Name: Gingerbread Loaf with Poached Pears
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 2 h
Ingredients: 1 cup apple cider or juice; 1 cup red wine or apple cider; 2 cinnamon sticks; 6 whole cloves; 4 small fresh Bartlett pears (5 to 6 oz. each), peeled with stems left intact; ⅓ cup blackstrap molasses; ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce; 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal; 1¼ cups white whole wheat flour; 2 tablespoons pure cane sugar; 2 teaspoons regular or sodium-free baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon sea salt; ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves; 1 recipe Aquafaba Whipped Cream

Prep-time: 30 minutes / Ready In: 2 hours
Makes 1 loaf
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This is your favorite gingerbread with a surprise in the center—whole spiced poached pears! The absorbent fruits are soaked in a hot bath of apple cider, red wine, cinnamon, and cloves to infuse them with all the best holiday flavors. Homemade Aquafaba Whipped Cream creates a silky smooth topping that perfectly complements the sweet cake. Sprinkle everything with a little extra cinnamon and voilà, you have a restaurant-quality dessert for your winter feast!

By Nancy Macklin, RDN, Oct 25, 2021

Ingredients

1 cup apple cider or juice
1 cup red wine or apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
4 small fresh Bartlett pears (5 to 6 oz. each), peeled with stems left intact
⅓ cup blackstrap molasses
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
1¼ cups white whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons pure cane sugar
2 teaspoons regular or sodium-free baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon sea salt
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
1 recipe Aquafaba Whipped Cream

Instructions

In a large saucepan combine the first four ingredients (through cloves) and 1 cup water. Add pears. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutes or until pears are nearly tender. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pears to a paper-towel-lined plate. Let cool and blot away any excess moisture.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or use a silicone loaf pan. In a small bowl stir together molasses, applesauce, flaxseed meal, and ⅔ cup water. Let rest 5 minutes. In a large bowl combine the next eight ingredients (through cloves). Add molasses mixture to flour mixture and stir just until moistened.
Place pears, stem ends up, evenly distributed down center of loaf pan. Carefully spoon gingerbread batter around pears, keeping pears in center of pan.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in loaf comes out clean. Transfer pan to a wire rack; cool 15 minutes. Carefully remove loaf from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
Cut loaf so each piece will have a slice of pear. If desired, serve with Aquafaba Whipped Cream and sprinkle with additional ground cinnamon.

tags:

Holidays

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Ella6 months ago

Guess I should add, if I substitute the dates I will put those ingredients in the blender or food processor to smooth it out, not planning on putting whole chunks of date in the recipe, although I guess that could be interesting too LOL! Date paste would work very well for those who bother to make it. Maybe 1/3 cup date paste and two tablespoons of molasses would be about right.

Ella6 months ago

I also don’t like the use of cane sugar in these recipes. If I try it, I will substitute a few pitted dates and reduce the amount of molasses.

kat1 year ago

Pure cane sugar? Any substitute that will work?

Kim Burnett2 years ago

What are the calories and protein

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about the author

Nancy Macklin, RDN

Nancy Macklin has a bachelor of science in dietetics from Iowa State University and a Master of Science in health services administration from the University of Saint Francis. Macklin worked as a hospital-based clinical dietitian, providing counseling for diabetes, heart disease, and weight loss and as a food service director in health care dining sites. She now serves as a test kitchen dietitian, developing 500+ recipes per year. She is a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics and International Association of Culinary Professionals. Find her on LinkedIn.

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