4 thin layers.

Place one cake piece on your cake stand or platter, and spread some frosting on top. Repeat with all.

Next, cover the cake with the remaining frosting. I always like the "naked" look, so I cover the cake and use a bench scraper to get rid of any excess. Repeat to fill any gaps!

Let the cake chill for 30 min-1 hr before covering with the ganache.

To make the ganache, place about ½ cup of dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Add in a splash of nondairy milk, and microwave in 20 second intervals until smooth and creamy. Add more milk and keep stirring if the mixture is too thick.

Transfer your dark chocolate ganache to a squeeze bottle, and decorate the cake. Place the cake back in the fridge before decorating the top with frosting as you want the ganache to solidify.

Finally, use any extra frosting to decorate the top (or make another half batch). I used a 4B tip and piped in a V shape to create a braided effect. I then finished off with a cut pear and chocolate chips in the middle!