On medium - low speed, add 1 /
3rd of the flour mixture to the butter / sugar mixture, then the vanilla and 1/2 of the milk.
Do you think it would help to hold back a
little of the flour mixture and then tossing the fruit in it before folding into the rest of the batter would help?
Add a third of your milk - egg mixture and a third
of your flour mixture while running your mixer on low speed until just incorporated.
Next add baking powder and salt to cake flour and pour half
of flour mixture into cake batter and beat until incorporated.
Beat a third of the vanilla milk into the butter mixture until incorporated, then a third
of the flour mixture until incorporated.
Add one - fourth
of flour mixture at a time to shortening mixture, beating at low speed after each addition until blended.
I like to peel, core and cut up about 2 - 3 pears at a time, place in a bowl and sprinkle about half
of the flour mixture on it and then toss to coat.
Begin adding in
more of the flour mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough is no longer too sticky to be kneaded with your hands.
If you're using frozen blueberries (which will make these muffins more affordable when the blueberries are no longer in season) take a
Tbsp of the flour mixture and toss the berries in it so they're lightly coated.