Cooking with Kids: Delicious Oatmeal Raisin Mini Muffins

I'm always looking for healthy but tasty snacks for the kids' lunch boxes or for after school. My daughter brought this oatmeal muffin recipe home from preschool last spring and it's been a hit in our house ever since. This recipe is easy enough that children can help out in nearly every stage (let mom or dad take them in and out of the oven, though).

With whole-grain oats and raisins, these muffins are tasty and kid-friendly, but full of nutrition and fiber. You can also add chopped walnuts or substitute dried cranberries for the raisins. Be creative!

You can make these as either full-sized or mini muffins. Mini muffins are a real hit with the kids, and they're the perfect size for school lunches, after-school snacks, or for play group treats. We often bring these for school class parties, too.

Ingredients

(Makes 20–24 mini muffins or 12 regular muffins)

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup raisins
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425ºF.
2. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Stir in oats and raisins.
4. Add oil, egg, and milk, then stir until moistened.
5. Spoon the batter into greased or papered muffin tins.
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean