Preheat oven to 375 F and line muffin pan with cupcake papers.

Peel and core apples and dice finely; toss with maple syrup.

In large bowl, combine flour, bran flakes, brown sugar, dates, pumpkin pie spice and baking powder; mix well.

In separate bowl, whisk melted butter, egg and milk.

Add half maple-apple mixture to dry ingredients.

Pour wet ingredients into dry and fold together until mixed. Spoon evenly into muffin tin cupcake papers. Add 1 teaspoon remaining maple-apple mixture to top of each muffin.

Bake 20-25 minutes until muffin mix is set and apple topping is golden. Allow muffins to cool 5 minutes before removing from tin.

Serve with butter or dust with powdered sugar, if desired.