Dried Fruit Pear Bread Recipes

SLOW COOKED WINTER BREAD PUDDING WITH DRIED PEARS

Steps:

• If bread is not stale: Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the bread cubes out on a baking sheet and cook until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Whisk the half-and-half, eggs, sugar, whiskey, vanilla, salt and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Toss bread cubes and dried fruit together and place into the slow cooker. Pour custard over top and press down lightly until all bread is covered with custard.
• Cover and cook on LOW until pudding puffs and is just set, about 3 1/2 hours. Remove insert from the slow cooker and cool on a rack, about 20 minutes.
• Spoon pudding into large cups or bowls and sprinkle each serving with cinnamon sugar, and toasted nuts. Top with whipped cream or yogurt, if desired.

PEAR BREAD I

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Make a well in the center of the bowl.
• In a separate bowl combine the oil, eggs, sugar, grated pears, pecans, and vanilla. Blend well. Add to well of dry ingredients. Stir until just moistened. Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 8x5x3 inch loaf pans.
• Bake in a preheated 325 degree F (165 degrees C) oven for one hour and 15 minutes. Cool on wire rack before removing from the loaf pans.

DRIED PEAR HAZELNUT LOAF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray bottom and sides of 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, mix 2 1/4 cups flour, the granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. In medium bowl, beat buttermilk, 6 tablespoons butter, the vanilla, lemon peel, gingerroot and eggs with wire whisk until well blended. Stir into flour mixture until blended. Stir in pears and hazelnuts. Spread batter in pan.
• In medium bowl, mix brown sugar and 1/4 cup butter until blended. Stir in 2/3 cup flour; pinch with fingers until clumps form. Sprinkle topping over batter.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 5 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, covering with foil during last 25 minutes to prevent overbrowning, if necessary. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours. In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and milk until thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over loaf. Let stand 10 minutes.

DRIED PEAR BREAD

Steps:

• Cover dried pears with 2 c.
• hot water and let soak 30 minutes.
• Drain pears and snip into small pieces.
• Sift dry ingredients together (except sugar).
• Combine in another bowl sugar, butter, egg, 1/4 c.
• water and orange juice.
• Mix well; add dry ingredients.
• Stir in pears and pecans.
• Pour mixture into a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan, which has been lightly greased and floured.
• Bake at 350F for 55-60 minutes.
• Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
• Makes 1 loaf.
• May be frozen.

FRESH PEAR BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; stir into the egg mixture just until moistened. Toss pears with lemon juice. Stir pears and walnuts into batter (batter will be thick). , Spoon into 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

OVEN-DRIED PEARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 225 degrees. Line a pan with parchment. Cut each pear lengthwise into 1/8- to 1/4- inch-thick slices. Remove seeds and fibrous bits from each slice; arrange on pan, spaced 1/2 to 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with sugar.
• Transfer to oven; dry until pears become firmer, slightly chewy, and shriveled around edges, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack. Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, up to 2 days or frozen, up to 6 weeks.

ROASTED PEARS AND DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, whisk together apple cider, 2 tablespoons sugar, and butter. Add pears, dried cherries, prunes, and lemon zest and juice; toss to combine.
• Cover with aluminum foil, and bake 15 minutes; remove foil and continue to bake, tossing once, until fruit is tender and beginning to brown, 20 to 25 minutes more.
• In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream and remaining tablespoon sugar. Serve warm, or at room temperature, with sweetened sour cream.

PEAR SPREAD FOR FRUIT BREAD

Steps:

• Place pears, crystallized ginger, vanilla extract and white sugar in a small microwave safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high 2 minutes. Uncover and continue to microwave in 1 minute intervals, stirring occasionally, until the mixture attains a thick, spreadable consistency.

CHERRY PEAR BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In s small saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
• Turn off the heat, add the dried fruit to the water and cover the pan.
• Let sit until the fruit is softened, about 10 minutes.
• Strain the liquid, reserving 1/2 cup.
• Set fruit and reserved liquid aside to cool.
• Butter and flour two small loaf pans or one larger pan. Set aside.
• In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg.
• Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixed fitted with paddle attachment, combine the melted butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, reserved dried fruit, and reserved soaking liquid on medium speed.
• Add the reserved flour mixture, mix until smooth.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pans, smooth the top with a spatula.
• Bake until golden brown, about 40 - 50 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool 5 minutes.
• Slide a knife around the sides of the loaf then turn them out onto the rack.
• Let cool.
• Note: Toward the end of cooking you can top with butter and a sprinkle of sugar.