These Bacon Bran Muffins are a perfect example of how adding bacon makes everything better. Bran muffins are no exception.
The Perfect Bran Muffin is Hard To Find
I think I've eaten, and baked as many terrible bran muffins as good ones. The good ones are hearty but tender and moist and not overly sweet. The bad ones are heavy, tough, and dry. In my experience, whenever I try too hard for a super healthy outcome with the bran muffin, I get the latter. Bran, to me, needs buttermilk, oil, and eggs to make it palatable. So I just go with it if I want the result to actually be eaten.
Nutritious Wheat Bran
Adding a little fat doesn't take away the health benefits of wheat bran, though. Bran is crazy high in fibre, and the best source of magnesium which helps regulate blood pressure. It's also packed with B vitamins and minerals like iron. There are so many benefits to getting wheat bran into our diets. So it couldn't hurt to add some bacon, I was thinking. Because well, bacon makes everything better. And I was right.
Bacon Makes Everything Better
Oh yes, bacon does indeed, make bran better. The only sweetness in these bacon bran muffins comes from the molasses and the dates, That slight sweetness is a perfect complement to the salty, smoky bacon flavour. To balance the healthy factor, I used whole grain, whole wheat flour as well as the wheat bran, so these muffins can withstand some bacon and still be a healthy breakfast or snack.
You can use leftover bacon (is there such a thing?). Or cook some extra at breakfast to make these later.. Muffins freeze well, so you can freeze any that you don't eat right away. It's great to have these in the freezer for a grab and go breakfast since they take hardly any time to defrost.
This recipe makes 18 muffins. If you are a fan of muffins, you may also want to check out these Apple Cheddar Muffins, or Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins
Bacon Bran Muffins
Ingredients
- 5 strips bacon cooked until crisp, chopped or crumbled into small bites.
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1.5 cups wheat bran
- 1 ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup molasses
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup chopped dates
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° Grease 18 holes of two muffin tins
- In a large bowl, whisk together, flour, bran, baking soda and salt
- In a smaller bowl, beat eggs lightly and combine with buttermilk, molasses, and oil
- Pour egg mixture into dry ingredients and stir quickly together until just moistened. Do not over mix.
- Fold dates and bacon into batter with a few quick stirs.
- Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins, Place tins on middle rack in center of oven
- Bake approximately 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in tins for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack
- Eat immediately, or freeze.
Notes
Nutrition
Bacon Bran Muffins
Bacon Bran Muffins
Thank you to Roger's Foods for supplying me with the amazing products to make this recipe I'm proud to support a BC company @rogersrains
Cyberageous
My husband is to macho to eat healthy but he loves bacon and this recipe is a great way to break him in to a healthier diet. Next, is a bacon topper on salad!
Colleen
Everything's better with bacon, right? 🥓😋
Isabelle @ Crumb
YUM. I love me a nice, moist bran muffin. I normally put dried cranberries in my bran muffins, but your idea of using bacon sounds waaaaaaaay better. 🙂
Colleen
Isabelle, these are pretty awesome, for sure. I like using cranberries too!
Kimberley Copithorne
Oh my gosh you had me at bacon! These look great for a brunch! My husband would love these for sure!
Colleen
Thanks, Kimberley! Bacon makes everything better, doesn't it?