Seasonal Spiced Pear Muffins (Printable)

Moist muffins bursting with ripe pears, crunchy walnuts, and aromatic warm spices for a comforting snack.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
11 - 1/2 cup whole milk or plant-based milk
12 - 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
13 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Fruit & Nuts

14 - 2 medium ripe pears, peeled, cored, and diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
15 - 3/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease lightly.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, oil or melted butter, milk, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
05 - Fold diced pears and chopped walnuts carefully into the batter.
06 - Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.
07 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow muffins to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The pears stay incredibly moist and add natural sweetness without extra sugar.
  • Walnuts give every bite a satisfying crunch that balances the soft crumb.
  • Warm spices make your kitchen smell like fall even in the middle of summer.
  • They taste even better the next day when the flavors have settled together.
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter creates tunnels and a rubbery texture, so stop stirring the moment the flour disappears.
  • If your pears are too soft, they will dissolve into the batter and make the muffins soggy.
  • Dont skip the cooling step in the tin or the bottoms will steam and turn gummy.
03 -
  • Sprinkle raw sugar on top before baking for a crunchy, bakery-style finish.
  • Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet for three minutes to deepen their flavor and make them even more fragrant.
  • Swap half the oil for unsweetened applesauce if you want a lighter muffin without sacrificing moisture.
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