Chocolate and Pear Muffins

Chocolate and pear muffins are a delicious combination. Here’s how to make this treat:

Ingredients

• 2 ripe but firm pears
• 200 g of all-purpose flour
• 150 g of sugar
• 50 g of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 100 g of butter
• 2 eggs
• 100 ml of milk
• 1 packet of baking powder
• 1 pinch of salt
• Chocolate chips or chunks to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat the eggs with sugar until you have a foamy and light mixture.
4. Melt the butter and let it cool down, then add it to the egg and sugar mixture.
5. Gradually incorporate the flour mixture into the liquid mixture, alternating it with the milk, until a homogeneous batter is obtained.
6. Peel the pears, remove the core, and cut them into small cubes.
7. Add the pear cubes and the chocolate chips or chunks to the batter, gently mixing to distribute them evenly.
8. Fill the muffin cups to about three-quarters full with the batter.
9. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
10. Remove from the oven and let cool on a rack.

Curiosity

Muffins are small cakes of Anglo-Saxon origin that have spread all over the world. They are typically American in their version with chemical yeast and are softer and more sponge-like compared to the original version. The chocolate and pear combination is a classic in Italian pastry: the sweet and soft texture of the pear pairs magnificently with the intense and slightly bitter taste of cocoa.