Ontario Pear Squares with Maple Icing

By Addie

The Ontario Produce Marketing Association offers another use for pears in this recipe that would be great for a quick breakfast, an afternoon snack or a delicious dessert.

Ingredients

• Maple Icing:
• 1 cup Ontario pears, peeled and cubed
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 5 tbsp butter, melted, cooled
• zest from one lemon
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 3/4 cup cornmeal
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
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• 3/4 cup icing sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 tbsp maple syrup

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease and flour two, 12-cup square or regular muffin pans. In a food processor, add pears and sugar and pulse until coarsely chopped. Set aside for later use.

2. Whisk together in a large bowl – buttermilk, butter, lemon zest and eggs. In a medium-sized bowl, add flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and stir to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until combined – do not over mix. Fold in reserved pear mixture.

3. Divide batter evenly among pans and bake for about 20 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the centre of the squares comes out clean. Cool completely before removing from pan.
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For Maple Icing:
Whisk together icing sugar, vanilla and maple syrup in a medium-sized bowl until a smooth icing consistency is formed. For a thinner consistency, add an extra tbsp of maple syrup. Place cooled muffins on a baking tray lined with parchment or wax paper. Drizzle the icing on top and allow it to set for a few minutes before serving.

Makes 12 squares and 1 cup of icing.