I am part of a small subset of society, a rather exclusive club, that actually really likes bran muffins. For me, it’s not an acquired taste or something I choke down because they are good for me. I’ve always liked them, ever since I was a kid. The ones my mother used to make were actually from a packaged mix (sorry, Mum, if I am giving away one of your trade secrets!). But they were heavenly straight out of the oven and slathered with butter. And while in grad school in Tempe, Arizona, I fell in love with the honey bran muffins from the Coffee Plantation. I could never quite figure out how they got the bottom of the muffin soaked in honey like that, but it was a mystery I was quite happy to leave unsolved as long as I could simply pay a few dollars for one.
The problem with so many bran muffins, and the reason why so many people don’t like them, is that they are often as dry as sawdust. Many is the time I have bought a bran muffin, thinking it would be the healthier choice, and ended up just throwing it away. Bran needs a lot of moisture to make it palatable, a fact which woefully escapes many commercial muffin-makers. Fortunately for me, I found a great recipe several years ago in my favourite basic reference cookbook, The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. With both buttermilk and applesauce to offset the bran, these muffins are anything but dry, and the deep flavour from brown sugar and molasses is wonderful.
I wanted to make something for the kids to have as a healthy snack at school, and the crisp fall weather had me thinking pumpkin muffins. But my daughter wasn’t a fan of the last pumpkin muffins I made, so I knew I had to shake things up a little. I wanted them to be healthful, but to feel like a treat to the kids. So I decided to take the basic bran muffin, swap pumpkin puree for the applesauce, reduce the sugar and sub in whole wheat for all-purpose flour. And then I tossed in a handful of mini chocolate chips, to lure my willful daughter into eating them.
The Results: From the mouths of babes: “yummy”! These little muffins got rave reviews yesterday morning, and both kids requested them this morning as school snacks. Score one for Mummy! My husband quite liked them as well, and devoured two of the larger ones after his morning run. I am told that the pumpkin flavour goes well with the bran, and that they are incredibly moist. And the little taste of chocolate doesn’t hurt either, I am sure.
I found that there was too much batter for my 24 cup mini-muffin tin, so I also managed to make 6 regular-sized muffins. Perfect for all your family members, large and small!
Mini Pumpkin Bran Muffins with Chocolate Chips
1 1/4 cups buttermilk (I use buttermilk powder and water)
1 cup unprocessed wheat bran
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
4 tbsp butter, melted and cooled
2 tbsp light molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat the oven to 375F and generously grease 24 mini-muffin tins and 6 regular muffin tins. Or use just the 12 larger muffin tins.
In a large bowl, stir buttermilk and bran together and let sit for 5-10 minutes. If you are using buttermilk powder, simply add 5 tbsp to the bran and then stir in 1 1/4 cups of water. Whisk in pumpkin, raisins, chocolate chips, brown sugar, egg, melted butter, molasses and vanilla.
In a smaller bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Gently fold flour mixture into the bran mixture with a rubber spatula until just combined.
Spoon batter into prepared tins, to just the top of each tin. Bake until tops are set and a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 14-18 minutes for mini-muffins, and 20-24 minutes for larger muffins.
Let muffins cool in pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool another 10 minutes before serving.
Makes 24 mini muffins plus 6 regular muffins, or 12 regular muffins.
Lisa Stafford says
This recipe looks yummy, but with the wheat flour and bran, it is not gluten free. With the brown sugar, it is not low carb. I am confused. I thought all your recipes were low carb and gluten free.
Carolyn says
Hi Lisa. No, this one was from a LLOOOOOOOONNNNG time ago, when I was still putting up some regular recipes. I still do put them up at times, things I’ve made for my kids. If it doesn’t say (Low Carb and Gluten-Free) in the title, it’s not. 🙂
Laurie says
What a great recipe! The muffins are soft & fluffy, just sweet enough, and healthy. Love it! I used whole wheat white flour, and ran out of pumpkin just shy of a full cup, so I topped it up with applesauce. I also doubled the cinnamon, increased the ginger slightly, and left out the raisins.
These are terrific and will be a staple in our house for sure. Thank you! Delicious!
Courtney says
I love bran muffins and pumpkin never thought of combining the two – yum!
Nelson says
I love bran too. Guess I'm as strange as the rest of the bran lovers.
Thanks for sharing this recipe
A Little Yumminess says
Great use of pumpkins!! These look yummy! Would make a great after school snack
Cajun Chef Ryan says
Pumpkins, fall, and baking is in the air these days, and in your oven too!
These muffins are a wonderful way to enjoy both fall flavors and higher fiber fare.