Oatmeal Muffins with Dates, Cranberries and Pecans
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.
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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
Ingredients
- 1 cup (81 g) traditional rolled oats
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) cinnamon
- ¼ cup (24.75 g) finely chopped pecans, or walnuts
- ⅓ cup (49 g) chopped dates
- ⅓ cup (40.4 g) dried cranberries, or raisins
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, (½ cup )
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) vanilla extract
Instructions
- 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.
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These looks perfect! My try these soon!!
I love the ingredients you used … these sound incredibly delicious!
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!
Oooh, these look so yummy! Perfect for breakfast – I definitely need to make them soon!! :)
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!
Hi Hanaa – I always weigh everything :)
Did you get a new camera? Your pictures look great!
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!
Wonderful pictures, very nice recipe…great job:)
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.
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
these look right up my alley! Oats in a grainy fruit nutty muffin? I’m there…
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
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!
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
6 lbs? Nice!! =) I know I ate a lot…and could keep eating more with this!!
These look fantastic! I could see myself breaking these in to chucks and pouring some milk over it!
These sound great. I have a surplus of oats. Now I know what I will be doing with them!
I felt the same way. Great muffin!
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.
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.
I totally agree! Now time to gorge myself on savory recipes. Pass the cheese please!
Seriously good breakfast food!
What a hearty muffin. Love it!
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.
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!
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!
I wish I was sick of sweets! It would make my renewal to healthy eating so much easier;-)
I’m with you!
Mmmm healthy muffins! These look much better than the store bought muffin I had today. Puuuuuke!
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.
I am outsweeted myself! I have some leftover dates from the holidays and this would be a great way to sneak them into something.
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.