Apple Bran Whole Wheat Muffins

These muffins are rather dense and chewy and totally delicious! Lots of fiber and not too sweet. You can add raisins (1 C) and/or chopped nuts (1/2 C) and you can add some ground cloves (1/2 tsp) and/or ground nutmeg (1/4 tsp.) along with the cinnamon. Makes 2 dozen regular muffins or 4 dozen mini muffins.

• Ready In: 33 mins
• Serves: 24
• Yields: 24 muffins

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups  all bran  cereal
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 1⁄3 cup canola oil
• 2  eggs
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  apples, peeled, cored and grated
• 1 1⁄2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon kosher salt or 1⁄2 teaspoon table salt
• 2  teaspoons cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the cereal, buttermilk, oil, eggs and sugar in a medium bowl.
3. Add the grated apple and mix together. (If using raisins and/or chopped nuts, add them at this time.) Let the apple mixture sit while you measure the dry ingredients.
4. In a large bowl measure the flour, baking powder, salt and spices. Mix together with a wire whisk.
5. Pour the apple mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon just until all the dry ingredients are moistened. Mixture will be lumpy.
6. Prepare muffin tins with spray release and fill muffin cups a little more than half full.
7. Bake regular size muffins about 15 to 18 minutes and mini or "gem" muffins about 13 minutes. Let muffins sit in pans for 2 to 3 minutes before gently turning out onto a baking rack to cool.
8. These freeze very well.