Moist and healthy bran muffins made without bran cereal, sweetened with honey. Going whole grain never tasted so good (recipe here).
I bought six pounds of pears during a recent shopping trip, so the other day I whipped up a quick batch of these 100% Whole Grain Ginger Pear Bran Muffins. The trick is to wait until the pears are so ripe and sweet they look bruised and battered and pathetic.
My foodie mom and I came up with this scrumptious variation of my super popular 100% Whole Grain Bran Muffinsduring one of her eat-a-thon farm visits a few years back. They're moist and flavorful and are made with hefty portions of both soluble fiber (oat bran) and insoluble fiber (wheat bran). They're sweetened with honey (although there is some sugar in the candied ginger) and they don't call for any store bought bran cereal (a pet peeve with me and bran muffin recipes).
This recipe makes 12 large muffins which taste even better the second day and freeze beautifully. I just toss them into a two gallon zipper freezer bag (these are also great for storing big loaves of homemade bread, like Farmhouse White) and pull out one or two the night before so they're defrosted for breakfast the next morning. They make a filling and wholesome snack and are the perfect thing to have on hand during the busy holiday season.
Need more convincing? Here's what Farmgirl Fare readers are saying about (and how they're adapting) this recipe:
More below. . .
—These muffins are fabulous. I need to go out and get some more pears so I can make them again.
—Your mom is right; I think these are the best muffins I have ever eaten.
—I am sitting in my chair, drinking my coffee and eating this fabulous Ginger Pear Bran muffin! Excellent recipe and I loved the photo of the bruised and battered pear!!!
—I just made these muffins and they are SOOOO DELICIOUS! The muffins are ginger-y good and so moist you don't need butter. Thanks, Farmgirl!
—I've made these muffins four or five times now, with different variations, and they never cease to be a crowd pleaser.
—These are fantastic!
—These are the best muffins around.
One of the things I love most about food blogging is hearing how readers have adapted my recipes and made them their own. My original bran muffin recipe is wonderfully versatile, and as you can see, this variation is too:
—I just tried this finally but I used pineapple instead of pear. I had no pears and I had no canned pears so I had some canned, in their own juice, pineapple and I subbed brown rice syrup for the honey. These are so good. Thanks for the excellent recipe.
—I made these today. I didn't have quite enough pear so I added a 1/2 a finely chopped apple and subbed 2 T fresh grated ginger and about 1 T natural sugar for the candied ginger. A big hit with me, the roomie and our dinner guest (who was randomly noshing in my kitchen while I cooked).
—I tried making them with oat bran only (increased soluble fiber) and agave nectar (low glycemic). I also added cinammon, cardamon and nutmeg. They are delicious and super healthy.
—I love these muffins. The changes I made are: I used 3 cups of oat bran, used agave nectar instead of honey, and walnuts instead of ginger. Lower glycemic and delicious!
—Wonderful muffins! I added a tsp of powdered ginger and used half molasses, half honey. Super yum. Thanks for a great recipe to play with.
—Thank you thank you for such a scrumptious and healthy muffin recipe! I used half canned peaches and half canned pears (that my grandma canned), since I didn't have enough pears. I also didn't have enough honey, so I used 1/2 C. brown sugar plus 1/4 C. molasses. I can't tell you how many times I said "This is so GOOD!" while eating my first two. My husband probably thought I'd discovered gold. Thanks again!
—I just found your site and this amazing pear muffin recipe and I am hooked! I used vanilla yogurt and added some cranberries and WOW! The best bran muffin I have ever eaten. Thanks!
Can't survive on muffins alone? You'll find links to all my sweet and savory Less Fuss, More Flavor recipes in the Farmgirl Fare Recipe Index.
FAQs
Bran Muffins
Yes, you'll get a decent dose of fiber thanks to the bran, but larger versions can have more than 400 calories and contain around 13 grams of fat. Also, many store-bought bran muffins actually contain more white flour than fiber-rich bran, while packing unwanted sugar and sodium as well.
What is the advantage of adding bran to muffins? ›
The Bottom Line
Wheat bran is highly nutritious and an excellent source of fiber. It may benefit digestive and heart health and could even reduce breast and colon cancer risk.
Is Raisin Bran muffin good? ›
These raisin bran muffins are lightly sweetened and full of fiber to keep you full all morning. They're delicious to linger over at the breakfast table, smearing each bite with a dab of softened butter, but they're also perfect to grab as you're heading out the door.
What is bran muffin rich in? ›
Bran Muffin Nutritional Facts and Calories
| Amount Per Serving | % DV |
|---|
| Fiber | 6g | 21% |
| Proteins | 8g | 11% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 444mg | 19% |
7 more rowsEnglish muffins made from whole grains or English muffins with no added sugar are the healthiest options, given that these options have increased nutritional value. Whole wheat English muffins contain more fiber, less calories, and less sugar than other English muffin varieties.
Is it okay to eat a bran muffin every day? ›
But that doesn't make bran muffins healthy. Most of the muffins you buy in stores are high in sugar and fat, more like cupcakes than old fashioned muffins. Bran or other muffins are okay as an occasional treat, but not good as a regular part of a healthy diet.
Are bran muffins good for a bowel movement? ›
Wheat bran has laxative effects that can increase stool volume and bowel frequency. It also contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. People use wheat bran for constipation, hemorrhoids, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
What kind of bran is healthiest? ›
Which type of bran is more vitamin-rich is a bit of a toss-up, with wheat bran providing more niacin, riboflavin and vitamin B-6 and oat bran containing more thiamine, pantothenic acid and folate. Neither is a particularly good source of vitamins A, B-12, C, E or K.
Can you eat bran muffins if you have high cholesterol? ›
Here's the problem with the bran muffin: Although bran can help lower LDL cholesterol, the butter, sugar and eggs aren't doing your LDL levels any favors. While this bran muffin may not raise your cholesterol, it certainly won't help you lower it. And lowering harmful cholesterol levels is what most of us need to do.
Are bran muffins ok for diabetics? ›
Skip past store-bought bran muffins. While they may seem like a healthy choice, most of the muffins you'll find at the grocery store are loaded with sugar, fat, and calories. This recipe, which uses a whole cup of bran cereal, provides a healthy dose of fiber, which means a more mild effect on your blood sugar.
Oven temperature directly affects a muffin's texture and how well it rises. Muffins baked at too high of a temperature will produce an overly cooked outer crust and an undercooked filling. Muffins cooked at low temperatures for too long may dry out, creating an unpleasant texture and taste.
Are bran muffins good for your heart? ›
The oat bran and flaxseed meal contained in these muffins are a great way to lower cholesterol. The flaxseed meal will also give you an omega-3 boost, which may help to prevent heart disease. The muffins are also high in fiber. To increase their fiber content, you can also substitute wheat bran for the oat bran.
Why are my bran muffins so dense? ›
Over-mixing – If you mix the muffin batter too much it can create a VERY dense muffin with huge pockets of air inside.
What do bran muffins do to your body? ›
The bran muffin is also a good source of bone-building calcium. The benefits don't stop there. “The fiber and cinnamon both support good blood glucose control, while the walnuts contribute health-promoting antioxidants,” says Robarts. Don't miss these other healthy muffin recipes that are also packed with nutrients.
What does all bran do to your body? ›
"All-Bran can help to alleviate the symptoms of bloating. That's because it contains natural wheat bran fibre that helps keep you regular." 10g of wheat bran fibre per day helps reduce digestive transit time.
What is the difference between a bran muffin and a regular muffin? ›
Bran muffins use less flour and use bran instead, as well as using molasses and brown sugar. The mix is turned into a pocketed muffin tray, or into individual paper moulds, and baked in an oven. Milk is often added, as it contributes to the appealing browning appearance.
Is All-Bran good for losing weight? ›
Kellogg's All-Bran cereal can be a part of a healthy diet when you're trying to lose weight and improve your overall health. It's a good source of dietary fiber, which can help you feel full and satisfied, potentially aiding in weight management.
Why don't stores sell bran muffins anymore? ›
Slowly, demand declined, and shops catering to the younger folks stopped stocking bran muffins and started ordering desserts that look like muffins instead. And now it is near impossible to find them in a grocery store.
