Chocolate Bran Muffins

These muffins come out a delicious looking dark chocolately brown color. They have high fiber cereal and some whole wheat flour in them so I feel good giving them to the kids.

1 cup bran cereal

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup oil

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup white flour

1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat 12 regular sized muffin cups with butter.

lace the cereal in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin, or crush in a food processor.

In a medium bowl mix the cereal and buttermilk, let that stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the oil, egg and vanilla.

In another bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients and then add the cereal mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips. Divide batter evenly between 12 muffin cups. 

Bake for 16-20 minutes. 

Berry Streusel Bars (more sneaky bran)

Here is another attempt to sneak in some fiber. I thought they were delicious, but my husband wasn't crazy about them. The original recipe is from the Kellogg's All Bran site. Next time I think I would add some additional fruit, maybe sprinkle fresh berries on the jam.

Berry Streusel Bars

1 cup Bran cereal

1.5 cups flour

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, cold

3 T water

2/3 cup spreadable fruit jam

1 Tbs melted butter

1. In a food processor combine the cereal, flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add water and pulse. Mixture will be crumbly.

2. Remove 1 cup of mixture and set aside for the topping. With the back of a spoon, press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a 9x11" pan coated with cooking spray.

3. Carefully spread the fruit over the cereal mixture in the bottom of the pan. Add 1 tablespoon melted butter to the reserved topping and then sprinkle over the fruit. 

4. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until lightly browned. 

Buttermilk Bran Muffins

My current project is to try to find a bran muffin that even my husband and kids will like. They are all pretty much a strictly "blueberry muffin with streusel crowd".  

The first one I tried was from the "Fiber One" website, since that was the brand of bran cereal that I had in the cupboard. They turned out pretty well. My husband liked them a lot but the kids were not too convinced. I did change a few things in the recipe, so you can see the original recipe on their site if you like. The second time I made these I added raisins and now even the kids love them.

I would definitely make these again. They are great to have around when you want a snack or a breakfast to grab on the go. 

Buttermilk Bran Muffins

1 3/4 cup bran cereal

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup raisons

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. 

2. Crush the cereal in a plastic bag with a rolling pin, or in the food processor, which is much easier. In a bowl, stir the cereal, buttermilk and vanilla together until well mixed. Beat in the oil and egg.

3. In another bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Add to the cereal mixture until just moistened. Add raisins.

4. Spoon into 12 muffin cups, greased with cooking spray.

5. Bake 18-22 minutes