Bran muffins

This recipe is from Cook's Illustrated.

Ingredients

• 1 cup raisins
• 1 tsp water
• 2 and 1/4 cup All-Bran Original cereal
• 1 and 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 1 large egg and 1 large yolk
• 2/3 cup plus 3 tbsp packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 cup nonfat yoghurt
• 3/4 cup sour cream

Place oven rack in middle position and heat to 400 F. Spray muffin tins (probably about 18 of them) with PAM. Set aside.
Combine raisins and water in a small microwave-safe vessel, cover with cling wrap, and cut steam vents in the plastic with a paring knife. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Let stand, covered, until raisins are softened and plump, about 5 minutes. Transfer raisins to paper-towel to cool.
Process half the cereal in a food processor until finely ground, about 1 minute.
Whisk flours, baking soda, and salt in large bowl to combine, then set aside.
Whisk egg and yolk together in medium bowl until well-combined and light-colored, about 20 seconds.
Add sugar and vanilla. Whisk until mixture is thick, about 30 seconds.
Add melted (and cooled!) butter and whisk to combine,
Add yoghurt and whisk to combine.
Stir in processed and unprocessed cereal. Let mixture sit until cereal is evenly moistened (it will still be lumpy), about 5 minutes.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and gently mix with rubber spatula until batter is combined and evenly moistened. Do not overmix, as usual.
Gently fold raisins into the batter.
Divide batter among muffin cups. Do not flatten or level the surface.
Bake until muffins are golden and an inserted toothpick comes out clean (about 16 minutes). Make sure to rotate pan half-way through baking.
Turn out muffins onto a tea towel when through baking.

Thoughts: These were probably the best bran muffins we've ever made, and among some of the best I've ever eaten. The raisins managed to stay plump throughout baking, which was nice. The muffins don't seem to dry out easily, unlike the blackberry muffins.
I don't have much to say here except that these are delicious.

Disaster Index: 1/10