Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Want a big bowl of bran twigs for breakfast? What? That doesn't sound appetizing? Hmmm, what about a warm, moist muffin reminiscent of pumpkin pie with a crunchy cinnamon topping? Sounds a little better right?  Now, what if I tell you these muffins are full of those twiggy bran pieces.  Not just any bran either.  Fiber One bran cereal.  So not only are you getting a muffin full of fiber, you are also getting the health benefits of pumpkin - full of antioxidants.  But the most important part....they taste delicious!

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
slightly adapted from Crazy for Crust

1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour  

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 cups bran cereal (I used Fiber One original, not flakes)

1 1/4 cups fat-free milk

1 cup canned pumpkin

For streusel topping:

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon unsalted butter or butter spread, melted

Handful of rolled oats (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a 12-cup muffin cup with cooking spray.
2. Place the bran cereal and milk in a large bowl. Let soak while you mix your dry ingredients.
3. Place 1 1/4 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice in a separate bowl and whisk.
4. Add pumpkin to bran mixture and stir to combine. 
5. Add dry ingredients to wet. Stir until just combined. 
6. Evenly divide batter among 12 muffin cups (they don’t rise much, so you can fill them pretty full).
7. Mix melted butter, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and rolled oats in a small bowl. Sprinkle on top of batter.
8. Bake for 14-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly before serving. Best served warm.

Linking up at Naptime Creations, Mandy's Recipe Box, It's a Blog Party, 33 Shades of Green, Blessed with Grace,  Life as Mom, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, A Little Nosh, The Mandatory Mooch, This Chick Cooks, Tessa The Domestic Diva , Six Sisters' Stuff, Eat at Home