Maple Pear Oatmeal Muffins

justcallmetoni's Note:

While browsing my cookbooks, I found this recipe from the Culinary Institute of America. Have not tried this yet but wanted to keep it here so that I don't forget it. Looks just yummy. (4 points)

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour or 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons pecans, chopped finely
• 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats, not instant or 1 1/2 cups oats
• 1 large bosc pears or 1 large anjou pear, firm but ripe
• 1 cup fat-free buttermilk
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 egg
• cooking spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare muffin cups with a light coating of cooking spray.
2. Combine dry ingredients (flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon) together in a bowl.
3. Core and dice the pears into small chunks. Combine the pears, buttermilk, maple syrup, oil, sugar, egg and all but 2 tablespoons of the oatmeal together in a second bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes.
4. Combine the pecans and reserved oatmeal together to use as a topping for the muffins. Set aside.
5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients together until just mixed. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling 2/3s full. Sprinkle with the pecan/oatmeal mix. Bake 18 to 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes and remove from pan.
6. Serve warm or let the muffins finish cooling on a rack.

Reviews

[cmarles]

Great flavour and wonderful light texture. Perhaps a little dry - next time I might use more pears. Omitted the pecans and mixed a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar into the oatmeal for the topping,

[CoffeeB]

I love these muffins Toni. And, of course the best part for me is that they're LF/LC. I used low-fat buttermilk and Splenda brown sugar. (I decided to use the Splenda after reading other reviews stating they weren't sweet enough. I knew the Splenda brown sugar would deliver). Other than those two deviances, followed the recipe as written. They baked up perfectly for me in 20 minutes. A nice golden brown w/a crunchy topping. Mmmm-Mmmm! Made for ZaarStars~

[Mikekey]

These were very good. Not too sweet. The pear kept them moist. I might cut oatmeal back to just one cup next time, though.