Banana Bran Muffins

These soft, steamy muffins, flavored with sweet brown sugar and honey, creamy chunks of banana, and delicious chopped dates serve as a perfect breakfast alongside fresh fruit, cottage cheese, or eggs. They're also a sweet way to end any savory meal! 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of skim milk
• 1 vanilla pudding cup
• 1 1/2 cups crushed bran flakes
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/3 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 large banana, chopped

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 12-cup muffin tin.  In a large bowl, stir together pudding and skim milk.  Add bran flakes, stir until combined, and set aside.  In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, egg whites, brown sugar, honey, and vanilla, then add to bran mixture.  Sift together dry ingredients if needed, add to the bran mixture, and whisk until well-combined, then fold in the chopped banana and dates.  Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until muffins are slightly brown and pass the "toothpick test".

*These make a dozen small muffins, but once in a while we like to double the recipe and fill the muffin cups all the way before baking for 30-35 minutes, or until brown on top, to make nice, large muffins!