Refrigerator Bran Muffins

Refrigerator Bran Muffins

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups wheat bran flakes or plain wheat bran
• 2 cups bran buds (look like little pebbles) or all-bran (look like little twigs)
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 quart (4 cups) buttermilk
• 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) butter, melted
• ½ cup (no-added sugar) applesauce
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 5 cups whole wheat flour
• 4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl with a tight fitting lid, place the wheat bran flakes (or plain wheat bran) and the bran buds or all-bran. Pour the boiling water over the bran and mix well. Stir every couple of minutes while the mixture cools to room temperature. The mixture will become very thick and sticky.
2. After the mixture cools, add the buttermilk, melted butter, applesauce, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix well to combine all the ingredients together.
3. The batter can be covered well and kept in the refrigerator for up to 30 days. To bake, scoop the batter into greased or lined muffin tins. Fill 3/4 full. Bake at 375 degrees for about 14-16 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Notes:

I know that Grandma Lauritzen and Mom Toone used to make bran muffins. Due to Jordan's unpredictable schedule, breakfast time is sometimes our only consistent meal together as a family so we are trying to make it more of a sit down event, even on busy school mornings. I LOVE these make ahead muffins! It helps get us out of the cereal rut and makes my morning so easy! They are filling and pretty healthy and paired with fruit make a meal. I have made this big batch about 4 times now and each batch makes about 4 dozen muffins. I love having it just sitting in my fridge, waiting to be made. I highly recommend these. I see them as a staple of our school mornings now. (And now that our church has changed from 1pm to 9am, we eat them on Sundays as well).

Source: (recipe and picture)

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2010/09/healthy-and-delicious-refrigerator-bran-muffins.html