Banana-Date Muffins

 

2 1/2

cups Banana Nut Cheerios® cereal

1 1/4

cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1/3

cup packed brown sugar

1

teaspoon baking soda

1/4

teaspoon salt

1

cup buttermilk

1/4

cup canola oil

1/2

teaspoon vanilla

1

egg

1/2

cup chopped pitted dates or raisins

1 1/2

teaspoons coarse or granulated sugar

• 1 Heat oven to 400°F. Spray bottoms only of 12 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray, or line with paper baking cups. Spray bottoms only of paper baking cups with cooking spray. In large resealable food-storage plastic bag, coarsely crush cereal with rolling pin or meat mallet to measure 1 3/4 cups.
• 2 In large bowl, mix crushed cereal, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. In medium bowl, beat buttermilk, oil, vanilla and egg until blended. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in dates. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Sprinkle with coarse sugar.
• 3 Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from pan to cooling rack. Serve warm or cool.