Vanilla Pear Muffins

In 'williams-sonoma: muffins'

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease 14 standard muffin cups with butter or butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray.

Fill the unused cups 1 / 3 full with water to prevent warping.

Topping--stir together the sugar , walnuts , and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Set aside.

Muffins--in a bowl , stir together the flour , sugar , cinnamon , nutmeg , baking powder , baking soda , and salt.

In another bowl , whisk together the eggs , oil , buttermilk , and vanilla until blended.

Add the dry ingredients , stirring just until evenly moistened.

The batter will be slightly lumpy.

Using a large rubber spatula , gently fold in the pears and walnuts just until evenly distributed , no more than a few strokes.

Take care not to break up the fruit.

No not overmix.

Spoon the batter into each muffin cup , filling it level with the rim.

Sprinkle the muffins with the topping , dividing it evenly.

Bake until golden , dry , and springy to the touch , 20-25 minutes.

A pick inserted into the center of a muffin.

sugar, walnuts, ground cinnamon, all-purpose flour, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, salt, eggs, canola oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract, pears