Description
Re-working my Grandmother’s bran muffin recipe to yield big domed tops and a moist tender crumb for bakery perfect results. No more flat topped runny bran muffins for me, it’s Bakery Perfect Bran Muffins every time!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract
- 2 cups wheat bran
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup dates
- 1/3 cup walnuts
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400°f (205°C). Spray muffin pan well with non-stick spay and/or place muffin cup liners in each cup (if using).
- Slice six whole dates in half horizontally. Place in a bowl of warm water and reserve until needed.
- In a large bowl, add wet ingredients, plus sugar; oil, brown sugar, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and molasses. Whisk to combine until smooth and creamy.
- Directly on top of that, add bran, whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Lightly whisk the top of your dry ingredients to distribute levelling agents and salt. then fold gently to combine, turning and scraping the bowl as you go.
- After four or five folds, once you begin to see the batter coming together, add featured ingredient and fold to JUST combined. (Here we’re featuring fresh dates and walnuts.) DO NOT OVER MIX. Muffins don’t require a heavy hand, so don’t beat your batter. All it needs is a gentle fold.
- Portion batter evenly in each cup, filling to just below the edge, with a slight dome. Drain reserved soaking dates, then gently press a half date into the top of the muffin batter, at a slight angle, leaving the top of the date exposed.
- Bake in 400°f (205°C) oven for 18 – 22 minutes. Remove when a toothpick inserted in the centre of the muffin comes out clean, except for a few crumbs.
- Cool of wire rack. Cool COMPLETLY before removing from muffin pan. This way they lift clean and intact. (Okay, so you might have to sacrifice one muffin to the Gods of Butter… do what you must.)
Notes
Try variations on the theme:
Raisin Bran Muffins, Dried Cherry Bran Muffins, Fig Bran Muffins – Add once cup of dried fruit of your choice.
Blueberry Bran Muffins, Cranberry Bran Muffins, Strawberry Bran Muffins, Raspberry Bran Muffins – Add once cup fresh (or frozen) fruit of your choice.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American