Skip to Content

Seven Week Bran Muffins

Sharing is caring!

Big Batch ultra moist Buttermilk Seven Week Bran Muffins made with bran buds and bran flakes. They can be made and stored in an airtight container up to 7 weeks! Add fresh fruit or nuts to kick them up a notch.

Bran muffins

It’s Monday morning, and I’m eating red licorice! In all fairness… for me….it’s more like afternoon! Mars schedule changed, and now he is up at 4:00 AM!!! (Ugh!… Double Ugh!) Which means someone else is up at 4:00 AM! Candy at 10 isn’t THAT bad if you’ve been up for 6 hours. Is it? (Remember…judgment free food addictions here on the Nest!)

Any-who… Maybe that is why I’m feeling fat guilt ummm, the need… to share this awesome long time family recipe for Seven Week Bran Muffins!

When I shared the name of the recipe with Mars he said “You can’t leave muffins out for 7 weeks!” (He’s precious! That’s why I keep him around!) He’s right…you can’t!  But…you can make the dough and store it in an airtight container for up to 7 weeks… and that folks is AWESOME!

Bran Muffins with butter

Let’s talk about these little golden gems of daily constitutional happiness! You know bran is good for you, but no one likes those bran muffins that taste like you’re eating a rubber ball?! Right! YIKES! GAG!

 These are NOT those muffins! These are light, airy, FULL OF RICH FLAVOR, moist (Oh lands are these moist), and so yummy you’ll want to grab the basket and the honey bear and go find your favorite hiding place! All they need is a little butter and honey. Wham! Bam! Thank You, Bran! (I couldn’t resist…pathetic word… play I know! Insert eye roll!)

How To Make 7 Week Bran Muffins

First step … find a very large bowl or container with a lid. (Remember you can store these, so you want a bowl with a lid!)

Carefully pour boiling hot water over bran flakes in a large bowl with a lid.  Let this set till cool or, easy to the touch. Long enough for the bran flakes to soften and so you don’t cook the 4 eggs you’ll be adding in.

Bran Muffins flakes

Next add in the shortening.

TIP:I like to use a wire whisk to do this part. The shortening breaks down quickly.

This looks slightly disgusting, but hang in there with me folks. The hot water is going to melt the shortening, and you’ll have a beautiful dough soon enough. (Is this where I should remind y’all that you wanted step-by-step photo’s…lol)

Bran Muffin adding shortening

Skipping right along…. Pour in one glorious quart of buttermilk! Say “Hello Moist Bran Muffins”! Next, add in the dry ingredients and the eggs.  

TIP: You can use honey in place of the sugar for this recipe. I generally use sugar because honey is so costly right now. Just know you can use honey if you prefer. I realize the shortening and sugar remove these from the “Ultra Healthy” status category but, all that bran helps balance it out a little.

Bran Muffin dough

Adding Dry Ingredients

It’s looking better right? You’ll notice there are still some small shortening lumps. That’s a good thing! Say “Air pockets” with me! As the muffins cook and those little lumps melt they create air pockets which make for a nice, light, fluffy muffin! Same principal as with pancakes or biscuits.

Time to add enough fiber for a small team of elephants! In all seriousness…this is what makes these muffins SO wonderful! You could NEVER get your kids to sit down and eat a bowl of bran buds!

No matter how good they are for them. But, throw them in these muffins, and they magically disappear, and they’ll never know! Score TEAM MOM!!! These are going to be the BEST Bran Muffins you have EVER had! We ROCK!!

Bran for Bran Muffins

Blend all the ingredients together. Cover the dough and place it in your refrigerator for a couple of hours.

Bran Muffin with box of bran

When you remove the covered bowl from the refrigerator the dough will look like the photo below. The bran buds or “All-Bran” have soaked up the liquids and expanded. You now have a nice thick dough ready to bake off.

Bran Muffin dough when complete

Baking Bran Muffins

Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

Using a cookie dough scoop or a large spoon, place a HUGE scoop full in each muffin tin cup. My Muffin Tins are a little worse for the wear but, I love them. To me, they represent a lot of loving-cooking that has gone on here at my nest for my little birdies.

Bran Muffin mix in the pans

Place in the center rack and bake at 350 degrees until they have risen and are golden brown. About 20–25 minutes. When you touch the center they should spring back, just like a cupcake, when done.

Bran Muffins for 7 weeks

Let cool for a few minutes. Remove from the muffin tin using a knife, and place in a bread basket. Serve warm with butter and honey.

Serving and Storing Muffins

This muffin dough can be stored up to 7 weeks in your refrigerator in an airtight container, and baked when needed. They are truly superb! My kids, grand baby, and even Mars LOVE these muffins. I have never served these muffins where the dinner guest didn’t rave about them and ask for seconds!

They go great with Chicken Rice Casserole or Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu! Work for breakfast or for dinner and are a great side bread to go with a big healthy salad! You can even bake up a batch before school and feel good about letting your kids have one as they are running out the door!

Remember those “air pockets” we talked about earlier! See them all? That is just one of the things that makes these muffins so fluffy and melt-in-your-mouth good.

Bran Muffins with butter

I really hope you’ll give this recipe a try and that you’ll want to add it as a staple to your family recipe list.

It’s so handy when you’re preparing a meal mid-week, and you want a nice muffin to go with your dinner. Just pop open the refrigerator and bake off a dozen of these in a matter of minutes! Plus it just feels good knowing you’ve made your family something full of fiber that is yummy!

The free printable is below. Hope you come back this week and check out some of the other fun things I have planned for ya here at my “Nest”. (Is it nap time yet? I think so…lol) Have a Fantastic Monday Friends!

Here are some of my other favorite Muffin and Quick Bread Recipes!

Happy Nesting Friends!

Yield: 48 muffins

Seven Week Bran Muffins

Basket full of Seven Week Bran Muffins

A light airy and moist bran muffin that never fails to receive rave reviews! Can be made for breakfast or dinner. As is or you can add in fruit and nuts. This is a superb bran muffin that even your littles will loves!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 2 cups 40% bran flakes
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 quart buttermilk
  • 5 cups flour
  • 5 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar or honey
  • 4 cups bran buds or "All-Bran"\

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl combine and cool (till easy to touch) the 2 cups boiling water with the 2 cups of 40% bran flakes
  2. Add in 1 cup soft shortening and 4 eggs. Beat well with wire whisk.
  3. Stir in one quart of buttermilk.
  4. Add in flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar or honey. Stir just enough to combine.
  5. Add in 4 cups of bran buds or all-bran. Stir until all ingredients are combined but, do not over stir.
  6. Store in an air tight container in refrigerator till ready to bake (at least 2 hours)
  7. Bake as desired amount is needed.
  8. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until done.
  9. You can add chopped dates, grated apples, raisins, nuts or other fruits just before baking.

Notes

This dough can be stored for up to 7 weeks in an air tight container in your refrigerator and used as needed.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

48

Serving Size:

1 muffin

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 155Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 251mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 2gSugar: 13gProtein: 3g

Sharing is caring!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Mia

Monday 27th of March 2023

I made some and they didn’t rise, and we’re not fluffy. What did I do wrong. I did put butter instead of shorting.

[email protected]

Monday 27th of March 2023

Hi Mia! You do have to use Crisco in this recipe. It's lighter than butter. Because the crisco breaks into little bits it creates air pockets as it melts during baking. If the butter was melted then that would explain the batter not rising. Also I recommend checking the date on your baking soda and baking powder to make sure they haven't expired. These muffins generally rise beautifully. Sorry. Norine

Jacqueline

Thursday 8th of October 2020

This recipe was very difficult to find. It is so close to the one I have used for almost 50 years. Instead of brand flakes, I have used brand buds. And instead of shortening I now use butter. Also, the mixing directions are a little different. I cream the butter and sugar and then add in the eggs and then the flour and buttermilk alternatively. I add the all bran cereal and then the brand buds that have been soaking in the boiling water. I’m sure that they are very much like yours. I’ve never tasted the brand muffin that I really liked until this one.

Jacqueline

Friday 9th of October 2020

@[email protected], The fact that it was difficult to find this recipe was not a criticism. I was just commenting on the fact that all the bran muffin recipes That are easy to find just don’t stack up to this one. When I offer a guest a bran muffin, they usually say they don’t like bran muffins. Then they try this one and change their mind entirely. I loved your post and all of your comments. Thank you for responding

[email protected]

Thursday 8th of October 2020

Hi Jacqueline! I'm so sorry it was hard to find this recipe. Is there something you can suggest that would have made it easier for you to find..or were you just speaking in general terms. Bran Buds would work great in this recipe. I appreciate your tips. Thanks so much for sharing. Hope you're having a great week and will stop back again soon.

Happy Nesting, Norine

Classic Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad | Norine's Nest

Thursday 6th of June 2019

[…] Seven Week Bran Muffins […]

The Better Baker

Thursday 14th of September 2017

Oh YUMMM! I haven't made these for many years. They are SO tasty. Thanks for the recipe reminder...and for making my mouth water this morning! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who eats candy in the morning!! Love your posts!

[email protected]

Thursday 14th of September 2017

Hi Marsha! Thank you sweet friend. I love when you stop by to visit. It truly is one of my favorites. Is the cookbook out yet? Let me know when. Have a Great Weekend dear friend. Norine

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to Recipe