Oaty-Raisin (Or Apple) Bran Muffins

I came up with this version of bran muffins today. I wanted to use up a cup of oats I had in the cupboard, and this delicious muffin resulted.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 18

Ingredients

• 1  cup oats
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  cup  wheat bran (not bran cereal)
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 3  extra-large eggs
• 2  cups milk (combined with milk) or 2  cups buttermilk (combined with milk)
• 3⁄4 cup  corn oil
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3  tablespoons baking powder
• 1 -1 1⁄2 cup golden raisins, chopped apple (depending on your love of raisins) or 1 -1 1⁄2 cup  of peeled chopped apple

Directions

1. Place oats and sugar in a small food processor or blender and zap until the oats have become nearly flour-like. Empty into a bowl and add the wheat bran, vanilla, eggs, milk, oil, salt and spices. Allow to 'rest' for 1/2 an hour (this allows the oats and bran to expand in the liquid and is an important step).
2. Preheat oven to 350°F Line muffin tins with liners.
3. Stir in flour and baking powder and mix just to combine. Add raisins, and stir to combine. Fill muffin tins, allowing muffin mixture to come just to the top of the liner.
4. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in a muffin comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.