These are not your typical healthy Bran Muffins. Thanks to the recipe’s use of natural bran and dates, these bran muffins are moist, and naturally sweet making them a tasty start to your day! As a bonus, they are a good source of fiber. You’ll wonder how anything so healthy tastes so good!
Today, I would like to share with you this quick and easy bran muffin recipe.
Without a doubt, my favorite meal of the day is breakfast, so I’m sure you can just imagine how many recipes for healthy breakfast muffins I’ve accumulated over the years!
Wait!!! I know I said the “B” word, but don’t click away just yet.
Bran muffins can be so much more than you think!!
What exactly is bran?
Bran is the outermost hard layer of whole grains (like oats, wheat or rice) that is removed as part of the milling process. Bran has a reputation for being a healthy food that tastes less-than-awesome, but these date bran muffins will help you change that preconceived notion!
Why is bran good for you?
- It can help lower the risk associated with heart disease and diabetes;
- It can help in maintaining your weight;
- It is a great source of fiber.
And since we’re on the topic of fiber, I’m sure you’ve heard of another benefit of including bran in your diet… you know… regularity.
Do you know of an easy way to increase your fiber intake?
It can be tough! But here is some good news: dates are a good source of fiber as well as bran. So, yeah, you guessed it! These healthy muffins can help you get that daily intake of fiber up! Plus, as I’ve said, they taste amazing too!
Let me now finally prove it to you and show you how easily they come together.
Instructions
Before we can add the dates to the bran part of the muffin, the dates need to be simmered for about 10 minutes in water and lemon juice, until they become thickened and paste-like. We also need to add a few tablespoons of brown sugar and lemon zest to the pot. When the time is up, there should be no water “seeping” out of the thickened date mixture.
While waiting for the date mixture to cool down, we can prepare the rest of the ingredients.
In a large bowl, whisk all of the dry ingredients together -natural bran, flour, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar.
In another bowl, combine the wet ingredients -one egg, one tablespoon of canola oil and buttermilk.
By now, the date mixture should have had enough time to cool down. We are now ready to put this healthy bran muffin recipe together.
Simply add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir together until just moistened; then add the cooled down date mixture.
Remember, when making muffins, there is no need to over stir! There is also no need for your stand mixture. A couple of bowls and a wooden spoon are all you need.
Once the mixture is combined, portion into the muffin pan and top with a slivered slice of date. Bake for about 20 – 25 minutes or until the top bounces back when lightly pressed.
Your bran and date muffins are now ready to be enjoyed!
Healthy muffins we love
- Raspberry Muffins
- Zucchini Muffins
- Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins with Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Muffins
- Greek Yogurt Muffins
Recipe origins
Well, you probably know by now how much I love my Robin Hood collection of recipes. I’ve already shared this recipe for blueberry oat muffins and this recipe for banana muffins. Robin Hood is where this date bran muffin recipe comes from as well. I have been making it for years, and they’ve always been a great breakfast on the go, or a sweet little healthy “dessert” for my kids when they were growing up.
As far as modifications are concerned, I’ve decreased the amount of sugar from the original bran muffin recipe. I assure you it’s barely noticeable as dates are naturally sweet.
By the way, I love dates and I love date muffins, so of course, I have more than one recipe for date muffins in my collection. 🙂 If you’re interested, you must try this whole-grain orange date muffin recipe!
These date bran muffins are surprisingly moist and tender -no “sawdust” texture – only great tasting and good for you bran muffins!
Do you have a favorite bran muffin recipe?
I’d love to hear about it!
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.
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Ciao for now,
Maria
★★★★★ If you have made this Date Bran Muffins recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Recipe
Surprisingly Amazing Date Bran Muffins
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Ingredients
Date Mixture:
- 1 cup chopped dates approx 8 dates
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
Bran Mixture:
- 1 ½ cup natural wheat bran
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190C). Position rack to middle.
- Paper line 12 muffin cups.
- Combine the dates, water, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan.
- Simmer for approximately 10 minutes or until thickened. Stir occasionally.
- Set date mixture aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine bran, flour, baking soda,salt and brown sugar. Whisk together. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together beaten egg, oil and buttermilk.
- Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir with wooden spoon until just moistened.
- Gently fold in the date mixture.
- Fill muffin liners ¾ full.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until top bounces back when lightly touched.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on March 14, 2015 and republished on February 10, 2018 with updated content and photos.
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Nancy
These were really great! I followed the suggestion of one of the previous bakers and omitted all sugar and added 8 dates then 2T molasses. I didn’t have wheat bran so used oat bran instead. Also added 2T flax seed meal and 1+ cup walnuts and pecans mix.
I realize it might now sound as if your great recipe was severely messed with. In a way it was but I would never have succeeded with these great muffins without your overwhelming help with the recipe. I notoriously alter recipes but often it does not turn out well. Definitely not so this time. Your recipe is really successful with changes. Thanks for its basic structure. This is a keeper!
Maria
How wonderful Nancy! I think that is the beauty of recipes, we tweak and alter until we create what we like. I think it’s great. It is as you say, a great date bran muffin that holds up well with the addition of nuts and other healthy ingredients. Thanks so much for taking the time to share, appreciate it.
Iris
I’ve been looking for a great bran muffin recipe for awhile and this is it.
I too omitted the sugar in both the simmering of the dates & the batter. Substituted extra dates & 1/8 cup molasses (as another reviewer suggested). That way I get my needed iron.
Luv them!!!
Maria
Fantastic Iris! Thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, appreciate it!
Sandra
I love bran and dates. I tried this recipe and it was awesome. I will definitely make them again.
Maria
How wonderful Sandra! Thanks so much for taking the time to share, appreciate it!
Heather Meech
I would eliminate the 1/3 c brown sugar from the bran mixture next time. The dates make them sweet enough. The batter was quite runny and filled all 12 cups to the top. They didn’t rise much at all. Baked for 20 minutes. Taste lovely and moist. I will definitely make again.
Maria
Thanks for taking the time to share your variation Heather. Glad to hear you enjoyed these date bran muffins.
Meta
I just made these muffins and the look great and smell amazing! I can’t wait to dig in to one to see how they taste. Thanks for the recipe.
Maria
My pleasure Meta! I am sure you are going to love them! Thanks so much for taking the time to share.
PSC
Its a great recipe. Thanks for this. I did not put sugar with dates mix. I just added boiled water over chopped madjool dates and did not need to simmer. Wheat bran was bought from Holland and Barrot and was really cheap. Muffins came out great. Although skewer did not come out clear and the muffins seemed to be browning up, I took them out after 20 minutes and they were great.
Maria
I am thrilled to hear this. Just wondering about the skewer… was it wooden or metal? Appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with this bran muffin recipe.
PSC
I used a metal skewer. Once again, thanks for a great recipe Maria!
Maria
It’s like I always say… if it ain’t broke… 🙂
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by to comment, appreciate it!
Rachel
Third batch made. I have tried it twice with the dates simmered in the water as recipe states, and this is the right way to go for sure! No date clumps this way (I previously just chopped the dates for lack of time). I also was able to lower the sugar by totally omitting any sugar from the simmered dates, adding 4 extra dates to make up for it, and in the muffin batter itself, using 1/8 cup molasses in replacement of the brown sugar. Hey these are low sugar already (comparatively), but why not take it further if possible and still tastes good? (I also subbed butter for the oil so that I’m not tempted to butter the baked muffin). Okay TENDER, branny (there are no other recipes out there I’ve found that use higher ratio of bran to flour! This is highest bran content in recipe I’ve found), sweet enough to taste like a cookie, healthy enough to react in your body like a bowl of oats with some dates and a little molasses. My four children ages 3 to 8 chow these!
Maria
Amazing Rachel! You made my day! Great variation! I also love that your kids are enjoying these bran muffins. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, appreciate it!
Rachel
Busy mom of 4 little kids here so I skipped simmering dates and didn’t use lemon juice or zest (husband wants me to avoid citrus hints in my baked goods unless it’s a full blown lemon cake). Just chopped up my 8 dates and threw in as is (they were super sticky soft and fresh medjools). THIS IS THE BEST FIND I’ve been fortunate enough to get my hands on in years!!! Delicious!!! Moist!!!! Sweet!!! Branny 🙂 love love love. I just downed three of them :/ mine only needed 18 mins bake time. I used silicon muffin tins liners and didn’t spray them. Popped them out while still hot and lost no muffin parts at all. Thank you so much!!! This allows me bran muffins without all the garbage that’s usually in them!!
Maria
My pleasure Rachel. I love your variation. Aren’t these truly amazing? I can only imagine how busy you must be… truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with these date bran muffins.
Sharon
Love, love, love these muffins! Thanks for posting the recipe. Will be trying your orange date recipe next!
Maria
I am thrilled to hear you liked these date bran muffins Sharon! Oh, those orange date muffins are also nice… enjoy 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, truly appreciate it!
Wayne
Thanks for recipe. My batch came out great. I couldn’t find wheat bran in store so substituted oat bran. Should have waited till they cooled before serving since stuck to paper casings (but they looked too yum to wait for). Was delicious. 👍🏽
Maria
Wayne, I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed these date bran muffins 🙂 Great substitution!
To be honest, I do the same thing… can’t wait for them to cool off and then I’m stuck peeling them off the wrapper. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with these muffins, truly appreciate it.