Orange-date Bran Muffins (healthier!)

Total Time: 38 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 18 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup unprocessed natural bran
• 1 1/4 cups orange juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 3/4 cup unbleached flour or 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 egg whites
• 4 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 1/2 cup chopped dates

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 400*. lightly coat a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with paper liners.
• 2 in a large bowl, stir together the bran, orange juice, honey, and molasses. set aside for about 5 minutes.
• 3 in a medium bowl, stir together the unbleached or all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• 4 stir the applesauce, egg whites, and orange peel into the bran mixture. add the flour mixture and stir just until combined. fold in the dates.
• 5 divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes. invert onto the rack and serve warm or at room temperature.