Applesauce Spice Bran Muffins

This moist, delicious muffin can be made with dried cranberries, raisins or chopped dates. I baked these up as 12 jumbo muffins but am posting the recipe for 24 regular muffins, as this is the size of pan most bakers have.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 24 muffins

Ingredients

• 3  cups  wheat bran
• 3  cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄2 cups dried cranberries
• 1  tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon ground ginger
• 1  teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1  oranges, zest of or 1  lemon, zest of
• 1  cup applesauce
• 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 1⁄2 cup  vegetable oil
• 3  eggs
• 2 1⁄4 cups milk
• 1⁄2 cup molasses

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Lightly grease two non-stick muffin pans or line with paper muffin cups.
3. In a large bowl, combine the bran, flour, cranberries, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg and orange zest.
4. In a separate bowl, beat together the applesauce, sugar, oil and eggs until well mixed.
5. Stir in the milk and molasses.
6. Add to the dry ingredients, stirring just enough to moisten. Be careful not to overmix.
7. Spoon into the prepared muffin pans.
8. Bake for 20 minutes or until the tops are firm to the touch.