Pear Bread With Vanilla and Ginger

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• salt, a pinch
• 1 lemon, zest of
• 1/2 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups peeled cored, coarsely chopped pears

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°; grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

2. 2

   In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer.

3. 3

   Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. 4

   Add in the vanilla extract and beat just until combined.

5. 5

   In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, lemon zest, and crystallized ginger.

6. 6

   Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, in three equal portions.

7. 7

   Beat just until smooth.

8. 8

   Gently fold in pears, just until evenly distributed.

9. 9

   Scrape batter into prepared pan; bake in the center of the oven until golden brown and pick comes out clean, about 55-65 minutes.

10. 10

    Turn the loaf out of pan onto a rack, then turn it right side up; let cool completely before slicing.