My sister Jessica is a great judge of recipes for the home cook and baker. She always has a nice lineup of go-to meals and baked goods that appeal to a wide audience of eaters. Her food is consistently delicious, never fussy. So when she passed along this muffins recipe to me last year, saying they made a tasty breakfast, I knew I had to hold onto it.
Coming away from the holidays, laden with oh so many rich eats, I have been searching out food that’s healthier, trying to get back to a more normal daily eating routine. Jessica’s Banana Apple Bran Muffins were the perfect place to start!
If it weren’t for Jessica’s recommendation, I’m pretty sure I would never have tried this recipe. The list of ingredients doesn’t really shout out to me (the only bran I enjoy eating is Raisin Bran), except that I know how much I love banana and shredded apple in baked goods. This recipe is a keeper, though. I’m so glad I tried it!
These muffins are super moist, with a surprisingly light texture. They are lightly fruity from the banana and apple, and have just the right amount of raisins. I’m not a huge fan of raisins, but do like them in “just the right dosage” when added to dishes and baked treats. The specified half cup was spot-on for my tastes. And the bran? Well, that was good, too!
When I first tried these apple bran muffins, I knew immediately that I liked them. A second opinion is always required, though, to make it into these recipe archives. That did not prove to be a problem, as our girls totally embraced them, too. Next time I’m going to swap out the raisins for dried blueberries or cranberries, to change it up. You can bet that these muffins will be in regular rotation for breakfast around here.
Happy New Year to you!
Jessica’s Banana Apple Bran Muffins
Ingredients
for the banana apple bran muffins:
- ½ c. raisins or dried blueberries or cranberries
- 1 large egg
- ¾ c. milk
- 1.5 c. bran cereal I used Kellogg’s All-Bran Original
- 2 T. unsalted butter melted
- ¾ c. shredded Granny Smith apple from 2 small or 1 extra large apple
- 1 large ripe banana
- ½ c. honey
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 c. whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
for the cinnamon sugar sprinkle:
- 1 T. sugar
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray or line with paper cupcake liners. Set aside.
- Place raisins in a small bowl and add enough water to cover. Microwave for 1 minute to plump them up. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the egg with the milk, and then stir in the bran cereal. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes, until cereal absorbs the liquid and breaks down. Fold in the raisins, butter, apple, banana, honey, and vanilla. Then add the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, stirring to combine completely. Divide batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups.
- In a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon sugar sprinkle ingredients. Sprinkle over the muffin batter.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool.
These look fabulous! Does the apple need to be peeled before it’s shredded?
Several days ago I was so glad to have on-hand all the ingredients to make these very tasty muffins. Goodness, they are chock-full of everything you would want in a delicious muffin – apple, raisins, bran, banana and, what I’ve enjoyed most, the warmth of all that cinnamon. I filled to the brim my paper-lined muffin tin to bake 12 perfect muffins (just like in the picture). My husband and I have enjoyed them for breakfast, lunch and dinner having just finished the last one (had to share) with our chicken salad over baby spinach. Well, I’m already pulling all the ingredients out to make a double batch right this minute! Try ’em for yourself – you won’t be disappointed. Brenda, thank you for sharing your beautiful site with us – a farmgirl’s dabbles ROCKS!
Wow, such a nice comment – thank you so much! Enjoy! :)
Yum!! These look so good Brenda. Can’t wait to make them.
I rate this a 15+ This is the best bran muffin recipe I have tried and the best part is nooo SUGAR except for honey. OMG I just had one and I can taste everything in them. I used a wheat bran cereal with coc. flakes and slivered almonds . Only subs. I made was used coc. milk and almond ext. and cut cin. to 1 t. as I use the saigon cin. which is more potent and also added a pinch of cardamon. No salt bec. of baking soda and many cereals have salt in them. Tops I used glitter crystals only. These are the BOMB TKS FOR A GREAT RECIPE. P.S. house smells AWESOME
Wow, what a great comment – so glad you liked these!
Brenda, these look fabulous! Can’t wait to try these soon!
Thank you, Whitney – hope you like them, too!
These would be perfect for my family! My son loves muffins of any kind and the fact these have apples and bran in them makes a mama happy! :)
That’s awesome, Julia – hope your son likes these as much as our kids do!
These muffins look great! The perfect way to start the morning! :)
Thank you, Christina! :)
These muffins look just perfect. I only wish I had a sister who could make me muffins. Mine if five and well she is pretty cute in the kitchen, her baking skills are just not there yet!
Gorgeous and delicious, Brenda!
If your little sister watches you at all in the kitchen, she’s going to be an amazing cook/baker. She’ll be baking you muffins in no time!
Sounds like a muffin I’d better bake. I’m a big fan of your sister and you after you recent sweet comment.
I am so glad that you liked the muffins! Your comments make me smile!!!
YAY! I really didn’t know what I was going to think of these, just trusted you! ;) Thanks for sharing another great recipe! xo
These muffins look scrumptious, a perfect breakfast!
Thanks, Laura!
I really enjoy a nice, moist, fruity muffin with a cup of coffee or tea. And I just happen to have everything on hand to make these! Sounds like Saturday breakfast to me!
I think I’ll need to keep a box of bran on hand, just for these muffins! ;)
These look delightful!
Thanks, Shaina! Stay warm! :)
Mmmm, true story, bran muffins are my favorite! I love this fruit-filled variation.
Well, that’s awesome! I’m glad I tried these, will definitely be making more!
Me too!! I feel like I’ve ingested every calorie I could over the holidays with little restraint. I think I need to try the dried blueberries in them and I love bran muffins. Great recipe to try for the New Year. Happy New Year Brenda to you and your family!
I loooooove dried blueberries! Do you have a Trader Joe’s nearby? They have the most awesome dried WILD blueberries, a bit smaller and super flavorful, so good! Happy New Year to you, Wendy!
I want these in my life!! Bran muffins are fabulous :)
Looks like I’ve been missing out on bran muffins in my life! So glad I found out now!
These are gorgeous and I have some bran cereal that needs using since I bought it for another recipe but don’t eat it on its own! Pinned!
I keep a couple different cereals for recipe purposes only, too. Give these a try!! :)
Mmmm, Jessica just might be my new BFF.
She’s an awesome sister and friend!
This is just what I need to start my morning!
Definitely! I think I’ll double the recipe next time and stick a bunch in the freezer, for easy breakfasts. Thanks for stopping by, Steph!
Love this flavor combo, Brenda! Raisins aren’t high on my list either, but I do love me a good muffin. Can’t wait to try these! happy New Year!
I’m trying these with dried wild blueberries next! Happy New Year to you, Lisa and Anna!