Pear-Oatmeal Muffins

From Cooking Light.

• Ready In: 28 mins
• Yields: 18 muffins

Ingredients

• 1  cup quick-cooking oats, divided
• 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  tablespoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2  cups  chopped ripe pears
• 3⁄4 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1⁄3 cup light ricotta cheese
• 1⁄4 cup  vegetable oil
• 1  tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1  large  egg white
• 1  large egg
•  cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Combine 1/2 cup oats, flour, and next 6 ingredients (flour through allspice) in a large bowl.
3. Stir in pear, and make a well in center of mixture. Combine buttermilk and next 5 ingredients (buttermilk through egg), and stir well with a whisk. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
4. Spoon batter into 18 muffin cups coated with cooking spray; sprinkle 1/2 cup oats evenly over batter.
5. Bake at 400° for 18 minutes or until done. Remove from pans immediately, and cool on a wire rack.