9.27.2010

sweet potato cranberry pear muffins

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Just when it was beginning to feel a lot like autumn...
After a remarkably cool summer, we are now experiencing record high temperatures for this time of year. There are way too many spiders, yellow jackets and bugs around. I think they're all a bit confused! Well, no matter. I'm going to pretend that the air is crisp and cool. I'm going to turn on my oven and bake up some lovely sweet potato muffins with cranberries, pears, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves....

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I spotted a recipe for mini sweet potato muffins in the most recent Taste of Home issue. I happened to have a couple of sweet potatoes in my fridge and as you know, I have a weakness for muffins, so I just had to give these a try.

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I put my own twist on the original recipe, adding the cranberries and chunky pear sauce, replacing the granulated sugar with honey and using Bob's stone ground whole wheat pastry flour.

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I love these! Just when I think I've found a favorite muffin recipe, another one comes along to take its place.

Sweet Potato Cranberry Pear Muffins
by theUngourmet -inspired by Taste of Home

Makes about 1 dozen muffins

1 3/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 eggs
1 cup mashed sweet potatoes
1/4 cup chunky pear sauce
1/2 cup low fat milk
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup canola oil

Streusel Topping
2 tbsp whole wheat pastry flour
2 tbsp rolled oats
1 tbsp raw sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp cold butter

Preheat oven to 350. Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Lightly spray oil the paper liners.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cranberries. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, sweet potato, pear sauce, milk, honey and oil. Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened.

Fill baking cups 2/3 full.

For the streusal, combine the flour, oats and sugar. Cut in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.

Bake for 16-18 minutes until golden and toothpick inserted into center of muffins comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in pan before transferring to a wire rack.

Print recipe

Have an amazing week! Happy Autumn!





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34 comments:

MaryMoh said...

Sweet potatoes in muffins! I have to try this. I love sweet potatoes. Thanks very much for sharing.

pigpigscorner said...

The chunky pears sound like a great addition!

Beth said...

I have a weakness for muffins too. These sound great!

ck said...

These looks so good! We made your maple banana nut muffins and they were a HUGE success. We might have to try these next. Thank you so much for these delicious muffin recipes!

Anonymous said...

Can you use regular diced pear? Or does it have to be 'pear sauce'? Is there a difference with texture?

Cathy said...

Lots of great flavors going on there, Kim. You are the muffin queen.

TKW said...

You are the Muffin Whisperer! I love that you tinker with the recipes to pack them with more nutrition!

Fresh Local and Best said...

These muffins sing the praises of autumn. I adore the flavors of sweet potatoes and pear with sweet spices. This is definitely a muffin that I could go for. I've heard that it's been unusually warm for this time of year on the west coast. I hope relief is around the corner.

theUngourmet said...

Anonymous- I wanted to answer your question about the pears vs pear sauce. I'm sure diced pears would be just as great. The sweet potatoes add enough moisture to the muffins that you don't really need the pear sauce. :)

Jeannie said...

These look really good and moist! Lots of fibre in there!

Randi Troxell said...

these look awesome.. as does everything else you make!!!

Joanne said...

I've been basically living in denial and cooking for fall as well! It's much more fun, in my opinion. These muffins look fantastic! I love that they have sweet potato in them.

Jhonny walker said...

I did not know you can use sweet potato in muffins!..this is real deal...and looks robust and hardy. Thanks for posting!

Unknown said...

absolutely gorgeous muffins

Magic of Spice said...

Love, love this combination...they look so good :) You are so brave with the oven, I thought I was going to melt yesterday...

♥peachkins♥ said...

beautiful muffins!



The Peach Kitchen
peach and things
blowing peachkisses

Faith said...

Gorgeous muffins, Kim. I love sweet potatoes and cranberries together and I must be another fantastic addition! Great way to get veggies in at breakfast! :)

FOODESSA said...

Kim...it seems that you're becoming quite the Muffin Princess.

Great recipe and love the use of sweet potatoes and the tartness of cranberries ;o)

Ciao for now,
Claudia

Delicious Dishings said...

These sound so perfect for fall! I've never made any baked goods with sweet potatoes -- cool concept!

marla {family fresh cooking} said...

I too am pretending that fall is here to stay. I have no time for this scorching indian summer stuff. I do have time however for your fab muffin recipe. I appreciate how mindful you are to use very little sugar in your recipes.

Monet said...

What a wonderful Fall recipe. There are so many great fall ingredients in here...sweet potatoes, cranberries, pears...I'm drooling! And I love that this recipe worked well with whole wheat flour. So good for our bodies! Thanks for sharing.

Emily Z said...

I have never thought of putting sweet potatoes in muffins but what a fantastic idea! Sounds delicious!!!

Mimi said...

I can't wait to try these. They sound like autumn on a plate!

Katie@Cozydelicious said...

Wow! There is so much yummy stuff packed in these muffins! All those vitamins! I love the idea of sweet potato for breakfast... yum!

Natalie said...

what a perfect Fall muffin recipe! Sweet potatoes are delightful in all forms, I've tried in a quickbread but never a muffin. I can't wait to try!

Jenn said...

I hear ya on the heat. We had record temps here in LA. That was no fun. But aside from that...A nice delicious muffin would make things better, right? :)

UrMomCooks said...

Awesome inspiration for sweet potatoes! And the pears are a natural fit! Wonder if my family would know how many "good" things are slipped into these muffins???

Michelle @ Find Your Balance said...

Those are prime candidates for trying without sugar. Excellent!

Mimi said...

Sound like a perfect combination for a fall muffin.
Mimi

Evan @swEEts said...

I love muffins..and sound delicious! I too have to fight the heat and pretend that Fall is upon us, although I've been battling 115 degree weather since May (that's TX for ya) so itll be another month till its really Fall here!

Debbie said...

Those sounds so good! What wonderful flavors to combine.

Julie said...

These are lovely...sure makes me wish it felt more like fall here too.

Jacqueline said...

This looks soo yummie!! Sweet potato is one of my favorite and i usually just boil them and eat. :) How wonderful to add them to muffins! Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you!

jacqueline
http://jqlinesocuteithurts.typepad.com/

Erica said...

I love, love your pictures!!! I prefer pears over apples and your muffins look delicious!!!Great combination!

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