Cinnamon Pear Loaf

(Dry) ingredients :

• 1.5 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 medium ripe pears (i used Anjou), grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a loaf or cake pan.
2. In a mixing bowl – combine flour, baking soda + powder, salt and cinnamon. Remove about 1/3 cup of flour to coat walnuts separately in a small bowl.
3. Peel, core and grate pears. Add lemon juice to avoid browning.
4. Using a stand/hand mixer – cream butter, eggs and sugar. Add vanilla extract and mix to combine.
5. Using a spatula, gently fold in grated pear + walnuts.
6. Scrape wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir just until batter is evenly moistened. Do not over-mix.
7. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until loaf is browned and wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cool loaf for a few minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Serve it with plain, sprinkle on some powdered sugar, drizzle with a glaze/chocolate sauce or top it off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream — use your imagination 😉