Oatmeal Spice Muffins

This is from the Montreal Gazette. The batter is a stepping stone to adding your choice of favourite fruits, like dried cranberries, blueberries and so on. Play with the recipe a bit in order to get the best combination of fruits that suits your taste.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Yields: 10 muffins

Ingredients

• 1  cup rolled oats (not instant)
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 1  large egg
• 1⁄2 cup  packed down brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1  cup flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1  cup  nuts (optional) or 1  cup raisins (optional) or 1  cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the oats, and the buttermilk and let stand for one hour (30 minutes will do if you are in a rush).
2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F, and line a muffin tin with 10 paper muffin cups.
3. Stir the egg and sugar into the oat mixture, followed by the butter.
4. Pile all the remaining dry ingredients together atop the mixture, then stir them into the batter until just combined.
5. Carefully fold in any add-ins without overmixing, which causes the muffins to be tough.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the the prepared muffin cups, then bake in the middle of your preheated oven for about 25 minutres, or until the muffins are firm and golden brown.
7. Let cool in the pan a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool further.