Preppy Kitchen Recipes Breakfast Muffins Bran Muffins

Bran Muffins

Name: Bran Muffins
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1½ cups wheat bran cereal ((not flakes) (100g)); 1½ cups buttermilk ((360ml)); 1 cup all-purpose flour ((120g)); 1½ teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup raisins ((80g)); ½ cup packed brown sugar ((110g)); ⅓ cup vegetable oil ((80ml)); 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

By John Kanell Published Dec 19, 2022
8 comments
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Bran Muffins recipe is an easy and delicious breakfast or grab-and-go snack! These muffins are full of fiber and are so soft, moist, and flavorful! You won’t be able to stop at just one when you try these tender muffins.

A small plate with a bran muffin with a glass of milk and another platter of muffins in the back.

You won’t believe that these bran muffins are full of fiber and protein. They’re delicious, soft, tender, and, most importantly, moist! Gone are the days of healthy muffins being dry, tasteless, and flavorless. Even better, they’re super easy to make from scratch, so you’ll never need to buy a box mix again.

These hearty bran muffins are not only great for breakfast but also great as a snack. They’re also freezer-friendly, so you can make a large batch and have them on hand for a grab-and-go treat. Want another easy muffin recipe? Try my apple muffins recipe, oatmeal muffins recipe, or morning glory muffins recipe.

What You Need to Make This Recipe

Ingredients needed to make bran muffins.

Wheat bran — if you’ve never heard of wheat bran before, it’s an excellent source of dietary fiber. Make sure to store the wheat bran in the fridge in an airtight container. If you haven’t kept it in the refrigerator, make sure it is not rancid and bitter before using it.

Buttermilk — don’t skip the buttermilk, as it keeps the bran muffins moist and tender. If you do not have buttermilk, follow my guide on how to make buttermilk.

Leavening agents — to help lift your muffins, you’ll need baking powder and baking soda. Make sure the two are fresh and haven’t expired, as it’ll affect the rise and how fluffy the crumb of the muffins are.

Sugar — I like using light brown sugar as it keeps the muffins moist and has a mild sweet flavor similar to white sugar but with caramel flavor notes. If you do not have brown sugar, see my guide on how to make brown sugar.

Oil — using vegetable oil is the secret to achieving a soft and moist muffin. You can use canola oil as well.

How to Make Bran Muffins

Set of two photos showing buttermilk added to the wheat and mixed.

1. In a large mixing bowl, add the wheat bran and the buttermilk.

2. Stir together and let stand for 10 minutes.

Set of two photos showing raisins added to flour and wet ingredients whisked with the buttermilk mixture.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the raisins.

4. After 10 minutes, whisk the sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla into the bran mixture.

Set of two photos showing batter mixed together and scooped into paper liners.

5. Add the flour mixture and stir together until just combined.

6. Divide the batter among the muffin liners, about ¼ cup in each liner. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

A plate with a bran muffin cut open in half with butter spread onto one half. A glass of milk in the back.

Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

Use an ice cream scoop or measuring spoon to scoop the batter for even-sized muffins.
Measure your flour and wheat bran correctly by using a scale! Adding too much flour or wheat bran to the recipe is the most common reason the muffins end up dense. The best and easiest way to measure the ingredients is by using a scale.
Don’t skip soaking the wheat bran cereal, as it helps soften it. It’ll also help the muffins rise better as they are less likely to cut through the gluten.
Don’t overmix the batter, as it’ll lead to the muffins becoming dense and heavy.
Bring your eggs to room temperature, so they incorporate fully into the batter without overmixing.
Make sure your brown sugar isn’t lumpy. See my post on how to soften brown sugar if your brown sugar has hardened or has lumps in it.

An oval serving platter with multiple bran muffins.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store leftover muffins?

Store leftover bran muffins at room temperature, in an airtight container, for up to 5 days. You can enjoy these muffins at room temperature or warmed in the microwave! They’re so delicious when warm with a pat of butter smeared on them.

Can I freeze these muffins?

You can freeze these muffins! To freeze muffins, wait for them to cool to room temperature and transfer them to a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, allow them to come to room temperature or quickly microwave the frozen muffin for about 20 seconds.

If you’ve tried this Bran Muffins recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!