Emmer Pear Spiced Cupcakes Recipe

Photo by Erin Dooner

These yummy Emmer Pear Spiced Cupcakes incorporate whole-grain flour, fruit and lots of healthful herbs.

18 cupcakes SERVINGS

Ingredients

For Cupcakes:

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons whole-grain emmer flour, or 2-1⁄4 cups whole-wheat flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
11⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄3 cup light olive oil
1⁄4 cup unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons raw sugar or light brown sugar
1⁄2 cup raw sugar or granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 medium peeled pears (about 11⁄2 cups), cut into 1⁄3-inch chunks

For Maple Almond Butter Glaze:

1⁄3 cup almond butter
1⁄4 cup maple syrup
3⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons coconut oil, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1⁄8 teaspoon salt
Chopped almonds or other nuts, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 cupcake pans with paper liners.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together dry ingredients (flour through salt). Set aside.
In another large mixing bowl, mix together oil, melted butter or coconut oil, sugars, eggs, applesauce and vanilla.Gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture and stir until no streaks of flour remain. Pat chopped pears dry with paper towels, then fold in pears.
Fill cupcake liners 2⁄3 full and bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
Once cupcakes have cooled, prepare glaze by mixing all glaze ingredients together in a small bowl. Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes or until glaze is the consistency of refrigerated almond butter. Spoon 2 teaspoons of glaze on the center of each cupcake. There’s no need to spread it as the glaze will slowly spread and drip down for a few minutes after you put it on. Store unfrosted cupcakes at room temperature for up to 4 days, or refrigerate frosted cupcakes up to 4 days. Makes 18 cupcakes.Find more healthy dessert recipes and baking substitutions in Healthy Holiday Treats.
Recipes adapted with permission from The Sweet Side of Ancient Grains: Decadent Whole Grain Brownies, Cakes, Cookies, Pies and More by Erin Dooner. Follow Dooner's blog, Texanerin.

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The maple cinnamon almond butter glaze for these cupcakes is so great: There’s nothing to pipe and the frosting is not too sweet. The quantity and quality of this frosting is much more healthful than your typical butter and powdered sugar concoction. As for the cupcakes themselves, a hefty amount of spice makes them an irresistible fall treat. You can use apples instead of pears, if you wish.