Cast Iron Skillet Granola Apple Bread (or muffins)

The Granola Pancakes my son thought up last week turned out to be amazing.  Since Sunday mornings are 'muffin day' in our house, the granola pancakes inspired me to come up with this beauty.

Cast Iron Skillet Granola Apple Bread (or muffins):
((Printable Version))

Ingredients:
1 medium macintosh or granny smith apple, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup granola (plus extra reserved for topping)
1 tablespoon ground flax seed (optional)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg (separated*)
1 cup milk

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400F.  If using a cast iron skillet, place it in the oven while it is preheating.  If using muffin tins, grease or prepare with paper liners.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, brown sugar and egg yolk- set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, beat the egg white until soft beaks form- set aside.  (*If you are using white flour, this step is not necessary.  Add the whole egg in the step above. Beating the egg white will help lighten the wheat flour.)

4. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, flax seed, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.  Stir in the granola.

5. Add the wet ingredients (*not the egg white) to the dry.  Stir just until blended. Gently fold it in the egg white, then the chopped apple.

6. If using a cast iron skillet, add about 1 tablespoon butter and melt.  Pour the batter into the hot pan.  Sprinkle with additional granola and bake for about 25 minutes.  If using muffin tins, divide the batter between 12 - 14 muffin tins.  Top with additional granola and bake for about 20 minutes.

Delicious.

Linked to: Sweet as Sugar Cookies, Something Swanky , Amee's Savory Dish