Ingredients

  • 1 12 cups self-rising flour
  • 12 cup plain flour
  • 14 cup brown sugar
  • 12 teaspoon mixed spice
  • 14 teaspoon clove powder
  • 3 eggs
  • 12 cup grapeseed oil (or similar low-cholesterol good quality cooking oil)
  • 34 cup milk (I used rice milk)
  • 14 cup golden syrup
  • 3 ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
  • 1 12 tablespoons crystallized ginger, chopped
  • 12 cup white chocolate chips, contain dairy products (optional)

Method

  • Preheat oven to 180C, and line a regular 12 hole muffin pan with muffins papers (or grease lightly).
  • Sift flours and spices together in a large bowl, and stir in brown sugar.
  • In another bowl, whisk eggs till combined, then add (one by one) oil, milk and golden syrup and whisk till well-combined.
  • Add chopped pears and ginger (and white choc bits, if using) to dry mixture, then pour egg mixture in, too, and fold carefully together until just combined.
  • Spoon mix into prepared muffin tin, and bake in oven approximately 20 minutes, until risen and golden brown on top.
  • Turn out immediately onto wire rack to cool.
  • These keep very well for several days in a sealed container - the fruit keeps them moist and flavourful for longer.
  • (The white chocolate chips contain dairy of course so are optional, but are a delicious addition if that isn't a problem.
  • ).