ULTIMATE BRAN MUFFINS

ULTIMATE BRAN MUFFINS 1 1/2 cups Bran cereal (All bran or crushed bran flakes to make 1 1/2 cups) 1 2/3 cups milk 2 cups all purpose flour 3 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup molasses 2 eggs 1/3 cup canola oil (or other vegetable oil) 1/4 cup melted butter 3/4 cup raisins (optional)(plus extra to garnish tops before baking if you like) Begin by soaking the bran cereal in the milk for 10-15 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 12 muffin pan generously, including the top of the pan. If using paper muffin liners, it's still a good idea to grease the top of the pan to prevent sticking. To a large bowl add the brown sugar, molasses, oil, melted butter and eggs. Whisk together until well blended. Stir in the bran and milk mixture. Fold in the dry ingredients until the batter is smooth. If you are using them, add the raisins during the last few turns of folding in the flour. Spoon the batter evenly into prepared muffin pan. Bake for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees F or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the centre of the muffins comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan before transferring the muffins to a wire rack to cool.