The Simplest Muffins

Ingredients

• 2 cups white whole wheat flour or unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1-1 1/2 cup dried fruit or nuts or chips
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
• 1/4 cup butter, melted or vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 425°F Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin pan; or line it with papers, greasing the papers.

2. 2

   Whisk together the flour, oats, sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and additions of your choice: dried fruit, nuts, and/or chips.

3. 3

   In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, vanilla, butter or oil and eggs.

4. 4

   Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix until just blended.

5. 5

   Scoop the batter into the prepared pan, filling each cup three-quarters full. Sprinkle tops of muffins with coarse sparkling sugar, if desired.

6. 6

   Bake the muffins for 15 to 18 minutes, till they're set and a light golden brown.

7. 7

   Remove the muffins from the oven, and let rest in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out to cool completely on a rack. Serve warm.