Spiced Pear Bread

This is a great bread to use a holiday gift to friends and family as the recipe makes 4 mini loaves of bread. A nice twist on a quick bread. Found in a Taste of Home booklet and original recipe submitted by R. Barefoot.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 24
• Yields: 4 mini loaves

Ingredients

• 3 (15 1/4ounce) cans pears, drained and mashed
• 1  cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1⁄4 cup canola oil
• 3  eggs
• 3 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pears, sugar, applesauce, oil and eggs.
2. In a small bowl, combine the flour, spices, salt, baking soda and baking powder with a whisk.
3. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pear mixture and mix well but don't overmix.
4. Pour into four mini loaf pans which have been sprayed with non-stick spray. (The pans should be around 5 3/4"x3"x2" in size).
5. Bake at 350F for 50-55 minutes or until the bread passes a toothpick test. Mine baked much quicker and were done in 35 minutes so be sure to check your bread after the 35 minute mark. I think it depends on thickness and darkness of your mini loaf pans and if they are part of a one pan set or individual pans.
6. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan and letting cool on a wire rack.