Here are my four favorite healthy bran muffin recipes. I know it’s a little strange to have four favorite recipes for bran muffins, but I’ve been a bran muffin fan forever.
Unfortunately, the bran muffins you buy in bakery and coffee shops can be hazardous to your health and waistline.
Years ago I used to begin my day with coffee full of cream and sugar and a Dunkin’ Donuts honey bran muffin, thinking I was being healthy. I couldn’t understand why I had a hard time losing weight since I walked miles and did Aerobics almost everyday.
Imagine my shock and dismay when I discovered that this supposedly healthy food had 490 calories, 15 grams of fat and 44 grams of sugar. (I would have been better off eating their Boston Kreme Donut, which has 310 calories and16 grams of fat and 16 grams of sugar.)
Healthy Homemade Cranberry Bran Muffins
That’s when I began making healthy bran muffins at home. You’re always better off making muffins at home from scratch because you can control what you put in them and how big you make them, saving yourself a ton of calories.
Here are four of my favorite bran muffin recipes. They all call for bran cereal, but beyond that they are all pretty different. There’s a super moist one that needs to sit overnight, one that uses maple syrup, the basic bran muffin recipe from the side of the cereal box and even a chocolate bran muffin recipe.
Enjoy!
Moist & Healthy Bran Muffin Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 26 minutes
Yield: 12 muffins
Note: This batter needs to sit in the refrigerator overnight before baking
I substituted dried cranberries for the raisins, and plain whole milk yogurt for the buttermilk with good results.
Ingredients
3/4 cup boiling water
1 1/4 cups bran cereal (not flakes), divided
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup orange juice
Recipe Instructions
In a small mixing bowl combine boiling water and 3/4 cup bran cereal. Add the raisins, brown sugar, and oil. Set aside to cool.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large measuring cup, stir together the egg, buttermilk, and orange juice until well blended. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup bran cereal, and then the bran-raisin mixture. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight.
When you are ready to bake your muffins, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a muffin tin or line with papers that you coat with nonstick cooking spray. Fill each muffin cup two-thirds full.
Bake the muffins until a cake tester (or toothpick) inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 23 to 26 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Transfer the muffins to a cooling rack to cool or serve warm. Be sure the muffins are completely cool before wrapping them for storage or they will get soggy.
Kellogg’s Best Bran Muffins Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 12 muffins
This classic recipe for healthy bran muffins dates back to 1926, when it first appeared on the box of Kellogg’s All-Bran Cereal. It’s the bran muffin recipe my college roommate and I used to make and still a sentimental favorite.
Ingredients
1-1/4 cups all-flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1-1/2-cups Kellogg’s All-Bran cereal or Bran Buds cereal
1 cup milk
1 large egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Recipe Directions
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a standard 12 cup (2-1/2-inch) muffin pan.
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar until well combined and then set aside.
In a large bowl, stir together the All-Bran cereal and milk. Let stand 5 minutes, until cereal is softened. Add the egg and oil. Beat well. Add the flour mixture, stirring only until combined.
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cups of the muffin pan.
Bake in preheated oven until they look done and toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove them from the pan and transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
Buttermilk-Maple Bran Muffins Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 24 minutes
Yield: 12 muffins
I love maple syrup for both it’s wonderful taste and health benefits. While, not exactly health food, it is more natural than white sugar, has a lower glycemic load and contains trace vitamins and minerals.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups shredded bran cereal, such as All-Bran
1/2 cup raisins or currants
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 large egg
1-1/3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Recipe Instructions
In a large bowl stir together the bran cereal, raisins and oil until combined; set aside for 5 minutes to soften. Add the buttermilk, maple syrup and egg and stir until well blended.
In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Ad the flour mixture and walnuts to the cereal mixture and stir jut until the flour is moistened. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lind a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
Distribute the batter evenly amongst the muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the muffins cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes then transfer the muffins out of the pan and directly onto the wire rack to cool completely.
Nutritional estimates per serving (1 muffin): 185 calories, 9 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 26 grams carbohydrate, 5 grams fiber, 5 grams protein
Meanwhile, in another large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
After the bran mixture has stood for 5 minutes, stir in the sour cream and vanilla until well mixed. Add the flour mixture and stir until just blended.
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups.
Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in pan on a wire rack for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to the rack to cool completely.
Source: Adapted from Weight Watchers Healthy Cooking Basics
Healthy Chocolate Bran Muffin Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 12 muffins
While not exactly health food these muffins have lots of healthy ingredients including bran, whole wheat flour unsweetened cocoa powder and miniature dark chocolate chips making them a good source of both fiber and antioxidants.
Ingredients
1 cup bran cereal, such as All-Bran, crushed
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup raw sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
Recipe Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
In a large bowl stir together the bran cereal and buttermilk until well blended and then let the mixture stand for 5 minutes to soften.
Meanwhile, in another bowl, whisk together the flours, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
After the bran mixture has stood for 5 minutes, stir in the sugar, egg, oil and vanilla until well mixed. Add the flour mixture and stir until just blended. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups.
Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in pan on a wire rack for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to the rack to cool completely.
Source: Adapted from 750 Best Muffin Recipes by Camilla Saulsbury
More Healthy Muffin Recipes
3 Easy Healthy Banana Muffin Recipes
Healthy Whole Wheat Apple & Applesauce Muffin Recipes
Cottage Cheese Muffins Recipe
