Applesauce Bran Muffins

Apple season enables a million delicious recipes, starting with these.  Eat them warm, with butter.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
12Yield:  muffins

INGREDIENTS
2 eggs, whisked
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup yogurt
¼ cup olive oil
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups wheat bran
1/2 cup sugar or equivalent* (*Stevia works well, read the fine print on your package for the amount that will be equivalent to the sugar)
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon apple pie spice (or a mixture of cinnamon and your favorite baking spices)
pinch salt
1/2 cup toasted pecans
1/2 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS

Preheat your oven to 400F.

Whisk the eggs in a large bowl.  Add the applesauce, milk, yogurt, and the olive oil, and whisk again. Set aside.

In another bowl mix the flour, bran, sweetener, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt.

Stir the liquids into the dry ingredients until just blended into a thick dough. Then stir in the pecans and the raisins. Using a rubber spatula, scrape muffin batter into a muffin pan (I use two small rubber spatulas, and line the muffin pan with paper muffin cups for easy cleanup). Add just enough batter to fill a muffin cup level.  Bake for 17 minutes, or until just firm.

Don't overcook whole grain muffins (they'll dry out).

Photo and Recipe by Tod Dimmick