Fruit & Nut Muffins

Fruit & Nut Muffins are packed with trail mix and cranberries while the whole wheat batter gets a protein boost from @nakednutrition Naked Rice. Easy to pack and eat, they're perfect any time of the day!

 

Muffins are a food that has so much memory attached to it for me. When I would take swimming lessons as a child, every so often my dad would spring for a giant (think Costco-sized) muffin as a morning treat. Somehow, they made the endless laps and 7AM start worthwhile! Over the years, muffins were always my go-to snack over things like doughnuts or cookies, because who doesn't like a individual cake in the middle of the day?

These days the muffins I make tend to be more manageable in size, and lean away from the super sweet "cake" ones of my youth. Because they're such a handy snack or breakfast and you can add almost anything to them, I decided to whip up a batch of trail-mix packed, protein infused muffins for my sister's boyfriend. The whole grains and protein keep you full for longer while the yogurt adds a hint of tang that offsets the sweetness of the batter and dried fruit.

 

Fruit & Nut Muffins

Makes 8
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (not Greek style)

1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup crushed bran flakes (I used Nature's Path Heritage Flakes)

2 tbsp ground flax 
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

2 scoops Naked Rice protein powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup trail mix (mine had dark and golden raisins, craisins, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds), I recommend this one if you need nut free

1. Heat the oven to 400°F and grease a muffin pan.
2. In a bowl, mix together the yogurt, milk, oil, vanilla, crushed cereal and flax. Let stand 5 minutes.
3. Add the sugar and mix well.
4. Stir in the flour, rice protein, baking powder, baking soda and salt until just combined.
5. Fold in the trail mix.
6. Scoop batter into muffin tins, filling each about 2/3 full. 
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes, then turn out immediately and cool on a wire rack.