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Sour Cream Pear Bread

posted by Liz Berg on November 5, 2022 (updated 10/11/23)

This moist, rich Sour Cream Pear Bread is the perfect autumn treat with the warm spices of cinnamon and ginger. Totally irresistible with chunks of pears nestled in a sweet, tender loaf.

Disclaimer, I LOVE Pears. I have eaten scrumptious pear coffee cakes, put pears in my salads, but never made nor tasted a pear quick bread. I was bound and determined to create a moist and flavorful loaf, and, indeed, I did. This is one of those Pear Recipes that can’t be beat!

Sour Cream Pear Bread slices on a slate cutting board.

Table of Contents hide

5 Frequently Asked Questions

6 You May Also Like

7 Sour Cream Pear Bread

Why You Must Make

This Sour Cream Pear Bread is full of small pear chunks plus a hint of spice from cinnamon and ginger. Perfect for a fall breakfast, snack or teatime.
Adding sour cream made for a rich batter, which in turn, baked up to a perfect loaf. I shared this with a group of friends and they all were crazy about it.
Rich, sweet, and addictive, this loaf is a terrific addition to your breakfast or brunch menu, but could also be served with a scoop of ice cream for dessert!

Pear Bread Ingredients on a sheet pan with labels.

Ingredient Notes

Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Eggs, Salt, Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Ginger
Cinnamon Sugar – Use the ratio of cinnamon to sugar that you prefer. Try 1 tablespoon of cinnamon in ¼ cup of sugar as a starting point.
Baking Powder – You will need both baking powder and baking soda in this recipe. Note that baking powder has a much shorter shelf life compared to baking soda. It will usually expire before you use it all. So check the expiration date. If you’re still unsure, you can test it by putting a spoonful into a cup of hot water. It should fizz or bubble if it’s still active. If it doesn’t, replace before starting the recipe.
Cake Flour – This has less gluten than all-purpose flour and will give your bread a more tender crumb.
Pears – I prefer Bartlett pears, but use any favorite variety. You will need to peel and core them before chopping them into cubes. Taste them before you add the pears to the bread. If they’re lacking flavor, your bread will, too.

Loaf of Sour Cream Pear Bread on a slate board.

How to Make

Pan prepped for pear bread — Prep pan by buttering and dusting with cinnamon sugar.

Flour mixture in bowl. — Prep pan by buttering and dusting with cinnamon sugar.

Expert Tips

My home base taste testers had no interest in even a nibble of this tasty pear bread recipe, so I turned to my girlfriends who always love sampling my experiments. The loaf of pear quick bread was whittled down to next to nothing after the initial tasting and the packaging up of slices to be taken home. We all agreed that the pear taste was quite subtle, and there was even the declaration “This is so much better than banana bread.”

One astute friend noticed the sweet, crispy crust which was created by dusting the greased loaf pan with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar before adding the batter. Just grease your loaf pan, add some cinnamon sugar, then tilt the pan to distribute. Tap out any excess over your sink.
Incorporating both ground cinnamon and ginger helped to boost the flavor of what could have been a bland recipe.
Avoid using over-ripe or extra juicy pears as they will add too much moisture to your batter. Look for firm, but not rock-hard, pears. It’s best to take a taste as you’re chopping them as flavorless pears won’t make a tasty bread.
As with all quick bread, do not over mix as your bread will develop tunnels. Do not use a mixer, but instead, mix by hand with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Mix in the dry ingredients just until combined.
PRO-Tip: Make sure your Baking Powder is fresh. Unlike baking soda, it has a much shorter shelf life and your bread won’t rise properly if it’s old. If unsure, put a spoonful in a bowl of very hot water. If fresh, it will bubble vigorously. If it doesn’t, toss the can and purchase some fresh baking powder.

With pear season arriving, make sure to grab a couple extra and bake up some Pear Quick Bread, for your friends and family. I really loved this! I always have a stash of pears on the counter, and this yummy pear bread is the perfect excuse to buy some extras!

Sliced Sour Cream Pear Bread with whole pears on a slate tray.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Quick Bread, Soda Bread, Tea Bread, etc?

All these terms including Fruit Bread refer to bread that is not made with yeast. Instead, they are made with baking powder or baking soda, making them quick to make since they don’t require kneading or rising time.
These two leaveners start the rising process as soon as they are combined with any moisture.

How Do You Store Pear Bread?

Pear bread can be kept at room temperature for a day or two, but since it is moist, keep it in the refrigerator, well wrapped after a couple of days. PRO-Tip: If storing in a container, add a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture to keep the bread from getting soggy or prematurely spoiling.

Can You Freeze Pear Bread?

Yes! Most Quick Bread freezes beautifully. Just wrap it well so it’s airtight and keep frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.

What Kinds of Pears are Best for Baking?

Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou pears are all wonderful for baking. Bartlett pears are my personal favorite variety for eating and baking.

What Else Can You Make with Pears?

Many recipes using apples can easily be used for pears instead. Here are some favorite ways to use pears:
Add to a Fall Salad.
Make a Pear Crisp.
How about a Pear Coffee Cake?
Use for a Clafoutis, Pie, Galette, Pear Bars, or a Pear Cake.
Make Baked Pears instead of Baked Apples.
Poach Pears in wine.
Or even a festive Pear Cocktail is delicious.