BANANA-OAT MUFFINS

Nonstick cooking spray

2 cups regular rolled oats

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/3 sugar OR 1/3 cup Splenda Baking Blend OR Stevia Granulated

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp apple pie spice OR ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs, lightly beaten OR 1/2 cup refrigerated egg product

1 large ripe banana, mashed

2 tbsp butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup regular rolled oats

1/2 tsp apple pie spice or cinnamon

1 tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line 12 muffin (cupcake) cups with white paper baking cups, coating inside of the muffin cups lightly with the cooking spray. Set aside.

Place the 2 cups of eats in a food processor or blender, cover and process or blend until finely ground. Transfer ground oats to a large bowl. Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder, the 3/4 teaspoon of spice, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg; whisk in the banana, the 2 tablespoons of melted butter and vanilla. Add this mixture all at once to the well of the flour mixture and stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy).  Spoon batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups, filling each cup about 3/4 full.

To make the topping, in a small bowl combine the 1/4 cup oats and the 1/2 teaspoon of spice. Using a pastry blender or two l=knives, cut in the 1 tablespoon of butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle oat mixture on top of the muffin batter.

Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove the muffins from cups. So good served warm.

Yield: 12 muffins

Nutritional info per muffin with sugar: 152 calories. 4g fat (2g sat) 8mg cholesterol, 25g carbs, (3g fiber), 5g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/5 starch, 1 fat.

Nutritional info per muffin with sugar substitute: Same as above except 134 calories, 20g carbs. Diabetic Exchange: 1 starch

recipe idea and photo from Diabetic Living