Hazelnut Pear and Chocolate Muffins

These hazelnut pear and chocolate muffins are the cat's pyjamas and its slippers too. A gorgeously moist muffin sweetened with pears and littered with melted dark chocolate buttons; a toasted hazelnut, chocolate and oat streusel to finish. I believe in kitchen gods and I think they were here today.

A weary woman writes this post tonight. At the very beginning of my training for a half marathon my little legs protest too much. I have short legs so many steps make up every mile. I have been running everyday but my willpower is kind of dragging my legs along for the ride at the moment.  Also, I am designated labourer on our house project and my current job is hauling bricks up stairs. Again, little legs. But as the pallet dwindles I am nearing my I am Woman Hear Me Roar moment but tonight I'm stifling my roar with a yawn.

I am eating pretty well on my new training regime but I couldn't resist a wee treat. Trust me, there are no saints living in this house and since I am running, running, running what harm can a little something sweet do? This recipe was inspired by Sally's Baking Addiction's recipe for Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Cinnamon Streusal. They are ridiculously good and frankly I don't think there is anything on Sally's blog that doesn't have me salivating. In order for the original recipe to be all things plant-based I use a flax egg and vegan butter but while noshing on the original, I was inspired to mix it up a bit.

Our markets are currently laden with delicious pears and they are just so pretty it is easy to be inspired. Pairing pear with dark chocolate and toasted hazelnuts and this little baked good comes to life. These hazelnut pear and chocolate muffins are a little luxurious and more than a little decadent but so easy to make. Take it from a non-baker type, you can't really stuff these up. The baking rule regarding flour- don't overwork it- applies to spelt flour too which, I have used  to assuage any misplaced guilt about making and eating one, two...ok three of these muffins. But other than curbing any overzealous mixing, this recipe is simple. I also used coconut sugar to further mitigate the guilt, so guilt-wise we are golden.

My Sally inspired hazelnut pear and chocolate muffins are full of contrasting textures and beautifully balanced flavours. The cake portion of each muffin is gorgeously moist, spiced with cinnamon and lightly sweetened by the pear. The top, the streusel, is a stunning contrast in crunchy textures and toasted hazelnut flavours while melted dark chocolate morsels tie the whole thing together. Honestly, I'd run a full marathon for another one of these.

Enjoy, x.

Decadent Pear Muffins with Dark Chocolate

Vegan pear muffins are sweetened with pears, lavished with dark chocolate buttons & topped with toasted hazelnut chocolate sprinkle.

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Course: Breakfast/Snack | Sweet Baking

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegan

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 muffins

Author: Amanda Logan

Equipment

• ▢
  food processor
• ▢
  2 mixing bowls
• ▢
  1 whisk
• ▢
  1 large spoon
• ▢
  1 muffin tray

Ingredients 

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Hazelnut Sprinkle

• ▢ ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
• ▢ 2 tablespoon oats
• ▢ 2-3 tablespoon flour
• ▢ ⅓ cup hazelnuts
• ▢ 2 tablespoon vegan butter melted and cooled
• ▢ ¼ cup dark chocolate buttons small

Dry Ingredients

• ▢ 2½ cups (375g) flour
• ▢ 3 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ ¾ cup raw sugar or brown sugar
• ▢ pinch sea salt
• ▢ ½ cup dark chocolate buttons small

Wet Ingredients

• ▢ 4 tbsp (60g) vegan butter melted and cooled
• ▢ 4 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ ⅓ cup yoghurt or sour cream
• ▢ 1 cup grated pear (I used 2 beurre bosc pears leaving the skin on)
• ▢ 1 cup dairy-free milk room temperature
• ▢ 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 200℃/390℉ (all ovens). Line a 12 hole muffin tin with paper patties.

For the Hazelnut Sprinkle

• For the hazelnut sprinkle, place the sugar, hazelnuts and oats in a food processor and pulse to rough crumb. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the melted butter and 2 tablespoons of flour to form a large crumb. Add more flour if needed. Stir in the dark chocolate buttons.

For the Muffins

• To make the muffins, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and salt.
• In a separate mixing bowl mix together the wet ingredients. (I use a large spoon rather than a whisk to avoid getting pear stuck in my whisk!)
• Fold the wet mixture in to the dry until just combined and add the chocolate buttons.
• Spoon the batter evenly amongst the 12 muffin moulds and sprinkle each liberally with the hazelnut mix.
• Bake for 5 minutes, then turn down to 180℃/350℉ (fan forced/convection) and bake for a further 15-17 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the muffin comes out clean.
• Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes for turning out to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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