Spiced Pear Muffins

I love cooking and baking with fruits and vegetables that are in season. I was excited to spot this recipe in Light Cooking last year because I had never seen a recipe for muffins using pears. And I love to make, and eat, muffins. In fact, I decided to add a label of "muffins" since I already have so many varieties recorded here. (And more that I still want to try!)

Start by combining the flour, brown sugar and oatmeal in a large mixing bowl.



Add the rest of the dry ingredients, including the yummy spices.



In a large measuring cup, combine the milk, eggs, vanilla and oil.



Whisk it well, then add to the dry ingredients.



Stir just until combined.

In a small mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then add to the batter and fold in.



Then add the chopped pears and fold those in, too.



Fill paper-lined muffin cups with batter and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Find more great recipes at What's Cooking Wednesday and What did you Bake Today?

Spiced Pear Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. allspice
2 egg whites
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
4 tsp. grated orange peel
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 medium pears, peeled and chopped

In a large mixing bowl, combine first seven ingredients (flour through allspice). In a measuring cup, combine milk, oil, egg, orange peel and vanilla. Whisk well to lightly beat egg, then add to the dry ingredients and stir just until completely moistened. In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Fold in pears.

Fill paper-lined muffin cups and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Makes one dozen.