Name: Banana-Bran Muffins
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 large eggs; 0.66666668653488 cup packed light brown sugar; 1 cup mashed ripe bananas, (2 medium); 1 cup buttermilk, (see Ingredient notes); 1 cup unprocessed wheat bran, (see Ingredient notes); 0.25 cup canola oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup whole-wheat flour; 0.75 cup all-purpose flour; 1.5 teaspoons baking powder; 0.5 teaspoon baking soda; 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 0.5 cup chocolate chips (optional); 0.33 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Nutrition Notes

Are Bananas Healthy?

While bananas are best known for providing potassium, that's not the only nutrient they offer. Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin C, copper and manganese. Green, unripened bananas contain resistant starch, which acts as food for your beneficial gut bacteria and also helps you stay full longer. Bananas can play a role in protecting your heart, reducing blood pressure and stroke risk, and improving mood. They're also a great source of energy for your workouts.

Are There Health Benefits to Using Whole-Wheat Flour and Wheat Bran?

Whole wheat is a whole grain, which means that it contains the entire wheat kernel—the bran, germ and endosperm. These are the most nutritious parts of the seed, containing antioxidants, fiber and nutrients. Whole grains have been shown to support heart health and reduce chronic inflammation.

Wheat bran is the outermost layer of the wheat kernel and is loaded with insoluble fiber. This means that it adds bulk to stools and helps keep them moving through the digestive tract. In other words, it helps you poop. The fiber in wheat germ has also been shown to improve gut health.

Are These Muffins Vegetarian?

Yes, as long as you eat eggs and dairy, these muffins fit into a vegetarian eating pattern.

Tips from the Test Kitchen

How Do You Quickly Ripen Bananas for Baking?

If you don't have ripe bananas on hand, there are several ways to ripen bananas quickly. For softer bananas, you can bake them in a 300°F oven for 15 to 30 minutes until the banana peels are black and the fruit is soft. You can also microwave bananas on High in 30-second intervals until soft.

What Other Ingredients Can I Add to the Banana-Bran Muffins?

You can stir semisweet or dark chocolate chips into the batter and then sprinkle the tops with chopped walnuts or pecans right before baking.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Store Banana-Bran Muffins?

Wrap each muffin in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to two days or freeze in freezer bags for up to one month. To defrost and heat frozen muffins, remove plastic wrap, wrap them in a paper towel and microwave on High for 30 to 45 seconds.

Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. and Jan Valdez

Ingredients

2 large eggs
⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup mashed ripe bananas, (2 medium)
1 cup buttermilk, (see Ingredient notes)
1 cup unprocessed wheat bran, (see Ingredient notes)
¼ cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole-wheat flour
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
⅓ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat 12 muffin cups with cooking spray.
Whisk eggs and brown sugar in a medium bowl until smooth. Whisk in bananas, buttermilk, wheat bran, oil and vanilla.
Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the dry ingredients; add the wet ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips, if using. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups (they'll be quite full). Sprinkle with walnuts, if using.
Bake the muffins until the tops are golden brown and spring back when touched lightly, 15 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Loosen the edges and turn the muffins out onto a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

Equipment

12-cup muffin pan, wire rack

Ingredient Notes

You can use buttermilk powder in place of fresh buttermilk. Or make "sour milk": Mix 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar with 1 cup milk.

Unprocessed wheat bran is the outer layer of the wheat kernel, removed during milling. Also known as miller's bran, it can be found in the baking section. Do not substitute bran cereal in this recipe.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, Winter 2004

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

200	Calories
6g	Fat
34g	Carbs
5g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Serving Size 1 muffin
Calories 200
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 34g	12%
Dietary Fiber 4g	14%
Total Sugars 15g
Added Sugars 11g	22%
Protein 5g	10%
Total Fat 6g	8%
Saturated Fat 1g	4%
Cholesterol 32mg	11%
Vitamin A 69IU	1%
Vitamin C 2mg	2%
Folate 40mcg	10%
Sodium 217mg	9%
Calcium 83mg	6%
Iron 2mg	9%
Magnesium 55mg	13%
Potassium 232mg	5%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.