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What I Do For Love Bran Muffins

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What I Do For Love Bran Muffins

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by James Ransom

What I Do For Love Bran Muffins

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by drbabs

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Holiday Breakfast II
  • A&M's Testing Notes: WHO: drbabs, an optometrist from Huntington, NY who cooks up a storm of deliciousness in her spare time. WHAT: A better bran muffin, created to cure her store-bought muffin-eating husband...

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  • Chef

    drbabs's Notes: One of my husband's favorite breakfast foods is a bran muffin. He had been buying them at the grocery store (ick). So I set out to make a bran muffin he would really like. I tried a bunch...

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Makes 12

  1. Melt butter and allow it to cool.

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  2. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toast pumpkin seeds on cookie sheet while oven is heating, removing them when they are lightly toasted and beginning to puff a little.

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  3. Line muffin pan with paper liners.

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  4. Process 1 cup of All Bran cereal in food processor until finely ground, about a minute.

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  5. In large bowl, whisk together flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, clove, cocoa powder and wheat germ. Set aside.

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  6. In medium bowl (see what I mean?), whisk eggs till blended. Add brown sugar, molasses, vanilla and orange zest. Whisk till mixture is thick, about 30 seconds. Add melted butter. Whisk to combine. Add yogurt. Whisk to combine. Stir in processed cereal and 1 cup of unprocessed cereal. Let mixture sit until entirely moist--about 5 minutes.

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  7. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and gently fold with rubber spatula until batter is combined and evenly moistened. Stir in raisins and juice if using.

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  8. Using a 1/3 cup measure, drop batter into muffin cups forming soft mounds. Don't level surface. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds over the tops of the muffins.

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  9. Bake 16-20 minutes, until muffins are dark golden, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached.

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46 Comments on What I Do For Love Bran Muffins

Reply

I needed to tell you that I made a batch of these muffins and I adore them! I froze most of them and just pop them in the toaster oven to defrost for a quick, delicious, and nourishing breakfast when I'm on the run, or just so totally sick of bran cereal that I can scream. Thank you so much! Fiber is my mantra!! (Yes, I know. Too much information.)

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thank you for letting me know! I'm so happy that you like them.

Reply

Made a special trip to get Bran cereal. TOTAL yum. Used buttermilk cause I didn't have yogurt. Filled 12 muffin liners. Nice and full, kinda overflowing. Kids will love them, I've been looking for some sweet snack for them to take to school that I can get behind... thankyou!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Oh, I'm so happy you liked them. I made them this past weekend with my niece. They're good to make with children! Also was thrilled to find out that All Bran is no longer made with hi fructose corn syrup. So I didn't feel too bad about these. They're almost healthy! Buttermilk is a great alternative to yogurt. Thanks for letting me know that you tried them.

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Congrats drbabs! I can't wait to give these a try.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, Midge! I hope you enjoy them!

Reply

Oh - and I meant to add (like Spork below), I sub buttermilk for some of the yogurt, because I find the batter to be extremely thick - is that your experience too?

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

I love the raspberry idea! and yes, the batter is very thick. That's why I suggest using regular yogurt instead of Greek yogurt, but I think buttermilk is also a great idea.

Reply

Congrats Dr. Babs! - I have been using that recipe in CI since I first saw it - I never put that issue away! I've modified it several times myself, always with great results. Sometimes I use some applesauce, one time I used date paste instead of sugar. I always add raspberries to mine (I freeze fresh raspberries and they don't break up as much when added to the batter). Can't wait to try your version!

Ozoz_profile Reply

Congrats Drbabs - they look wonderful!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks so much, KB!

Reply

I must have missed them too! I'm the bran muffin lover and I (Surprise! Need fiber) have all the ingredients. Can't wait to make them! Tomorrow even!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Don't we all?! Thanks!

2010-09-15_14 Reply

Ooohhh drbabs, I missed these the first time around, but have already inventoried the pantry so that I can make these asap. Congratulations!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, calendargirl! I hope you enjoy them!

Img_1958 Reply

Congrats drbabs! These sound delicious, looking forward to making them for my family!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, ginger root--I hope you enjoy them! And congratulations to you on the Whole Foods lentil contest!

Img_1958 Reply

Thank you!

Mrs Reply

Congrats drbabs!! Can't wait to make these. Gotta get me some All Bran.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, mrs.L. I hope you enjoy and have fun with them.

036 Reply

YAY Dr B! You are the supreme baker and totally deserve this!!!!!!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Oh, A, you are so sweet! Thanks!

Henrykiss Reply

congratulations drbabs!!! richly deserved! i can't wait to try them :)

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thank you, arielle. I don't even know how you have time to look at anything besides your wonderful and inspiring science! experiment. But I hope you enjoy them.

Img_7818 Reply

Congrats, drbabs! These muffins look fantastic!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, Emily!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, everyone; this is a huge shock! Love you all!

Dsc_0382 Reply

Yay drbabs! I love these!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks!

Meg_b_f52 Reply

I love bran muffins and I can't wait to try this recipe. Looks great - congrats!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, megan. I hope you enjoy them.

Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

Many congrats dr. b!!!! So happy to see you here! I've added these to my must make list - it looks like a GREAT recipe!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks--I hope you like them!

Dsc00859_2 Reply

congratulations, dr.babs!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, creamtea!

Oldies_joemare_bd Reply

Congratulations on the wildcard win, these muffins are fantastic! Well deserved!!!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thank so much, s!

Kitchenaid Reply

I made these today. Delicious! Thanks for the recipe.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks--I'm so glad you liked them!

Reply

Delicious! Had to substitute buttermilk for yogurt, since I forgot to buy yogurt...oops! Made about 20 muffins, which vanished pretty quickly =)

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks so much for letting me know!

Landing Reply

Thought this was a terrific recipe. We're not a big raisin family, so I substituted 1 cup of banana and also added 1 cup of chopped walnuts. They were a big hit!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks! Banana is a great idea. I also love walnuts but my husband doesn't and these are for him so I haven't used them.

41113_144112098957419_100000758903415_204685_1774589_n Reply

I am not a huge raisin fan either and I have found that shredded coconut or shredded carrots is a nice addition to a good bran muffin recipe.

036 Reply

OK well my husband has experessed an interest in more fiber in his diet so it looks like I need to break out a pile of bowls and the processor. At least I don't have to figure out a recipe - thank you for posting this one!!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Hi there--i just saw this. This recipe makes really good muffins. I would add extra bran or wheat germ minimally to start. It makes the muffins dense, and if your husband is a fan of commercially made muffins (mine is), he won't like the consistency.

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