“Better Than Starbucks” Bran Muffins
A few months ago I moved to a new apartment that’s just down the block and across the street from Starbucks. All that yummy chai-ness just a short walk away. This dramatically increased my pre-work stops for Tall Chai Lattes. And I have no will power when it comes to pastries so I’d also get one of their apple bran muffins (bran is healthy, right?).
It was the perfect breakfast. Tasty pastry and drink, and it always filled me up for hours. Normally I’d eat breakfast and then feel hungry just a couple hours later. But this combo kept me full until lunch.
But the good times couldn’t last. It’s just too expensive to spend $5 a couple times a week on something I knew wasn’t too healthy for me. No matter how much I enjoy them, chunks of buttery-sugar-apple-crumble are just not good for me. Fortunately I had one of those realizations that seems so obvious it’s hard to believe I didn’t think of it 10 years ago- I could make my own bran muffins! (And so can you!)
That day I found a great muffin recipe on my favorite recipe website – allrecipes.com (note: read the comments under the recipe for GREAT ideas.). I’ve altered it slightly, and I want to share it with you. Everyone who’s tried the muffins has loved them. Plus, they’re super healthy.
Erin’s “Better Than Starbucks” Bran muffins
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 cups wheat bran (Fiber One cereal)
- 1 cup milk & 2 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/3 cup applesauce
- 1 egg
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup wholewheat flour
- 2 tbsp. ground flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 1/2 peeled, chunked granny smith apples
- cinnamon/spices to taste
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
- Mix together milk and lemon, then mix into wheat bran; let stand for 10 minutes.
- Beat together applesauce, egg, sugar and vanilla and add to milk/bran mixture. Sift together flour, flaxseed, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Stir flour mixture into milk mixture, until just blended. Fold in cranberries and apple chunks and spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool and enjoy!
Try it and let me know what you think!
7 Responses to ““Better Than Starbucks” Bran Muffins”
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Just wanted to thank you for posting this. I LOVE the Starbucks Bran muffins and was thrilled to find your recipe via Google. I made them this weekend and they are SO good. Even my picky husband and toddler ate them right up – thanks for sharing!
Hi, I found your recipe via google too. Thanks! I made them this morning. I followed your recipe except I added dried cherries instead of cranberries. I also saved about a tablespoon of the brown sugar. I added the brown sugar and about 2 tablespoons of oatmeal and sprinkled that mixture over the top before baking to make the top a bit crunchy. It was so good. Oh, I added some walnuts too. Delicious. I also did the calorie/sugar/fat breakdown for my version. 3.3 grams fat; 15 grams sugar; 114 calories. That includes all the fruit and walnuts too. (compared to 350 calories and 9 grams of fat from my precious Starbucks) Thanks again!!!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Stacey, Thank you so much for the breakdown. I knew they were much healthier, but that’s crazy good.
was wondering if anyone tried the Splenda brown sugar for these?
Great recipe-made them this evening, also added walnuts and used ‘pumpkin spice’ yummy!!
Ive tried these muffins twice, i leave out the flaxseed and cranberries and use raisins instead, and white flour instead of whole wheat flour, and use cinnamon for spice. they are apple cinnamon muffins.
They are the best muffins i have ever had!!
I never have had the starbucks version of these, but if they are anyhting like this recipe, they must be awesome!. These take first place!.
They are so GOOD! Even my whole fmailiy- who wont eat bran muffins, will eat these ones.
I will continue to make this recipe.
Thanks for posting this.
Wow… these are delicious! I also found your recipe via a Google search. I did not modify your recipe except for my flax seed was not ground. I will most certainly share this recipe with my blog viewers!
Thank you, and God bless!