Pear Chocolate Drop Muffins

For the I Heart Cooking Club I am getting my entry in on the wire. This is my first live posting...yes, I am typing as the pear muffins are baking and plan to share the results as soon as the muffins are cooled.


So here's why it's late........I knew I'd make the blackberry crisp or the pear ginger muffins, both from Nigella Express. Friday I arrive at the grocery store and, in spite of seeing frozen blackberries in the freezer case ALL THE TIME, they are out. A big fat empty space in the freezer slot where they belong.

So we decide to go with the pear ginger muffins. I get home and the sour cream is bad. Now how does that even happen. It's sour cream. Fine. Sunday arrives and it's quite nice here this morning. We decide to walk the shibas in the park and take a bike ride down some twisty roads. The sour cream is purchased at 4 PM. It's now 5:31 PM and the bad boys are baking.

Here's what you'll need........

Makes 12

1 ¾ Cups (250g) flour

2 tsp baking powder

¾ Cup (150g) sugar

½ Cup plus 6 teaspoons (75g) light brown sugar

1 tsp ground ginger (Note - I didn't use the ginger)

2/3 Cup (1 x 142ml pot) sour cream

½ Cup (125ml) vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon (1 x 15ml) honey

2 eggs

1 large pear such as a Comice (or other fruit to give you about 300g in weight), peeled, cored and cut into tiny pieces.




Preheat the oven to 400 F (200°C/Gas 6) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with muffin papers.

Measure into a bowl the flour, baking powder, caster sugar, ¾ cup (75g) of brown sugar and the ground ginger.



In a large measuring cup, whisk together the sour cream, oil, honey and eggs and then fold into the dry ingredients.



Lastly, mix in the diced pear, and divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups.

Note: I did not use ginger but decided to pop a giant chocolate chip in the middle of each muffin cup. Let's see if that will be good!



The batter is thick so it will drop out slowly........



Ready to be placed in the hot oven.......



Bake for 20 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack. Best eaten while still a little warm.



Here I am back......20 minutes later with two cups of coffee in me at almost 6 PM.

Brilliant.....but look at the muffins! They are tasty and the choclate drop works very well. Thanks Nigella!



Nigella Express, Get up and Go section, Page 97