Date-Oat Muffins

• 1 cup rolled oats old-fashioned
• 2 tablespoons rolled oats old-fashioned
• 13 cup walnuts chopped, optional
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 13 cup ground flax seed whole
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 23 cup brown sugar, light packed
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 2 tablespoons orange zest freshly grated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup dates chopped pitted

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Coat 12 muffin cups with cooking spray.
3. Spread 1 cup oats and the walnuts, if using, in 2 separate small baking pans.
4. Bake, stirring once or twice, until light golden and fragrant, 4 to 6 minutes for the nuts and 8 to 10 minutes for the oats.
5. Transfer to a plate to cool.
6. Meanwhile, whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, flaxseeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
7. Whisk eggs and brown sugar in a medium bowl until smooth.
8. Whisk in buttermilk, orange juice, oil, orange zest and vanilla.
9. Add to the dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula just until moistened.
10. Fold in dates, the toasted oats and nuts, if using.
11. Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups (they'll be quite full).
12. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining 2 tablespoons oats.
13. Bake the muffins until the tops are golden brown and spring back when touched lightly, 15 to 25 minutes.
14. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
15. Loosen edges and turn muffins out onto a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

rolled oats, rolled oats, walnuts, whole wheat flour, ground flax, baking powder, baking soda, salt, eggs, brown sugar, buttermilk, orange juice, canola oil, orange zest, vanilla, dates

Taken from recipeland.com/recipe/v/date-oat-muffins-48813 (may not work)