This pear bread truly lets the fruit flavour shine through, offering just a slight touch of cinnamon spice. Pears and vanilla pair well by complementing each others’ delicate aromas. We’ve enjoyed this delicious bread several times over the last couple of months and I plan on making it regularly, as I now prefer it to banana bread.
Though it is an ideal way to use up overripe pears, the recipe works just as beautifully with canned pears from the pantry. It’s also a flexible and forgiving recipe. You can add an extra half cup of pears if you like, and your flour can be gluten free or not, thanks to the binding power of eggs and oats and a bit of flax seed.
The natural caramel colour in the glaze came from using raw unrefined sugar, which I ground to a powder in my coffee grinder. Feel free to use icing sugar (confectioners sugar) though, which will yield a whiter glaze. Any way you make it, a slice of this nutty, moist bread is perfect when paired with a hot drink, such as tea, hot chocolate, or cider. Those of you who love coffee shall have to give me a report on how it tastes alongside your favourite brew.
Very Vanilla Pear Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pears, cored, peeled and diced (or use 1 400 mL can of pears, drained)
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup light buckwheat flour (or whole wheat flour if gluten is okay)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (I use aluminum-free)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup raw sugar, coconut palm sugar, or light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed, optional (but recommended for gluten-free)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup coconut oil or butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans or walnuts
- 1/2 cup raw sugar, processed until fine, or 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon almond milk or other milk
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, mix together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In another bowl, blend together sugar, butter or oil, eggs, applesauce, flaxseed, and vanilla.
- Add dry mixture to wet mixture and stir until no lumps remain. Fold in nuts and pears.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C). Lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line with greased parchment. Pour batter into pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until middle tests done.
- Let loaf cool. Whisk the fine sugar or icing sugar together with almond milk and vanilla until smooth. Add more liquid or fine sugar until glaze reaches the desired consistency. Drizzle vanilla glaze over bread.
Adapted from Fun and Food Cafe
I share recipes at Allergy Free Wednesdays, Gluten Free Wednesdays, and here.
Also sharing this at Savoring Saturdays.
Swirls and Spice 
I love the look of this!
Thanks! I’ve made it frequently and plan to keep on doing so!
Pears are one of our favorite fruits and I’ve never thought to use them in a bread. This is just the kind of treat I enjoy in the morning with a cup of coffee.
I’d love to hear how it tastes with coffee. I can only imagine. 🙂
I love pears and don’t bake often enough with them. This bread looks absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks, Kelly! I hope you get a chance to make this pear bread at some point. Seems like you’ve been very busy though, based on how many fantastic recipes you’ve been posting this month! 🙂
I have never considered using pears in a bread recipe. Sounds yummy. I like the fact that you can use either canned or fresh. Pinned it to my Breads board, would love to try it.
So glad you shared with us at Merry Monday and looking forward to your creativity next Monday!
Thank you! I am trying to us more pantry ingredients in these colder months. Canned pears are so nice to have on hand for things like this. I’d love to can my own fruit–some day.
This loaf looks lovely, I’m not usually a fan of pears but I’d give anything a go. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!! Laura@Baking in Pyjamas
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays Party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share next time!
-Cindy
Thank you for doing that, Cindy! I’ll be back! 🙂
This bread looks so delicious. I’m highlighting it this week at Gluten-Free Wednesdays. Thanks for sharing it there last week!
That’s wonderful news! I’m making it again tonight to bring to a group I attend. 🙂 -Julia
Julia this bread looks amazing! So Moist, you can just see it! Definitely going to try and make this very soon:)
Thanks, Shannon! It’s always fun to know that recipes are being enjoyed in real life!
Thanks for sharing your Vanilla Pear Bread on Savoring Saturdays. I’m featuring it this week on Flippin’ Delicious! Be sure to link up tomorrow night 🙂
This sounds soooo delicious! I’m featuring it at this weekend’s Savoring Saturdays party – hope you’ll stop by again! 🙂
Thank you, Raia! I just linked up my latest recipe. 🙂
Looks yummy — love pear bread and this one definitely looks delish! 🙂
in the directions, it is not mentioned when to mix in the pears. Should I mix in with wet ingredients or with the nuts? Thanks
With the nuts. I’ll edit the recipe to reflect that. Thanks for asking!
Very creative!