Mixed Fruit and Nut Buttermilk Bran Muffins

Recipe by The View From the Great Island

Mixed Fruit and Nut Buttermilk Bran Muffins ~ Remember the plump, jewel toned dried fruit I found at our farmer’s market a few weeks ago?  The Summer Fruit Granola I made with it was the best ever, so I made sure to get more of it.  This time it’s sweetening up my basic buttermilk bran muffins. Ever since I tasted premium dried fruit I can’t imagine going back to dusty old raisins in my muffins. Even if you can’t find fresh dried fruit at one of the stands at your farmer’s market, look for it your local stores.  They are coming out with more varieties and better quality these days.  Look for plump juicy fruit, Trader Joe’s has a pretty good selection. This mix has peaches, both yellow and white, nectarines, plums and pluots of all colors, apricots, and really fat raisins, both purple and green. I use a mix of oat and wheat bran in these muffins, and stuffed them full of fruit and nuts. There’s nothing sorrier than a flat topped bran muffin, so make sure to fill your muffin cups full, even if it means leaving one empty. I’ve been working on streamlining my recipes lately. I …

Ingredients

• ¾ cup wheat bran
• ¾ cup oat bran
• 1¼ cups buttermilk
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• ⅔ cups packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup chopped nuts, I used pecans, measured after chopping
• heaping 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit, very roughly chopped
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt

Method

1. Set oven to 350F
2. spray a 12 cup muffin pan, or fill with liners.
3. Whisk together the brans, buttermilk, oil, egg, sugar, and extract in a mixing bowl, making sure that the egg gets beaten as you whisk. Set aside for 10 minutes.
4. Fold the fruit and nuts into the mixture, then hold a sieve or mesh strainer over the bowl and sift in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into the batter. Mix well.
5. Fill 11 or 12 muffin cups nice and full.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out without batter clinging to it. Don't over bake.
7. Cool slightly then remove the muffins from the tin and cool on a rack. They can be frozen after they've cooled, if you want, just wrap them individually, and well.

View the recipe instructions at The View From the Great Island