Banana-Walnut Bran Muffins

• HEALTHY
• MAKE-AHEAD
• VEGETARIAN

Ingredients

1. 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2. 1 1/4 cups oat bran
3. 1/3 cup brown sugar
4. 1/3 cup granulated sugar
5. 1 tablespoon baking powder
6. 1 teaspoon baking soda
7. 1/2 teaspoon salt
8. 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
9. 1/3 cup part-skim ricotta
10. 1/3 cup buttermilk
11. 2/3 cup skim milk
12. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
13. 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
14. 1 large egg, lightly beaten
15. 1 large egg white
16. 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
17. 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (4 ounces)

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Spray a 12-cup nonstick muffin pan with oil. In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the oat bran, brown and granulated sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a food processor, puree the ricotta with the buttermilk. Add the milk, melted butter, vanilla, egg and egg white and pulse until smooth. Add the bananas and pulse just until blended.
2. Using a rubber spatula, fold the banana mixture and 1/2 cup of the walnuts into the dry ingredients. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of walnuts on top. Bake the muffins for about 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean. Turn the muffins out onto a wire rack to cool.