Pear Ginger Muffins

Name: Pear Ginger Muffins
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon cardamom (optional); 1 cup plain low fat Greek yogurt; 1/2 cup maple syrup; 2 eggs; 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or olive oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/4 teaspoon almond extract; 1 cup diced pear, peeling is optional; 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds; 1/4 cup crystalized ginger, chopped; Turbinado sugar for sprinkling on top (optional)

by Danae · Published: Feb 3, 2021 · Updated: Apr 8, 2021

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These Pear Ginger Muffins are full of chunks of sweet pears, toasted almonds, and sweet and spicy crystallized ginger. The perfect muffin to start the weekend with!

Six Pear Ginger Muffins in a muffin pan.

This recipe and photos have been updated from the original post on 10/23/15.

Pears and ginger are such a good flavor combination. I love the sweetness of the pears with the fresh, slightly spicy bite of the ginger. Ginger is a common ingredient in many fall and winter spiced baked goods.

Many pumpkin recipes like these creamy pumpkin pie bars use ginger. Then of course, it’s a key spice in these chewy ginger molasses cookies and gingerbread chocolate chip muffins.

One of my favorite winter muffins to make when pears are in season are these pear ginger muffins. My grandma introduced me to this recipe years ago and since then I’ve made some changes and bumped up the ginger flavor. Not only do these muffins use ground ginger, but chunks of crystalized ginger as well. They’re perfect to make for a weekend breakfast or brunch!

Ingredients used to make Pear Ginger Muffins on a sheet pan.

Ingredients Needed to Make Pear Ginger Muffins

whole wheat pastry flour
baking powder and baking soda
ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cardamom
plain Greek yogurt
maple syrup
eggs
melted coconut oil or olive oil
vanilla extract and almond extract
pears
slivered almonds
crystallized ginger
raw (turbinado) sugar (optional)

Pear Ginger Muffins on a wire cooling rack.

How to Make Pear Ginger Muffins

This is a basic muffin recipe and you won’t need any special equipment to make them. Start by combining the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices in a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk together the yogurt, maple syrup, eggs, oil and extracts.

Pour the wet ingredients in with the dry and fold them together with a rubber spatula. Stir in the diced pears, almonds and crystalized ginger. Divide the batter evenly into a standard 12 cup muffin pan. Sprinkle turbinado sugar on the tops and bake for 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Pear Ginger Muffins in a muffin pan with pears behind the pan.

Tips For the Best Muffins

Don’t over mix the muffin batter. Fold it together with a rubber spatula just until you no longer see streaks of flour. Don’t with the wet ingredients into the dry because this will work the gluten in the flour too much and you’ll have a tough, chewy muffin.
If you use liners I suggest going with parchment paper liners to ensure that the muffins don’t stick to them at all. You can also spray the muffin pan with cooking spray. If you make muffins without liners they will be darker on the edges and slightly shorter in height. I prefer the darker, slightly “crusty” edges.
Fill the muffin cups 2/3 – 3/4 of the way full. I’ve found that if you fill them all the way to the top you’re more likely to end up with a flat top vs. a dome.
Use a cookie scoop like this one to scoop out the batter. This will ensure that you have equal amounts in each muffin cup and that they bake evenly.

Two Pear Ginger Muffins on a white plate with a basket of the muffins and two pears behind them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Have to Use Whole Wheat Pastry Flour?

No. You can substitute with regular whole wheat, white whole wheat, all purpose or a combination of half whole wheat and half all purpose. If you use regular whole wheat flour, be aware that the muffins will have a denser texture. Whole wheat pastry flour yields lighter baked goods without sacrificing the whole grains.

What is Crystallized Ginger?

Crystallized ginger, sometimes called candied ginger, is pieces of fresh peeled ginger root that have been cooked in a simple syrup, rolled in sugar and then dried. The result is a crisp sweet exterior and a soft and chewy middle.

Two Pear Ginger Muffins on a white plate with a knife. One of the muffins is cut in half.

What Kind of Pears Should I Use?

Anjou or Bosc pears work best for baking. They hold their shape well, are easy to peel and won’t turn to mush in the muffins after they bake.

Do the Muffins Freeze Well?

Yes. If you plan to freeze these muffins I would skip adding turbinado sugar to the tops. It will just get sticky and lose it’s crunch when the muffins are defrosted.

Yield: 12-14 muffins