Friday, September 2, 2016

Spiced Pear Muffins


image and recipe from here

We just got a box of Barlett pears. I love that fruit, but it has a short shelf life without a frigerator.
I tried these muffins to day and the recipe is a keeper. Since Scott isn't a big nutmeg fan, I halved that amount, didn't include candied ginger (again, he's not a fun), but did add walnuts (he's a fan!)


Spiced Pear Muffins

1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. whole-wheat flour
2 t. baking powder
2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/2 t salt.
1/2 c. milk [I used kefir mixed with ground flax]
2 to 2 1/2 c. pears, unpeeled and diced small (from 2 medium-sized pears, about 11 oz. whole)
1/4 c. chopped candied ginger, 1/2 c. chopped nuts, or 1/2 c. mini chocolate chips (optional)
Cinnamon and sugar, for sprinkling on top

Heat your oven to 425°F. Spray the wells of a standard muffin tin with nonstick spray or place muffin liners in all the wells.

In a mixer on high speed, cream together the sugars and the softened butter until they resemble fluffy frosting, about 1 minute. Mix in the eggs, one at a time until fully incorporated, about 1 minute each. Mix in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, mix 1/3 of the flour mixture into the butter-sugar mixture followed by 1/3 of the milk. Continue alternating between the flour and the milk, mixing just until the flour is incorporated. It's OK if there is still some flour on the sides of the bowl. Do not overmix.

Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula and stir gently to incorporate the last of the flour. Add the diced pears and any optional ingredients all at once and fold them into the batter.

Divide the batter between the muffin cups. The batter will fill the cups and mound slightly on top. Sprinkle the tops with cinnamon and sugar.

Place the muffin tin in the oven and immediately turn down the heat to 400°F. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the pan once in the middle of baking. The muffins are done when the tops looked cracked and toasted, and when a toothpick inserted in the middle of one of the muffins comes out clean.

Let the muffins cool enough to handle, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Leftover muffins can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. (Reheat frozen muffins in an oven or toaster oven at 300°F or for a few minutes in the microwave.)

Makes 12 muffins. [I baked 4 dozen mini muffins for about 12 minutes, with this amount of batter.]

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