Muffins! Muffins!

I just love that word-"Muffin"! Ha anyway- these are super-natural and and look delish!

Don’t let the “Bran Muffin” title fool you, because these are REALLY GOOD! Promise. In addition to being a quick, good-for-you breakfast choice, these muffins would also make for a thoughtful homemade hostess gift or tasty addition to any brunch.

1. Combine eggs, butter, maple syrup, and buttermilk (or yogurt). I think this step looks kind of artsy & pretty…

2. Whisk the wet ingredients together.

3. Sprinkle the oat bran and cereal on top of the wet mixture and stir together.

4. Let the above mixture sit for 5 minutes. In the meantime, mix the dry ingredients (cane sugar, wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt) together in a separate bowl.

5. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir well to combine.

6. Add your mix-ins (this is optional). I added chopped dates here, but Heidi also suggests currants or the grated zest of a couple lemons or oranges. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the tops of the muffins with sunflower seeds or finely chopped walnuts before baking.

7. Divide the batter evenly between 12 muffin cups, and bake for 18-22 minutes.

Ta-da! This is 18 minutes of cooking looks like for me:

BRAN MUFFINS

via Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson

Ingredients:

– 2 large eggs

– 1 cup buttermilk OR plain yogurt

– 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter

– 1/4 cup pure/organic maple syrup

– 1/2 cup unprocessed wheat bran OR oat bran

– 1.5 cups plain, unsweetened bran cereal

– 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

– 1/4 natural cane sugar

– 1 tsp baking soda

– 1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder

– 1 tsp fine-grain sea salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees with a rack in the middle of the oven. Generously butter a standard 12-cup muffin pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, and maple syrup. Sprinkle the bran and cereal across the top, stir, and allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes.

In the meantime, in a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the top of the wet and stir until just combined. Immediately fill each muffin cup three-quarters full.

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the edges of the muffins begin to brown and the tops have set. Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn the muffins out of the pan to cool completely on a wire rack.

ENJOY!

via:hostessblog.com