Chocolate Chip Bran Muffins

This is a basic bran muffin recipe.     I love that these are healthy and so good.  You can even make it less calories by leaving out the chocolate chips if you want.  Muffins are about 120 calories each.  Not bad for a muffin.

CHOCOLATE CHIP BRAN MUFFINS
(makes 12)

Ingredients:
*1 1/2 cups wheat bran
*1 cup buttermilk
*1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
*1 egg
*1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
*1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
*1 cup all-purpose flour
*1 teaspoon baking powder
*1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1/2 cup raisins
*1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:
~Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
~Spray a muffin pan with cooking spray or line with paper muffin liners.
~In a small bowl, mix wheat brand and buttermilk together.
~Let mixture stand for 10-12 minutes.
~In a mixing bowl, beat applesauce, egg, vanilla and bran mixture until well mixed.
~Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
~Stir dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, until just blended.
~Fold in raisins and chocolate chips.
~Spoon evenly into muffins cups.
~Bake for 18-20 minutes.
~Remove from pan and allow to cool on a cooling rack.

Variations: 

~Substitute dark chocolate chips with milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate chips.

~Substitute raisins with cranraisins. 

~Omit chocolate chips and or raisins. 

~Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans.