Pear and Chocolate Cupcakes

Pear and chocolate cupcakes are a delightful combination of sweet and fruity flavors. Here is the recipe to make them:

Ingredients

• 175 g of all-purpose flour
• 150 g of sugar
• 125 g of soft butter
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 2 ripe but firm pears, peeled and cut into cubes
• 100 g of dark chocolate, coarsely chopped or in chips
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (356 °F) and prepare a cupcake baking tray with paper liners.
2. In a bowl, whisk the butter with the sugar until you have a frothy and light mixture.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, continuing to beat after each addition to blend the ingredients well.
4. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
6. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture, mixing gently until there are no lumps.
7. Add the pear cubes and the chopped dark chocolate, stirring with a spatula to distribute them evenly in the batter.
8. Fill the paper liners about 2/3 full with the batter.
9. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean.
10. Let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack before serving.

Curiosity

Pear and chocolate cupcakes are perfect for an afternoon tea or as a sweet treat after dinner. The pear adds a note of freshness that deliciously contrasts the rich taste of chocolate. In Italy, you might find variations of this cupcake using milk chocolate or perhaps with the addition of a pinch of cinnamon for a spiced touch.

Remember to let the cupcakes cool completely before possibly decorating them with chocolate ganache or buttercream icing for an extra touch. Have fun and enjoy your tasting!