Recipes | Ontario Pear Squares with Maple Icing
Ontario Pear Squares with Maple Icing
“Whether enjoyed as a quick breakfast, afternoon snack, or used as incentive to get your child to finish their dinner, these multi-purpose mini-sized cakes will come in handy for any occasion.” – Chef Mark Picone, Vineland, ON
Ingredients
Servings
For the Pear Squares
- 1 Cup Ontario Pears, Peeled and Cubed
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Buttermilk
- 5 Tbsp. Butter, Melted and Cooled
- 2 Eggs
- 1 1/4 Cups Flour
- 3/4 Cup Cornmeal
- 1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
- 1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda
- 1/2 Tsp. Cinnamon
- 1/4 Tsp. Salt
For the Maple Icing
- 3/4 Cup Icing Sugar
- 1/2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 4 Tbsp. Maple Syrup
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C).Step 2
Grease and flour two, 12-cup square muffin pans, alternatively you may use two 12-cup regular muffin pans.Step 3
Add pears and sugar into a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Set aside for later use.Step 4
In a large bowl add buttermilk, butter, lemon zest and eggs; whisk until combined. 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 just until combined – do not overmix. Fold in reserved pear mixture. Divide batter evenly among pans. 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.Step 5
Maple icing: In a medium-sized bowl, add ingredients. With a whisk, mix until ingredients form a smooth icing consistency. For a thinner consistency, add an extra tbsp (15 mL) of maple syrup.Step 6
Presentation: Place cooled muffins on a baking tray lined with parchment or wax paper. Drizzle the icing on top and allow to set for a few minutes before serving.
Tip: To maintain freshness, store squares in an airtight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Avoid icing until serving. For added freshness, reheat squares in a 350˚F (180˚C) oven for 5 minutes.
