Sugar and spice and everything nice… The temps are down and it’s getting darker earlier every day. Stealthily they already play Christmas songs at Home Depot (did I mention, I have been there quite a lot lately?), it’s not even past Halloween, yet they sneak in one ore two songs, then go back to regular music. Hoping no one would notice, but HA! as it so happens, apparently my brain was a sponge for this kinda thing this past weekend and kept doing an endless playback for me until I finally caved in and made these Gingerbread Muffins. …lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you…
Even thought the name in English is Ginger Bread, the French origin of this recipe had several spices, but originally no ginger in it. It is after all called pain d’épices (spice bread) and in German there are two words ‘Lebkuchen’ (no one knows what the ‘Leb’ really stands for, kuchen is cake) or Pfefferkuchen (Pepper cake) and that recipe, you guessed, contains pepper. So apparently there are regional differences in what goes into the Gingerbread Spice mix, and the one I used had ginger, cloves, cinnamon, coriander and star anis. But any old mix would work, heck, you can even make your own, if you’re so inclined. Or you could use Pumpkin Pie spice and add ginger … and comfy cozy are we…
They are super delish with a hot cup of tea (or coffee)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 1/4 cup chopped pear
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/3 cup granulated coconut sugar, sucanat or sugar
- 1 tsp gingerbread spice mix (if you like it real spiced, add up to 2 tsp)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2-3 tbsp water
Directions
- In a mixing bowl, mash banana with a fork until well mixed
- Combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and spices and add to the banana
- Add chopped pear, and stir to combine adding water by the tablespoon as needed (You don’t want the batter to be too dry)
- Spoon into paper lined muffin tin and bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
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