Get Ready for Thanksgiving Company With These Delicious Pear Muffins

I bought some beautiful pears last week and I knew I was going to make a pear and cranberry vinaigrette for Thanksgiving but I had a few extra pears to work with.  Bill was away for a few days and I wanted to do something special Saturday morning when we would both be able to relax and enjoy breakfast.  Many of you will have overnight company for the holidays and what could be better than waking up to the smell of fresh out of the oven muffins.  The base recipe can be adapted to many different fruit and nut combinations and the crumb on top is outstanding.  If you plan on doing blueberries, omit the cinnamon from the batter and add 2 teaspoons of lemon zest.  Use pecans instead of walnuts for the crumb.  Apples can be substituted without any changes.

The recipe makes 12 small muffins.  One time saver is to put most of the ingredients together the night before.  Make the crumb topping (store in the refrigerator), measure and combine all your dry ingredients and store in a plastic bag until you are ready for use.  Next morning all you have to do is measure your wet ingredients, melt your butter, and mix.  Enjoy!

Pear and Walnut Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter melted

1/4 cup milk

1 egg (I used large)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 pears, peeled and diced

Crumb Topping:

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons melted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line muffin tins with paper liners or grease and flour.  Combine your dry ingredients and set aside.  Whisk together melted butter (make sure it isn't too hot or it will cook your egg), milk, vanilla and egg.  Mix dry ingredients and wet until just mixed.  Fold in diced pears.  Fill muffin tins (about 2/3 full).  Sprinkle generously with the crumb topping. 

Bake 18 - 20 minutes until done.  You can test them either depressing the tops gently with a finger and see if the cake springs back or use a toothpick and it should come out clean.