Vanilla-Pear Muffins

Vanilla-Pear Muffins
  • Author: Anonymous

These delightful pear walnut muffins are a perfect blend of sweetness and crunch. The warm aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg will fill your kitchen as these muffins bake to golden perfection. Enjoy them for breakfast or as a tasty snack any time of the day.

— Constant Cookbook

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbs. sugar
  • 2 Tbs. chopped walnuts, ground (see note above)
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup canola oil or walnut oil
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 4 or 5 firm, ripe pears, 2 lb. total, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat an oven to 350°F. Grease 14 standard muffin cups with butter or butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray.
  • To make the topping, in a small bowl, stir together the sugar, walnuts and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • To make the muffins, in a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla until blended. Add the flour mixture, stirring just until evenly moistened. The batter will be slightly lumpy. Using a large silicone spatula, gently fold in the pears and walnuts just until evenly distributed, no more than a few strokes. When mixing, take care not to break up the fruit. Do not overmix.
  • Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them level with the rim. Sprinkle the muffins with the topping, dividing it evenly. Fill the unused muffin cups one-third full with water to prevent warping. Bake until the muffins are golden, dry and springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the pan(s) to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes, then unmold the muffins onto the rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 14 muffins.
  • Adapted from <i>The Williams-Sonoma Baking Book,</i> Edited by Chuck Williams (Oxmoor House, 2009).

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