Description
Delight in these moist and flavorful Spiced Pear Muffins, bursting with tender pear chunks and warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and allspice. Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack, these muffins feature a balanced sweetness and a crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping that adds a delightful texture contrast.
Ingredients
Fruit
- 1 medium Pear, peeled, cored, and diced
Wet Ingredients
- 2 Eggs, medium to large size, at room temperature
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) Canola Oil or neutral-flavored oil
- 120 gr (1/2 cup) Greek Yogurt
Dry Ingredients
- 70 gr (1/3 cup) Brown Sugar
- 200 gr (1 1/3 cup) Self-Rising Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Allspice
Topping
- 1 1/2 tablespoon Demerara Sugar (or Raw Sugar)
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a muffin pan with paper liners or grease it well with oil to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Pear: Peel, core, and dice the pear into small cubes as noted. Set aside for later incorporation into the batter.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and brown sugar together for a couple of minutes until the mixture is lightly bubbly and well combined. Then add the canola oil and Greek yogurt, whisking until smooth and homogeneous.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix together the self-rising flour, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice until evenly distributed.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, whisking gently until fully combined but not overmixed to keep the muffins tender.
- Fold in Pear Chunks: Gently fold the diced pear into the batter, reserving about one-quarter of the pear pieces to decorate the tops of the muffins if desired.
- Fill Muffin Pan and Add Pear Topping: Spoon the muffin batter evenly into the prepared pan. Optionally, adorn the tops of the batter-filled muffin cups with the reserved pear chunks for extra pear flavor and visual appeal.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Topping: In a small bowl, mix the demerara sugar and ground cinnamon together. Sprinkle this cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over each muffin to add a sweet, crunchy topping.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the muffins are puffed, golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Remove the muffins from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before serving to maximize flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm pears for the best texture to prevent the muffins from becoming soggy.
- Self-rising flour already contains baking powder and salt, so no need to add additional leavening.
- Folding the pears gently prevents overworking the batter, which keeps the muffins light and fluffy.
- Ensure the muffins are fully cooled before removing liners to maintain shape and texture.
