It Still Feels Like Winter: Vegan Oatmeal Muffins

It's still winter here in the Midwest, and even though the days are getting longer, it still feels like it's going to be a long winter. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy some comfort food. These vegan oatmeal muffins are the perfect way to warm up on a cold day.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 1/2 mashed banana

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

2. Line a muffin pan with paper liners.

3. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together almond milk, oil, banana, and chocolate chips (if using).

5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

6. Fill each muffin liner about 2/3 full.

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips:

• For a chewier muffin, use old-fashioned oats instead of rolled oats.

• For a sweeter muffin, add an extra 1/4 cup of brown sugar.

• To make these muffins ahead of time, mix all of the ingredients together and then refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to bake, let the batter sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before filling the muffin cups.

• These muffins are also great for freezing. Simply wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer bag. When you are ready to eat, thaw the muffins overnight in the refrigerator and then let them come to room temperature before baking.

Variations:

• For a blueberry muffin, add 1 cup of blueberries to the batter.

• For a chocolate chip muffin, add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to the batter.

• For a cranberry orange muffin, add 1/2 cup of dried cranberries and 1/2 teaspoon of orange zest to the batter.

Enjoy!

Story:

I first made these muffins on a cold winter day when I was craving something warm and comforting. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious they were. The oatmeal gives them a nice chewiness, and the chocolate chips add a perfect touch of sweetness. These muffins are now a staple in my winter baking rotation.

I hope you enjoy these muffins as much as I do. They're the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter day.