Healthy Bran muffins never tasted better! These moist little gems are plump full of flavor and texture from wheat bran, walnuts, carrots, and apples. These scrumptious and nutritious muffins taste perfect with a hot cup of coffee. You are going to love them!
Bran Muffin Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients – all-purpose flour or white whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt
- Bran Cereal – use the bran that looks like little sticks, not the flakes
- Dairy – buttermilk and an egg
- Vegetable Oil
- Brown Sugar
- Vanilla Extract – pure vanilla extract for the best flavor
- Apple – peeled and grated
- Carrot – peeled and grated
- Walnuts – chopped
How to make bran muffins?
Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Set that aside for about 15 minutes.
Then in a large bowl, soak the bran cereal in the buttermilk for about 10 minutes. While that soaks, chop the walnuts, peel and grate the carrot, and peel, core, and grate the apple. After soaking, add the vegetable oil, egg, brown sugar, vanilla, apples, carrots, and walnuts. Stir to roughly combine. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just enough to combine.
Spoon the batter into a muffin pan lined with paper liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the muffins for 5 minutes before removing them from the pan to a wire cooling rack.
Recipe Tips
- Line the cupcake muffin tin with liners. They really help keep the muffins from sticking to the pan. I really like the unbleached chlorine-free ones. They peel away perfectly from muffins and cupcakes
- Use a bran cereal with wheat bran as its main ingredient.
- Warm your egg to room temperature. It makes it easier to combine.
- Applesauce can be substituted for the grated apple.
- Try adding raisins, blueberries, or bananas.
- Stir the batter just until combined. Overmixing can make the muffins dense and rubbery.
- Do not overbake the muffins. Cook just until a toothpick inserted in the top center of one of the muffins comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs.
Are bran muffins healthy?
These bran muffins are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber from the bran cereal, apples, carrots, and walnuts. If you are on a low-sodium diet, reduce the added salt to 1/4 teaspoon or just a few pinches. The sugar is minimal in this recipe but could easily be reduced to 1/2 cup.
Storage
Fully cool the muffins before storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or up to 5 days in the fridge.
Freeze for up to 2 months in a sturdy freezer container. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
More muffin recipes you will love!
Bran Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups bran cereal not flakes
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg warmed to room temperature
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 apple peeled and grated
- 1 carrot peeled and grated
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12-count muffin tin with papers.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, soak the bran cereal in the buttermilk for 10 minutes.
- Add the vegetable oil, egg, brown sugar, vanilla, apples, carrots, and walnuts. Stir to roughly combine. Add the flour mixture and stir just enough to combine.
- Divide batter evenly into the paper liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the muffins for 5 minutes before removing them from the pan to a wire cooling rack.
Notes
- Line the cupcake muffin tin with liners. They really help keep the muffins from sticking to the pan. I really like the unbleached chlorine-free ones. They peel away perfectly from muffins and cupcakes
- Use a bran cereal with wheat bran as its main ingredient.
- Warm your egg to room temperature. It makes it easier to combine.
- Applesauce can be substituted for the grated apple.
- Try adding raisins, blueberries, or bananas.
- Stir the batter just until combined. Overmixing can make the muffins dense and rubbery.
- Do not overbake the muffins. Cook just until a toothpick inserted in the top center of one of the muffins comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs.
- Fully cool the muffins before storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or up to 5 days in the fridge.
- Freeze for up to 2 months in a sturdy freezer container. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Barb
Can you use natural bran
Beth Pierce
yes
Barb
Cab you use natural bran
Beth Pierce
Yes, you sure can!
Jupiter
What a classic muffin! Thank you for your easy to follow recipe – it’s super helpful and delicious.
Khush
These bran muffins were delicious. Who knew they could taste this good and still be healthy for you. Next time I am going to make a double batch and freeze half of them.
Michelle
Love it! The combination of wheat bran, walnuts, carrots, and apples not only makes these muffins incredibly moist but also adds a delightful burst of flavor.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Michelle! I could not agree more!
Cathleen
They’re so moist and flavorful. Love that I can grab one on busy mornings for a nutritious start!
Susan
The combination of wheat bran, walnuts, carrots, and apples was a delightful explosion of flavor and texture. Perfectly paired with a hot cup of coffee, these little gems were the best breakfast I have had in quite some time. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Susan! So glad that you liked them!
Maria
This muffins were so good. It was perfect timing as I am trying to eat a little healthier. I am going to make a second batch and freeze some. Thanks for the inspiration.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Maria! So glad that you like them!
Isabellita P
Indulged in these divine bran muffins – a heavenly breakfast treat!
Laura
My mom used to make bran muffins when I was a kid, they were not great but these are awesome with a lot flavor. Even my picky daughter liked them. You have made a bran muffin lover out of me.
Carol
I made these muffins for my husband, and he loved them. They have an excellent texture!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Carol! So glad that he liked them!
Sandra
The best bran muffins! The texture and the taste was fabulous. You can’t go wrong with these healthy muffins. Thanks for sharing.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Sandra!
Erin
Great and tasty way to get your fiber. Delicious with a hot cup of coffee and they freeze well.
Jennifer T
They were delicious!
Marysa
This is a fun way to use bran cereal. And muffins are so convenient in the mornings. It is nice to have some recipes for breakfast on the go.
Gervin Khan
These were delicious and the children loved them. Next time I bake them I will add a handful of raisins.
Forever My Little Moon
These would make a great breakfast option! I’ll have to try them!
Kathy
Muffins make for a great quick breakfast too. These are so delicious and they freeze well too. I used All Bran cereal and it worked out great. I love them.
Monica Simpson
I love a good bran muffin and coffee in the morning! These were so good. I think next time I will add a few raisins and make them raisin bran muffins.
Richelle Milar
Wow! This is such a really amazing recipe! It was absolutely delicious I love it!
Rose Ann Sales
These muffins were so quick and yummy. I did add just a touch of molasses for a little added sweetness.
Tami Creates
I love muffins and these were a quick and yummy breakfast. Next time I am going to freeze half the batch for on the go breakfasts and I think I will add a touch of cinnamon.
Amber Myers
I always enjoy having muffins and these were quite tasty! With all the walnuts, carrots, and apples they reminded me of morning glory muffins.
Tara Pittman
What a delicious way to add fiber to your day. We loved them. Next time I am going to try them with whole wheat flour.
Vicki
A yummy muffin recipe, and very healthy with all the fiber from the bran, carrot, apple and nuts. I left most of the peel on the apple as well…couldn’t tell it was even there! I also added a teaspoon of cinnamon.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Vicki! So glad that you enjoyed them! Thanks for the tips!
Blair Villanueva
This muffin looks very tasty. I can imagine the good aroma brought by the carrot and apples.
Rosey
I like that you made them with carrots and apples. And yes, a hot cuppa and a warm muffin are a great combo
April
Yummy! These are so delicious! My boys love them!
jen
I love how you added some flare to these bran muffins. These are not the usual bran muffins. I can’t wait to try.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Jen! Enjoy!!
Fransic
This is so yummy! I love muffins and reading this post makes me wanna make some more.
Rose Ann Sales
Oh my! This is such a really amazing recipe! It was so good! Thank you!
Alita
As long as these muffins are healthy, I’d love to make them. I haven’t had muffins in the house for a while now
Beth Pierce
They are healthy! Enjoy!
Martha
These bran muffins are moist, healthy, and they taste good. Great for breakfast on the run. These are now a regular at our house. They also freeze well.
Beth Pierce
Yes indeed!
Christiana Acha
This is one of my favorite things in the world. Thanks for sharing all these varieties.
Alice Mola
What a simple and delicious recipe. I will definitely give these a try and maybe add some dried fruits such as cranberries or raisins to compliment the apple.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Alice! Enjoy!!
Heather
It’s been years since I’ve had a bran muffin. My papa used to love them, so he always had them in the house.
Pam
Num num num num! Excellent taste. I didn’t have an apple, but tasted great anyway.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Pam! So glad that you enjoyed them!!
Juliane
These were SO good! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Amanda
My boys love these before early morning football practice! They’re the perfect hearty breakfast on the go.
Sandra
These quickly disappeared at my house! So delish!
Beti
I would love one for breakfast!! SO YUMMY!
katerina
I love these Bran Muffins! They sound SO delicious!
Erin
These Bran muffins sound delicious! Dangerously good…
Amanda
Bran muffins are one of my favorite and I haven’t had them in forever. I am so excited to use your recipe!