Turkish Coffee Pear Bread

Ingredients

• 3-4 ripe pears
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 4 teaspoons ground coffee (regular grind)
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom

Directions

1. 1

   Peel and core the pears. Cut them into quarter pieces.

2. 2

   Puree the quarters in a food processor to get 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups.

3. 3

   Center a rack in the middle of an oven preheated to 325°F.

4. 4

   Lightly grease and flour a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.

5. 5

   Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt into a small bowl; set aside.

6. 6

   In the bowl of an electric mixer on medium speed, combine the butter and sugars until well blended, about 2 minutes.

7. 7

   Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing for about 1 minute.

8. 8

   Add the pear puree and yogurt. Mix until combined.

9. 9

   Stop mixing. Sprinkle the ground coffee and cardamom over the batter, then scatter the flour over the top.

10. 10

    Resume at low speed or pulse a few times, and mix until just combined.

11. 11

    Transfer the batter to the loaf pan and bake for about 1 hour 5 mins., or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

12. 12

    Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a wire rack and turn right side up on the rack to cool completely.