Oatmeal Muffins with Dates, Cranberries and Pecans
41 comments » 
You may not believe what I’m about to tell you. I only half believe it myself. But I really think that I am sweet-ed out from the holidays. I don’t even think I ate all that much, but all of the baking, oiy. I kinda don’t even want to look at a cookie right now. I have no yearning for cookies, chocolate, or anything of the sort. So I’m tackling some less-rich baking projects this week. Enter these muffins. I love having quick and easy breakfast options during the week, and oatmeal is one of my go-to favorites, so these were definitely calling my name.
The original recipe calls for dates, raisins and walnuts as the add-ins, but I somehow blew through 6 lbs of walnuts over the holidays and was completely out, and I had dried cranberries in the pantry, so I did some shifting based on what I had available and wanted to use up. These turned out absolutely fabulous. They have a great, soft yet hearty texture thanks to the oatmeal and the dates, cranberries and pecans all contribute to little bursts of contrasting flavors with each bite. Mine turned out a little dark because I forgot to turn down the oven a bit to account for the non-stick pan. I was also out of paper liners. Oops, my head is still in the snowy holiday clouds I guess!
One year ago: Chocolate Babka
Three years ago: Brown Sugar-Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Oatmeal Muffins with Dates, Cranberries and Pecans
Yield: 12 muffins
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup traditional rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup finely chopped pecans (or walnuts)
1/3 cup chopped dates
1/3 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
4 ounces (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
½ teaspoon vanilla extractDirections:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a standard 12-cup muffin pan or line with paper baking cups.
2. In a large bowl whisk together the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Stir in the pecans, dates and dried cranberries. In a separate medium bowl whisk together the butter, buttermilk, egg and vanilla.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to gently stir together just until the ingredients are mixed and moistened.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the 12 muffin cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the muffin pan for a few minutes and then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
(Recipe adapted from Simply Recipes)
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Great idea, i just had so many dates left over from Christmas, nodoby likes them so much after all and this way I get to finish them.
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I am outsweeted myself! I have some leftover dates from the holidays and this would be a great way to sneak them into something.
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I’ve felt the same way for the past couple weeks (I haven’t baked since Dec 15!!!), but I think I’m getting out of my funk. By the way, I’m making your red velvet cupcakes tonight for my boyfriend!
The muffins looks great – I’ve tried a couple recipes from Simply Recipes. Everything from that site is perfect.
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Mmmm healthy muffins! These look much better than the store bought muffin I had today. Puuuuuke!
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I wish I was sick of sweets! It would make my renewal to healthy eating so much easier;-)
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Sandra on January 6th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
I’m with you!
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Oh, I am definitely making these either today or this weekend, I have lots of cranberries to use up and always have lots of nuts! I am needing some more go to morning muffins, Thanks for the Recipe!
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i am absolutely going to bake these…probably this w/e as it looks like another snow storm is on the way!
i have been using i can’t believe its not butter sticks (50% less saturated fat) for unsalted butter in my muffin recipes & they have been pretty tasty.
still LOVE my chocolate but am trying!
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I like to disguise my muffins with glazes and frostings – I love sweets, unfortunately they don’t love me back. I think these would be just fabulous all on their own, no “extras” needed.
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What a hearty muffin. Love it!
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Seriously good breakfast food!
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I totally agree! Now time to gorge myself on savory recipes. Pass the cheese please!
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Just the mention of oatmeal & buttermilk and you had me. Sounds like these will be comforting and taste healthy too. I don’t have any cranberries left but might try this recipe with some blueberries.
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i’m totally on a baking hiatus after the holidays! it’s nice to have a break and then get back into it around valentine’s day.
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I felt the same way. Great muffin!
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These sound great. I have a surplus of oats. Now I know what I will be doing with them!
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These look fantastic! I could see myself breaking these in to chucks and pouring some milk over it!
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6 lbs? Nice!! =) I know I ate a lot…and could keep eating more with this!!
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I wish I were sweeted-out! I think maybe my moderation didn’t satisfy my sweet tooth over the holidays…
These muffins sound like a very tasty break from my usual muffin repretoire! (Pardon my spelling.) Thank you for sharing this.
Dionne
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I’m surprised but somehow I also managed to get to the point where I no longer want chocolate. And my response was really similar to yours, I made bran muffins!
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these look right up my alley! Oats in a grainy fruit nutty muffin? I’m there…
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
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I feel the same way about being sugared out. And on top of it, I had to test 3 different samples of chocolate chips for a survey…it was all I could do to just open the bags.
Love the oaty muffins. Oatmeal creates just a distinct texture that you just can’t get with any other grain
Thanks for sharing!!
Toby
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they look amazing. I am also “sweetened” out – I am also trying to watch what I eat and lose 8 lb. So I am looking for healthy options for breakfast – not necessarily really low fat or low cal but full of fiber and good complex carbs. These look so good.
Your blog recipe always looks so good I imagine my hips growing every time I read it.
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Wonderful pictures, very nice recipe…great job:)
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I hear you ,I too am all cookied out! These muffins sound so good ,maybe I’ll bake them tomorrow,if I can shake this nasty cold!! That’s what I brought home from our Christmas visit to Greensburg!
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Did you get a new camera? Your pictures look great!
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These look soft indeed. What a wonderful texture! Sorry if I asked you this before, but how do you measure your flour? Do you weigh it, dip-and-sweep or spoon-into-measuring cup? Thanks much!
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Michelle on January 13th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Hi Hanaa – I always weigh everything
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Oooh, these look so yummy! Perfect for breakfast – I definitely need to make them soon!!
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I’m with you ! We are a bit over done with sweet too, though muffins are a good substitute. Oatmeal is one of my favorite muffin ingredients, I love the texture and knowing that it is healthier makes me less guilty when I reach for a second!
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I love the ingredients you used … these sound incredibly delicious!
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These looks perfect! My try these soon!!
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i made these this morning and my boyfriend as eaten almost all of them already!
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I love dates and cranberries so I will definitely be baking these soon.
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I made these today, getting ready for the ice storm heading my way, and they are delicious! Definitely a keeper!
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I love dates and cranberries, so I made these tonight – delicious! Thank you for the recipe. I’m sure I’ll be making them again soon.
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Made these when hubby was home from work for a snow day. Went with ingredients I had already so I used chopped almonds, cranberries, and raisins (no dates) and whole wheat flour. He loved them!
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These were so good. I have made these on two different occasions. I froze them for school and breakfasts, and they were still tasty. MY hubby and my kids like them. It’s a keeper!
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I made these yesterday substituting 1/2 cup of applesauce for the melted butter. They were moist and delicious!
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I’m baking these right now. The batter was amazing. I love the smell that was produced when I spilled the melted butter mix all over the dry ingredients. Man, that sounds kinda dirty. Anyway, thanks for the recipe.
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Possibly my new favorite easy breakfast muffin. I added a few mini chocolate chips the second time, but I think I preferred them your way. So good!!
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