We have been amazed at the bountiful crop from our pear tree this year! Yes, we can grow pears on the prairies. They are smaller in size but taste every bit as good if not better than the ones we buy in the store.
Other than eating them fresh from the tree, I have been busy peeling, coring, and slicing pears and using them in different recipes. They are delicious and I don't want to waste any.
I usually send muffins along with our son when he comes for a visit. This time I knew it had to be pear muffins.
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 3 cups pears, peeled, cored, and cut in small chunks
- Cream together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy.
- Whisk together dry ingredients and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk just until mixed.
- Spoon batter into muffin tin.
- Bake in 400º oven for 20 to 25 minutes, when toothpick is inserted in center of muffin and it comes out clean.
- *Optional..you can sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on top of the muffins just before baking.
- Yields: 12 regular size muffins.