Ginger Pear Muffins

Ginger Pear Muffins
from Better Homes & Gardens

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup mild flavor molasses
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup boiling water
2 small pears, cut in 6 wedges each
3 oz. dark chocolate broken in small pieces
Raw sugar for decoration

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat the muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray and flour.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. In a second bowl, whisk together molasses, butter, brown sugar, and egg. Pour into flour mixture and stir until combined. Whisk in boiling water (I think this is so it makes the batter easier to pour). Add 1 pear wedge to each muffin, pressing lightly.

Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Sprinkle with raw sugar. Add the chocolate pieces on the tops of the muffins. Cool in pan on rack 10 minutes. Use a table knife to smooth the melted chocolate. Remove from cups and cool completely on a wire rack.

Emily's Notes:  First of all, these are delicious! So perfectly moist and cakey and with just enough ginger to give it a wee tiny bite.   I need to make another batch in the morning because it only made sixteen muffins.  I um, ate two, and I took two to my mom and two to one of her coworkers who is also a friend.    I made a few changes when I made this batch.  I didn't quite get the pear wedge thing - I found this recipe on someone else's site and her pears fell over so I just cut mine into tiny pieces.  I also grated my chocolate and sprinkled it over the top, trying to avoid the pear pieces.  I almost skipped the chocolate all together because they just came out so perfect.  Oh, and I skipped the raw sugar because I  didn't have any.   

With the next batch I think I'll chop up some of the pear and actually bake it in the muffin.  The few bites that had the muffin and pear were divine.  I'm also thinking I might throw the rest of my grated chocolate into the batter rather than sprinkling it on top.  The taste of chocolate is nice but...it really doesn't ruin the aesthetic beauty of the muffin.  I also bought some sugar for the second batch. 

I've also discovered that I don't care for the smell of molasses at all.   That's the only thing I'm not looking forward to with the second batch.  Yuck. 

In closing, a photo of the moist cakey goodness!

Comments

[Annie]

Ok, now I'm really hungry!

[Annie]

Ok, now I'm really hungry!

[Annie]

Ok, now I'm really hungry!