Moist and Delicious Fruit & Nut Muffins

Moist and Delicious Fruit & Nut Muffins

You are limited only by your imagination and the availability of healthy fruits and nuts when you make these healthy and delicious fruit and nut muffins. Just don't overdo it when time comes to serve and eat these moist and tasty treats, as you and your lucky guests will surely be tempted to do.

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 cup organic brown sugar (or raw organic honey)
2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder*
1 teaspoon aluminum free baking soda
Add-ins (see below)
2 cups yogurt
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 organic cage free eggs

*Make your own aluminum-free baking soda with this recipe:

Aluminum-Free Homemade Baking Powder

(As always, for the very healthiest versions of any recipe choose organic content as much as possible.)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Combine oats, whole wheat flour, oat bran, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add optional add-ins.
2. Whisk together the yogurt and eggs in a small bowl. Add melted butter, whisking to combine. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones, being careful not to over mix (some lumps are fine).
3. Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups (I use non-bleached muffin papers to save clean-up time). Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until muffins are golden and firm to the touch. Allow them to cool for a few minutes, then lift them out of the tin and enjoy.

Makes 1 dozen.

Add-Ins (these are how you will make this recipe totally your own, unique, and completely delicious; just use whatever you prefer or have on hand). Choose at least one from each group.

Fruits: to total one cup

1/2 to 1 cup chopped fresh apple
1/2 to 1 cup chopped fresh pear
1/2 to 1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 to 1 cup diced banana
1/2 to 1 cup dried cherries or cranberries
1/2 to 1 cup raisins, dark or golden, or currants
1/2 to 1 cup chopped dates

Nuts and Seeds: to total 1/2 cup

1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, or cashews
1/4 to 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, raw or toasted
1/4 to 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, raw or toasted
1/4 to 1/2 cup flax seeds
1/4 to 1/2 cup sesame or poppy seeds

Spices:

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger, or 1 teaspoon ground
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon freshly-grated nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves

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