Sourdough Discard Spiced Pear Muffins

If, like me, you have a never-ending supply of sourdough discard that you hate to waste, this recipe is for you. If you have a reasonable supply of sourdough discard and just love tasty fall muffins, this recipe is also for you. These Sourdough Discard Spiced Pear Muffins were born of a need to use up some of my sourdough discard so it didn't burst out of its container (yet again) and spill all over the shelf of my fridge (yet again) as well as utilize the gorgeous fresh pears I had sitting on my counter. These muffins are spiced with fall-favorites cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and vanilla and topped with just enough coarse sugar to make the tops slightly crackly and thoroughly irresistible.

What kind of pear is best to use?

What kind of pear is sitting in your fruit bowl making pear-eyes at you every time you enter the room? Use that one. This recipe is super flexible for whatever pears you prefer, however, if you are purchasing pears specifically for this recipe, the following three varieties are very common in the US:

• Bartlett – Often green with yellow and red blushing, though you can also find red Barlett varieties as well. This pear is thin-skinned and very sweet. It is generally what I use for this recipe, only because we buy them most often.
• Bosc – Brown with firm skin and lightly sweet. This pear is a great choice if you find that you prefer a bit more bite to your pear as they do not turn to mush as easily as other pears.
• Anjou – Often green, sometimes red. This pear has a firm skin and medium sweetness.

Let's talk about the coarse sugar topping

I love to top these muffins with a bit of coarse turbinado sugar before they bake so the resulting muffin top gets slightly crackly and sparkly. If you do not have turbinado sugar, demerara sugar makes a nice alternative. If you have neither, classic granulated sugar can also be used to create a nice crackly top. If you wish, you can also omit the sugar topping altogether and these muffins are still very lovely.

What tools do I need to make this recipe?

• A cutting board
• A chefs knife or paring knife
• A large mixing bowl
• A medium mixing bowl
• A kitchen scale (for super-accurate measurements) or measuring cups (for less accurate measurements)
• Measuring spoons
• A whisk or fork
• A wooden spoon or rubber spatula
• A standard-size muffin tin (12 muffins)

Are you looking to upgrade to your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.

LOOKING FOR MORE BAKING INSPIRATION?

Love this Sourdough Discard Spiced Pear Muffins recipe? Here are some additional sourdough discard recipes and sweet baking recipes that you might enjoy!

• Sourdough Discard Pumpkin Scones
• Sourdough Discard Cranberry Orange Scones
• Sourdough Discard Strawberry Mint Scones
• Sourdough Discard Buttermilk Pancakes
• Hagrid’s Rock Cakes (a British treat similar to a scone)
• Pumpkin Sourdough Bread

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