{"slug":"healthy-bran-muffins","collection":"michael","is_recipe":true,"visibility":"public","title":"Healthy Bran Muffins","description":"Tender whole wheat and wheat bran muffins sweetened with honey or maple syrup, with a bakery-style domed top from a quick high-heat bake.","body_md":"\n## Ingredients\n\n### Dry\n\n- 195g (1½ cups) whole wheat flour, spooned and leveled\n- 52g (1 cup) wheat bran\n- 1 tsp baking powder\n- ½ tsp baking soda\n- ½ tsp salt\n- ½ tsp ground cinnamon\n\n### Wet\n\n- 1 large egg, at room temperature\n- 170g (½ cup) honey or pure maple syrup\n- 75g (⅓ cup) coconut oil, melted\n- 80g (⅓ cup) unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature\n- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract\n- 240ml (1 cup) nondairy or dairy milk, at room temperature\n\n### Mix-ins\n\n- 100g (⅔ cup) raisins, or other add-ins (see Notes)\n\n## Instructions\n\n1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray a 12-count muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with muffin liners.\n\n2. Whisk together all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside.\n\n3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, honey, melted coconut oil, applesauce, vanilla, and milk until combined.\n\n4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk to combine. Switch to a spatula and fold in the raisins.\n\n5. Spoon the batter evenly into the liners, filling each to the top.\n\n6. Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes. Without opening the oven, reduce the temperature to 350°F (177°C) and bake for another 14 to 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.\n\n7. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.\n\n## Notes\n\n- **High-then-low temperature:** The initial blast of heat quickly lifts the muffin tops before the centers bake — the key to bakery-style domed muffins.\n\n- **Flour:** Whole wheat can be replaced with all-purpose flour, or a mix of both.\n\n- **Wheat bran:** Found in the cereal aisle near oats. No need to soak or sift — add straight to the dry ingredients. Bob's Red Mill is a reliable brand.\n\n- **Coconut oil:** Substitute with the same amount of vegetable oil, avocado oil, or melted butter.\n\n- **Applesauce:** Mashed banana works as a substitute.\n\n- **Milk:** Any dairy or nondairy milk works, including buttermilk.\n\n- **Add-ins:** Use 100g (⅔ cup) of anything you prefer — dried cranberries, chopped walnuts or pecans, fresh or dried blueberries, or peeled finely chopped apple (increase to about 1 cup for apple). Or leave the muffins plain.\n\n- **Mini muffins:** Bake in a mini muffin pan at 350°F (177°C) for 12 to 13 minutes total — skip the high-heat step.\n\n## Storage\n\nKeeps covered at room temperature for a few days, then refrigerate for up to 1 week. Freeze for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator.\n","draft":false,"servings":"12","prep_time":"10 minutes","cook_time":"20 minutes","total_time":"35 minutes","created_at":"2026-03-23T05:00:00Z","categories":["Bread"],"tags":["Bran","Breakfast","Muffins","Quick","Vegan Adaptable","Vegetarian","Whole Wheat"],"methods":["Baked"],"themes":["Vegetarian"],"ingredients":[{"section":"Dry","items":["- 195g (1½ cups) whole wheat flour, spooned and leveled","- 52g (1 cup) wheat bran","- 1 tsp baking powder","- ½ tsp baking soda","- ½ tsp salt","- ½ tsp ground cinnamon"],"parsed":[{"raw":"- 195g (1½ cups) whole wheat flour, spooned and leveled","qty":195,"unit":"g","item":"whole wheat flour, spooned and leveled"},{"raw":"- 52g (1 cup) wheat bran","qty":52,"unit":"g","item":"wheat bran"},{"raw":"- 1 tsp baking powder","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","item":"baking powder"},{"raw":"- ½ tsp baking soda","qty":0.5,"unit":"tsp","item":"baking soda"},{"raw":"- ½ tsp salt","qty":0.5,"unit":"tsp","item":"salt"},{"raw":"- ½ tsp ground cinnamon","qty":0.5,"unit":"tsp","item":"ground cinnamon"}]},{"section":"Wet","items":["- 1 large egg, at room temperature","- 170g (½ cup) honey or pure maple syrup","- 75g (⅓ cup) coconut oil, melted","- 80g (⅓ cup) unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature","- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract","- 240ml (1 cup) nondairy or dairy milk, at room temperature"],"parsed":[{"raw":"- 1 large egg, at room temperature","qty":1,"item":"large egg","prep":"at room temperature"},{"raw":"- 170g (½ cup) honey or pure maple syrup","qty":170,"unit":"g","item":"honey or pure maple syrup"},{"raw":"- 75g (⅓ cup) coconut oil, melted","qty":75,"unit":"g","item":"coconut oil","prep":"melted"},{"raw":"- 80g (⅓ cup) unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature","qty":80,"unit":"g","item":"unsweetened applesauce","prep":"at room temperature"},{"raw":"- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","item":"pure vanilla extract"},{"raw":"- 240ml (1 cup) nondairy or dairy milk, at room temperature","qty":240,"unit":"ml","item":"nondairy or dairy milk","prep":"at room temperature"}]},{"section":"Mix-ins","items":["- 100g (⅔ cup) raisins, or other add-ins (see Notes)"],"parsed":[{"raw":"- 100g (⅔ cup) raisins, or other add-ins (see Notes)","qty":100,"unit":"g","item":"raisins, or other add-ins"}]}],"servings_int":12,"qc":{"status":"passed","last_checked_at":"2026-07-30T01:55:40.030332Z","checked_by":"robert@sigler.io","standard_version":"2026-07-29","findings_count":0,"stale":false}}