Oat Bran Muffins are a moist and delicious way to start the day. Full of natural flavors and sweet oat bran. They are filling and satisfying!
You may think of bran muffins as hippie-dippie food or a healthy food staple. Whichever the case they are a good wholesome breakfast option.
They can be tasteless and grainy. AND packed with fat and sugar so they really aren’t a true healthy option.
We’ve reinvented a bran muffin using oat bran and other wholesome ingredients you can feel good about!
They are a great way to start the day or for a mid morning snack.
If you love muffins also try Morning Glory muffins, Cranberry Orange Muffins and fresh Strawberry Muffins too. Peanut Butter Banana Muffins are grat too!
Easy Bran Muffins
You don’t have to go to a coffee house or bakery for great muffins.
You’ll love how easy this recipe is to make at home.
Wholesome ingredients, wonderful moist texture and delicious flavor.
What is Bran?
Bran is the outer layer of grain; wheat, oat or rice most commonly. It’s an excellent source of fiber which has made it so popular in muffins. It’s great for digestive health and preventing other diseases.
Most bran muffins are made with a combination of wheat bran and bran cereal (also from wheat). This excluded anyone with gluten intolerance or Celiac from eating them.
These muffins can often be dry, super grainy and tasteless.
What is Oat Bran?
For these muffins we’ve used Oat Bran. As with other types of bran, it comes from the outside of an oat grain.
It has a naturally sweet, homey flavor and is available in both regular and gluten-free types.
It can be found in most grocery stores or online and is sold as a hot cereal.
When baked into a muffin is softens and adds delicious flavor.
The great digestive benefits are still there. It’s just a more delicious option!
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
Oat Bran – the oat bran used for the muffins is actually a hot cereal. It doubles as a recipe ingredient. It has a light flavor and softer texture than wheat bran too.
Depending on your dietary needs select regular or gluten-free oat bran.
Buttermilk – adds a light tangy flavor and when used with baking soda it helps create a lighter texture and better rising.
Egg – helps bind the batter, adds structure and helps rising.
Applesauce – this is the star ingredient in my book. Did you know you can substitute applesauce for oil 1-to-1? It provides the same function but with less calories and more flavor.
Store bought or homemade applesauce can be used. We love this Instant Pot Applesauce recipe.
Light Brown Sugar – this sugar is the sweetener along with the natural sweetness from the applesauce. It adds a delicious caramel-y flavor.
Vanilla Extract – makes everything taste better.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda – this combination allows the muffins to rise.
All Purpose Flour – either regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend can be used. For gluten-free muffins I recommend Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend.
Salt – I recommend kosher salt. It’s a less salty tasting salt and distributes well when sprinkled into foods.
Orange Zest – just a bit of fresh orange zest adds the perfect finishing touch. Aren’t familiar with zesting? This post on orange zest will tell you everything you need to know.
My favorite zester is this one. It makes zesting a breeze and doesn’t take off the bitter white pith under the outer skin.
Raisins. Add the perfect finishing touch.
Variation
If desired, use vegetable oil INSTEAD of applesauce. Use the same amount.
In my house it’s a toss up which we like best. The applesauce version has a bit more sweetness and flavor. If you use oil muffin liners can be used.
How to Make them – Step-by-Step
STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. DO NOT USE MUFFIN LINERS!
STEP 2: Combine the oat bran and buttermilk in a large bowl. Allow to sit for 10 minutes (photos 1-3).
STEP 3: In a smaller bowl whisk together the egg, applesauce, brown sugar and vanilla extract just until combined (photo 4). Stir into the bran mixture by hand (it may be thick) (photo 5).
STEP 4: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and orange zest (photo 6). Stir into the bran mixture.
STEP 5: Stir in the raisins (photos 7-8).
STEP 6: Scoop into the prepared muffin tins filling just below the cavity rim (photo 9). Bake for 15-18 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (photo 10).
Allow to cool a few minutes in the pan on a wire rack (photo 10). Then transfer directly to the wire rack to complete cooling (photo 11).
Tried and Tested Recipe
We’ve made this recipe at sea level, at altitude (5,400 feet); with regular all purpose flour and gluten-free measure-for-measure flour.
The results were consistently excellent in all cases.
Pro Tips
Do not use muffin liners. When making the recipe with applesauce the muffins will stick to the liners. Is swapping oil in for the applesauce liners may be used.
How to Store them
Store in a sealed bag or container with a paper towel. This will absorb any excess moisture.
Store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
How to Freeze them
Place them in a freezer safe container or plastic bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw at room temperature.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
- Coffee Cake Muffins with Fresh Orange Glaze
- Chocolate Chip Muffins with Oats
- Peach Pie Overnight Oats
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Best Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe
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Recipe
Oat Bran Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Oat Bran regular or gluten-free
- 1 cup Buttermilk
- 1 Egg lightly beaten
- 1/3 cup Applesauce
- 2/3 cups Light Brown Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour regular or measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- Zest from ½ an Orange
- 1/2 cup Raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. DO NOT USE MUFFIN LINERS.
- Combine the bran and buttermilk in a large mixing bowl. Stir to fully combine. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, applesauce, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Just until combined.
- Add the mixture to the bran-buttermilk. Stir just until combined. NOTE: the bran mixture may be thick. Just stir by hand until all ingredients have blended together.
- In a separate mixing bowl sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and orange zest. Add to the bowl with the other ingredients and stir to combine.
- Stir in the raisins.
- Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pan evenly (to just below the rim). Tap the pan gently if needed for the batter to fill in the cavities.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow the muffins to cool a few minutes in the pan until comfortable to lift out and place on a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
The texture of the muffins will stick to muffin liners. It’s recommended to bake them without liners.
Jacque says
I’ve been looking for a great bran muffin recipe and this is it! I used gluten free flour and it turned out great. Thank you!
Toni Dash says
So glad you liked it!
May says
Great recipe that I have made multiple times. I always have a bit of fresh fruit to throw in ,instead of raisins. Raspberries or strawberries and lemon zest are favorites. I just made some muffins with almond extract and fresh Rainier cherries – very yum! Buttermilk powder has also made baking much easier for me as I don’t usually have fresh buttermilk on hand.
Sharlana says
These are wonderful! I substituted King Arthur’s gluten free all purpose flour and added 1/2 tsp xanthan gum. I see so many possibilities for add-ins for this recipe. Thanks for the great recipe!
Toni Dash says
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed them!
Avram says
A friend of mine wants me to make him gluten free oat bran muffins with raisins, dates and hazelnuts. I already know how to substitute regular flour with gluten free flour, but how much raisins, chopped dates and chopped hazelnuts do you recommend?
Toni Dash says
Hi Avram. To make it simple I would replace the 1/2 cup volume of raisins with a mix of raisins, dates and hazelnuts (so a total volume of 1/2 cup of the mix of the three add in ingredients). You don’t want so many mix in ingredients that you taste no muffin or that the muffin no longer holds together well; or so few you don’t get some of each in every muffin.
Also I make these muffins with Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour. There are many brands of measure to measure flours (you may have one you love) but that flour I’ve found really best replicated the taste and texture of regular All Purpose Flour.
You are a nice friend to bake these!
Stacey says
I’ve been craving the oat bran muffins I used to have as a kid, but wanted to make them homemade. After searching many, many recipes, I found this one. They came out JUST like I remembered. To make them dairy-free, I used oat milk and lemon juice instead of buttermilk. I also added in 1/2 tsp of cinnamon. These will be my base for playing with other add-in in the future: cranberries, blueberries, banana, walnuts. etc.
Toni Dash says
Stacey you warmed my heart with your comment. I’m so happy this recipe has rekindled your childhood memories and given you a base for other versions.
Kevin says
I was skeptical when putting this recipe together but the results are delicious! Great muffins!