BANANA/BRAN/CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS

BANANA/BRAN/CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS image

Provided by Elaine Radu

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 17

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1 c granulated sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 c vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract (for the muffin batter)
2 c mashed, ripe bananas
3 c natural bran, or bran buds
1 1/2 c buttermilk (if you do not have buttermilk, simply mix 1 tbsp lemon juice to the milk, and set aside)
3 c all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
3 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 c dry cranberries, or raisins, or combination of both
FOR the cream cheese filling
1 pkg cream cheese spread, (400 gms) softened to room temperature
1/4 c icing sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Steps:

1. Muffin Tins - Greased or Paper Lined. Preheat oven to 375 C (190C). Hint: Set oven preheat to 385F. Pop the filled tins into the oven; close the door and immediately drop the temperature setting to 375C. In this way, you will not lose any precious baking temperature when you open the oven door,initially.
2. CREAM CHEESE FILLING: Mix together, Cream Cheese, Icing Sugar and 1 tsp vanilla, and set aside for later use.
3. In a bowl, combine the sugars and oil. Beat in eggs, one at a time, the 2 tsp vanilla measure, and mashed bananas; mix well. Add Bran and Milk.
4. In another bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to Banana/Bran mixture.
5. Stir until ingredients are just mixed - do not overmix. Fold in cranberries and/or raisin combination.
6. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins - 1/3 full
7. Spoon cream cheese mixture, evenly divided, onto batter in muffin tins.
8. Spoon balance of muffin batter onto cream cheese, filling to the top.
9. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until tester comes out clean. You might need an extra 5 minutes, depending on your oven.
10. Allow to cool on racks, in tins for a few minutes. Turn out, and allow muffins to cool completely on racks, before freezing (if you choose). Serve warm, or cool, or however you wish. After your initial taste you will wish to hide the batch for yourself, but by all means, do serve them. Your popularity will increase and your family will bow down in homage to your brilliant kitchen prowess.