Pear Bread With Vanilla and Ginger

Beth Hensperger

• Ready In: 2 hrs 5 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  large eggs
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2  cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
•  salt, a pinch
• 1  lemon, zest of
• 1⁄2 cup  finely chopped crystallized ginger
• 1⁄4 cup buttermilk
• 1 1⁄2 cups  peeled cored, coarsely chopped pears

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°; grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Add in the vanilla extract and beat just until combined.
5. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, lemon zest, and crystallized ginger.
6. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, in three equal portions.
7. Beat just until smooth.
8. Gently fold in pears, just until evenly distributed.
9. Scrape batter into prepared pan; bake in the center of the oven until golden brown and pick comes out clean, about 55-65 minutes.
10. Turn the loaf out of pan onto a rack, then turn it right side up; let cool completely before slicing.