Bran muffins

On the dessert-to-breakfast spectrum of baked goods, these muffins are firmly in the breakfast camp. They have plenty of fiber, a subtle sweetness, and a nuttiness from the bran that I absolutely love.

Makes 12 muffins, but I almost always double it.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cups yogurt or buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup mild oil (such as vegetable, canola, or olive oil)
  • 1/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • (optional) a little citrus zest
  • 1 1/2 cups wheat bran
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (preferably aluminum-free)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 1-2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 3/4 to 1 cup berries and nuts (I like blueberries and walnuts, but strawberries or any other mixed fruit will probably work)

If you have a hard time finding wheat bran, oat bran also works.

Steps

  1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F and coat a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray.
  2. Whisk buttermilk, egg, oil, brown sugar, and any vanilla or citrus zest in a small bowl. Whisk bran, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Stir wet mixture into dry until just combined.
  3. Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter into each muffin cup. Add some of the fruit and nut mix to each muffin, trying to spread fruit evenly. Spoon remaining batter (about 1 tablespoon each) over fruit and sprinkle tops of muffins with a little sugar.
  4. Bake muffins for 16 to 18 minutes, rotating once midway through baking. They're ready when a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs. Let muffins cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from tin.

Original recipe from Smitten Kitchen.