The Creative Kitchen | Cooking Light: Browned Butter Whole-Wheat Muffins

Let’s talk about breakfast: the most frequently overlooked yet simultaneously most important meal of the day. While we know it’s just easier and faster to throw together a bowl of cereal than whip up a nutritious and filling breakfast before racing out the door to work and school, but a little preparation can change that! Our friends at Cooking Light have put a delicious, healthful recipe for Browned Butter Whole-Wheat Muffins that can help make breakfast great again! Make these ahead of time, freeze, and take out whenever you need them.

Ingredients:

6 oz. whole-wheat flour (about 1 1/2 cups)

1/4 cup wheat bran

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 medium ripe banana, mashed (about 1/2 cup)

1 large egg

Cooking spray

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, wheat bran, and next 3 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk.

3. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium; cook 90 seconds or until browned and fragrant, swirling pan frequently. Combine butter, yogurt, sugar, vanilla, banana, and egg in a bowl. Add yogurt mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until combined. Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375°F for 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on a wire rack.

Mix it Up:

Our friends at Cooking Light created three tasty variations of these muffins. Check them out!

Cherry-Gingerbread Muffins: Add 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries, 1/3 cup molasses, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1 tsp. ground ginger, and 1/4 tsp. ground allspice to muffin batter. Bake as directed.

Figgy Walnut Muffins: Add 3/4 cup sliced dried figs, 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, and 1 tsp. ground cinnamon to muffin batter. Bake as directed.

Cranberry, Orange, and Pistachio Muffins: Add 1/2 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 cup chopped unsalted pistachios, 1 1/2 tsp. grated orange rind, and 1/4 cup fresh orange juice to muffin batter. Bake as directed.