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Enjoy the Flavors of a Fall Brunch

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Crunchy Apple Maple Crisp
Banana Streusel Muffins
Double Cranberry Bread
Blueberry-Orange Crunch Cookies
Crunchy Pecan Shortbread Bars

(Family Features) - With the arrival of the cooler temperatures and shorter days of fall, it's natural to welcome family and friends into your home for cozy gatherings. Whether you get together before the football game, after a morning outing or simply to catch up on recent events with neighbors, celebrate the return of autumn with a leisurely brunch showcasing the flavors of the season - apple, cranberry and maple.

Entice your guests to sit back and relax by filling your home with the inviting aroma of baked apples and maple found in Crunchy Apple Maple Crisp, a delicious dish ready to be devoured by family and friends. Made with apples, Post Selects Maple Pecan Crunch cereal, cinnamon and sugar, the crisp is sure to bring a taste of fall to your brunch table. To add a special touch, top the crisp with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped topping.

The maple theme continues with Crunchy Pecan Shortbread Bars. The inviting flavor of maple syrup and pecans makes these bars the perfect complement to any fall gathering.

For those who prefer the breads and muffins of a more traditional brunch, spice up your recipes with a double fruit-packed punch. Try the easy-to-make Double Cranberry Bread for a zingy addition to your brunch table. For a delicious twist on banana bread, try tantalizing your guests' taste buds with the aroma of Banana Streusel Muffins.

At the end of your leisurely brunch, tempt guests to stay longer with a warm plate of Blueberry-Orange Crunch Cookies accompanied by a steaming mug of coffee or hot chocolate. Or package a few cookies as party favors for your guests and send them home with a treat to enjoy later.

Enhance the atmosphere by decorating your home with a few special touches inspired by the brilliant colors of autumn in addition to serving delicious food, and your brunch is sure to be an occasion that your family and friends will remember for months.

More About Maple

Fall brunches often include the warm and inviting flavor of maple syrup. You may already know that Vermont is the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States, but did you know that a maple tree is typically 40 years old before it can be tapped? Here are some other interesting facts about maple syrup:

  • Warm sunny days (above 40°F) and frosty nights (around 20 to 25°F) are ideal for sap flow
  • 30 to 50 gallons of sap are evaporated to make one gallon of syrup
  • A gallon of pure maple syrup weighs about 11 pounds
  • Most maple syrup producers are located in northeastern North America
  • A sugar maple tree may yield sap for more than 100 years
  • More than 75% of the world's supply of maple syrup comes from Canada

Crunchy Apple Maple Crisp

Ingredients
  • 4 large apples, cored, peeled and thinly sliced (4 cups)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 2 cups Post Selects Maple Pecan Crunch Cereal

Preparation
    1. TOSS apples with 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Spoon into 9-inch pie plate or quiche dish.
    2. MIX 1/4 cup brown sugar, flour and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cereal. Sprinkle over apple mixture.
    3. BAKE at 375°F for 30 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve warm.

Preparation Time
15 minutes

Bake Time
30 minutes

Serves
Makes 8 servings.

Banana Streusel Muffins

Description
For a tantalizing twist on banana bread, try these delicious Banana Streusal Muffins. They will be definite palate pleasers.

Ingredients
  • 1-1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup fat-free milk
  • 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 2 cups Post Selects Banana Nut Crunch Cereal, divided
  • 1 cup finely chopped bananas
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon oil

Preparation
    1. MIX flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Beat egg in small bowl. Add milk, 1/3 cup brown sugar and 3 tablespoons oil; mix well. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. (Batter will be lumpy.) Stir in 1-1/2 cups of cereal and bananas.
    2. SPOON batter evenly into greased or paper-lined muffin pan, filling each cup 2/3 full.
    3. CRUSH remaining 1/2 cup cereal. Mix with 1 tablespoon brown sugar and cinnamon. Add 1 teaspoon oil; stir until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over muffin batter in cups.
    4. BAKE at 400°F for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm.

Preparation Time
15 minutes

Bake Time
20 minutes

Serves
Makes 12 servings, 1 muffin per serving.

Double Cranberry Bread

Ingredients
  • 1-3/4 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 cups Post Selects Cranberry Almond Crunch Cereal
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped

Preparation
    1. MIX flour, sugar and baking powder in large bowl. Mix cereal and milk in medium bowl; let stand 3 minutes. Add egg, orange juice and oil; mix well. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. (Batter will be lumpy.) Gently stir in cranberries.
    2. POUR into greased 9x5-inch loaf pan.
    3. BAKE at 375°F for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into 16 slices to serve.

Preparation Time
20 minutes

Bake Time
1 hour

Serves
Makes 1 loaf or 16 servings, 1 slice each.

Blueberry-Orange Crunch Cookies

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 cups Post Selects Blueberry Morning Cereal

Preparation
    1. BEAT butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add egg and orange peel; beat until well blended. Add flour and baking powder; mix well. Gently stir in cereal.
    2. DROP level tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, on ungreased baking sheet.
    3. BAKE at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Preparation Time
20 minutes

Bake Time
12 minutes

Serves
Makes 15 servings, 2 cookies each

Crunchy Pecan Shortbread Bars

Ingredients
  • 1-1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup maple-flavored syrup
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1-1/2 cups Post Selects Maple Pecan Crunch Cereal

Preparation
    1. MIX flour and granulated sugar in medium bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of greased 9-inch square baking pan. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes or until very lightly browned.
    2. MIX egg, syrup, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon melted butter and vanilla until well blended. Stir in cereal until well coated. Spread evenly over warm crust.
    3. BAKE an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until topping is firm around edges and slightly soft in center. Cool
    4. completely on wire rack. Cut into 24 bars. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted semi-sweet baking chocolate, if desired.

Preparation Time
10 minutes

Bake Time
45 minutes

Serves
Makes 24 bars, 1 bar per serving.

SOURCE: Post Select Cereals

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