Peanut Butter Power Bar Pumpkin Muffins

I had one lonely Power Bar left in one of those big boxes you can buy from Costco.....my least favorite one: peanut butter.  I thought it could help beef up a hearty muffin recipe I've been working on.  The muffin is very healthy, I imagine a park ranger enjoying one of these on a trail in Yosemite or in a fire look-out tower.  Use your imagination here, people.

Peanut Butter Power Bar Pumpkin Muffins

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce (the individual snack size ones are quite handy)
• 1 cup coconut milk (I use Coconut Dream Original)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• good splash vanilla (use the real stuff, dammit)
• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup crushed peanuts
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 Power Bar (peanut flavor) diced 

Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a large muffin pan.   

*note*  Since these have no fat in the ingredients I recommend greasing the muffin pan instead of    using cups.  Also, since this makes about 14 big muffins I usually just do a 12 muffin tray and then pour the rest of the batter into a ramekin for a nice little cake.  The nice little cake is great for impressing people and giving the impression you really have your life together.  

Combine eggs, applesauce, coconut milk, sugar, vanilla and pumpkin in a large bowl and mix together well.  Stir in the oats.  Toast the pumpkin seeds until lightly brown and add them to the bowl.  Set aside.

  
*note* If you're lazy, omitting the seed toasting step will not result in disaster, so don't worry about  it.  If you're not, toasting them adds a lovely nutty trail-mixy element (re: Yosemite park ranger).  

In a smaller bowl mix the dry ingredients together (sift if you're anal).  Add the dry to the wet and stir until just combined.  I add the diced Power Bar at this stage too, try desperately not to over mix.  

Fill the muffin tray and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

To be perfectly honest you can't really taste the Power Bar that much in the muffin, but every now and then you get a smooth little piece of sweetness that melts on your tongue.  Not a bad way to use up something that would otherwise be inhabiting prime pantry real estate for the next few years.