Healthy Pear Muffins
These Healthy Pear Muffins are soft, moist, and filled with juicy chunks of fresh pear. Made with wholesome oats, white whole wheat flour, and olive oil, they’re an easy, feel-good breakfast or snack with just the right amount of sweetness.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Wholesome and satisfying – Made with whole grain oats, white whole wheat flour, and fresh pears for a hearty, fiber-rich muffin.
- Soft and moist – Soaked oats and plenty of juicy pear keep every bite wonderfully tender.
- Quick and easy – No mixer required. The batter comes together easily by hand with just a couple of bowls.
If you are looking for more healthy muffin recipes, try my High-Protein Strawberry Muffins, Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins, and High-Fiber Raspberry Bran Muffins.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- Old-fashioned oats: Add whole-grain goodness, texture, and fiber. Soaking them in milk before baking softens the oats and creates a more tender muffin.
- Milk: Hydrates and softens the oats. Dairy or your favorite unsweetened non-dairy milk will work.
- White whole wheat flour: Provides the benefits of whole grains while giving the muffins a lighter texture and milder flavor than traditional whole wheat flour.
- Baking powder & baking soda: Work together to help the muffins rise and give them a soft, fluffy texture.
- Salt: Enhances the sweetness of the pears and balances all the flavors.
- Cinnamon & nutmeg: These warm spices pair beautifully with fresh pears and give the muffins a cozy fall flavor.
- Brown sugar: Adds sweetness, moisture, and a subtle caramel flavor that complements the pears.
- Egg: Helps bind the ingredients together and gives the muffins structure.
- Olive oil: Keeps the muffins soft and moist. Use a mild olive oil or any neutral-tasting oil you prefer.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a little extra warmth and sweetness to the muffins.
- Fresh pears: Add natural sweetness, moisture, and juicy chunks of fruit throughout every muffin.
How to make healthy pear muffins:
(The full written and printable recipe is further below.)
Step #1) In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, brown sugar, egg, olive oil, and vanilla. Stir in the oats and let stand for 15 minutes.
Step #2) Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Also, dice the pears.
Step #3) Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined, then fold in the diced pears.
Step #4) Divide the batter into a paper-lined muffin pan. Top with sliced almonds if desired. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.
🌟 Expert tips:
- Choose ripe but firm pears. Pears should be sweet and flavorful but still firm enough to hold their shape while baking. Bartlett, Anjou, and Bosc pears are all good choices.
- Dice the pears into small pieces. Aim for approximately ¼–½-inch pieces so you get pear in every bite without making the centers of the muffins too wet.
- Let the oats soak. Soaking the oats in milk for 10–15 minutes allows them to soften and absorb moisture, giving the muffins a more tender texture.
Storing & freezing instructions:
Store leftover pear muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Because of the fresh fruit, refrigerating them is best for longer storage.
To freeze, place completely cooled muffins in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
Recipe FAQs:
No. Pear skin softens nicely during baking, so there’s no need to peel them. Leaving the skin on also adds a little extra fiber.
Bartlett, Anjou, and Bosc pears all work well. Look for pears that are ripe and sweet but still slightly firm.
Yes. Quick oats can be substituted, although they will give the muffins a slightly softer and less textured crumb.
Yes. Chopped walnuts or pecans pair especially well with pears and cinnamon. About ½ cup is plenty. Fold them in with the diced pears.
If you’ve tried this Healthy Pear Muffins Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Healthy Pear Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup olive oil, or any neutral-tasting oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1½ cup fresh diced pears, about 1½ medium pears
- 1-2 Tbsp sliced almonds for topping, optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, brown sugar, olive oil, egg, and vanilla. Stir in the oats and let stand for 15 minutes.1 cup milk, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 large egg , ¼ cup olive oil, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup old fashioned oats
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400F and line a muffin pan with paper liners.
- In a small bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.1 cup whole wheat flour, ¼ tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined, then fold in the diced pears.1½ cup fresh diced pears
- Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Top with sliced almonds if desired. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.1-2 Tbsp sliced almonds for topping
Notes
Recipe adapted from Marisa Moore.
