Honey Bran Muffins with Applesauce {High Fibre}

These homemade honey bran muffins with applesauce and raisins are ultra moist, super fluffy, and so tasty! Kid-friendly and so simple to make, they come together with wholesome ingredients for the ultimate healthy on-the-go breakfast or snack. Whip up a big batch of these high fibre bran muffins ahead of time to enjoy all week! {Nut-free, dairy-free-friendly & vegetarian}

Two honey bran muffins stacked on top of each other and honey being drizzled over them.

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Honey Bran Muffins – High Fibre, Moist & Delicious!

When it comes to easy breakfast options, these honey bran muffins with applesauce are always at the top of my list! Not only are they loaded with nutritious ingredients, they’re also super yummy and so simple to make. But those are just a few reasons why we love these healthy bran muffins.

Sweetened with just a touch of honey, they’re low sugar yet perfectly sweet with a delicious sticky glaze. Plus, they’re full of fibre to keep you satisfied until lunchtime!

Made with simple, whole food ingredients like raisins, orange zest, wheat bran, and whole wheat flour, they’re bursting with irresistible flavour and tons of nutrients for the ultimate muffin recipe you can feel good about eating!

Similar to these Healthy Oatmeal Muffins, I love to whip up a big batch for a ready-to-go option for the family on those busy mornings when we’re crunched for time. No more scrambling to get breakfast on the table or settling for those pre-packaged bars.

No matter when the hunger strikes, these applesauce bran muffins have got you covered every single time.

If you’re looking for even more healthy muffin recipes, be sure to take a look at my Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins and Mini Sweet Potato Muffins for recipes that can’t be beat!

A basket full of unlined honey bran muffins with a bite missing in the muffin on top.

Why We Love These Bran Muffins with Raisins

Nutritious: Made without buttermilk, refined sugar, or white flour, these whole grain raisin bran muffins are a wholesome recipe that are a great source of vitamins, nutrients, and fibre, unlike the typical muffins you find in the grocery store.

Easy recipe: With just a handful of pantry ingredients, these muffins are quick, delicious, and so simple to make. From start to finish, they’re ready to eat in less than 30 minutes!

Perfect for the whole family: Made with applesauce and raisins, these bran muffins are yummy for kids and adults alike. Pack them up in lunch boxes or serve them for a mid-morning or afternoon snack!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients to make honey bran muffins with applesauce.

Wheat Bran: High fibre and nutrient-rich, wheat bran creates a hearty texture that’s so satisfying to taste. If you don’t have wheat bran, you can also sub in oat bran or try wheat germ.
Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: Helps create extra fluffy bran muffins and is most similar to all purpose flour, while being higher in nutrients. Regular whole wheat flour can also be used, but the muffins may be more dense in texture.
Sweeteners: Coconut sugar and honey combine to boost the natural sweetness of the fruit. However, coconut sugar can easily be substituted with brown sugar, if you prefer.
Seasonings: Cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, and orange zest add extra flavour for yummy muffins no one can resist.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These are key to helping your muffins rise, creating the ultimate fluffy texture.
Milk: Any plant-based or dairy-based milk you like best can be used.
Eggs: Are key to holding the ingredients together and providing an extra boost of protein. I haven’t tested it yet, but you can increase the fibre and fat content by swapping them out for chia or flax seeds.
Unsweetened Applesauce: The secret to creating moist bran muffins without the use of tons of oil.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Acts as an acid to activate the the baking soda and help the muffins rise. Is also a low-calorie, healthier substitute for buttermilk.
Coconut Oil: A great source of medium-chain triglycerides, coconut oil helps lock in moisture and allows for easier mixing. Use unrefined coconut oil, or choose refined if you prefer a milder coconut flavour. Canola oil or vegetable oil will also work.
Raisins: These are optional, but can be added to incorporate a bit of texture and extra sweetness. Leave them out if you’re not a raisin fan.

How to Make Applesauce Bran Muffins – Step by Step Instructions

A glass bowl full of the mixed dry ingredients to make honey bran muffins.

A glass bowl full of the wet ingredients needed to make bran muffins with applesauce

Preheat the oven to 400° F, and line a muffin pan with silicone or paper liners.
Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
In a second bowl, mix the wet ingredients.
Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and mix until they are just combined.
Stir in the melted coconut oil and raisins.
Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, stopping when they’re about 3/4 of the way full.
Bake for 16-20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Allow to cool, and brush baked muffins with a bit of honey to give them an extra sweet and sticky glaze.

Five healthy bran muffins ready to be topped with honey.

Keep scrolling for the full printable muffin recipe!

Tips for the Best Bran Muffin Recipe

For more fluffy muffins: If you can find it, I recommend using whole-wheat pastry flour rather than regular whole wheat flour. It’s more finely ground than whole wheat flour and therefore produces lighter and more fluffy muffins.

Do not over mix the batter: This can cause the muffins to turn out tough and bake unevenly. Instead, mix the muffin batter until the wet and dry ingredients are just combined.

For a sticky glaze: I like to brush a bit of additional honey onto the surface of the baked and cooled muffins. It adds a nice sticky glaze and incorporates a bit of extra sweetness.

For soft and juicy raisins: Soak the raisins in a bowl of hot water before adding them to the muffins to help plump them up. If you’re not a fan of raisins, you can leave them out altogether.

Bran Muffin Nutrition Facts

Thanks to the use of nutrient-rich ingredients, these honey bran muffins are some of the healthiest breakfast muffins you could make! They’re full of vitamins and nutrients including:

Insoluble Fire
Potassium
Magnesium
Selenium
B vitamins

How’s that for a power-packed muffin?

A basket full of baked honey bran muffins.

Recipe FAQs

Are bran muffins healthy?

Not all bran muffins are created equally. Some bran muffin recipes or store-bought muffins are super high in sugar, sodium and saturated fat. These homemade bran muffins are high in fibre, lower in sugar and sodium, and made with whole grains for one power-packed muffin loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Are bran muffins good for constipation?

Due to the high insoluble fibre content found in wheat bran, bran muffins may be helpful for easing constipation. That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that your total diet matters too. As a general recommendation, aim to get around 25-35 grams of fibre per day, stay properly hydrated and incorporate regular physical activity to keep things smooth and regular.

Are bran muffins gluten free?

No, although whole-wheat pastry flour has less gluten than regular whole-wheat flour, it is not completely gluten-free. Wheat bran also consists of gluten, so most bran muffins are not gluten-free.

Can I use this recipe to make mini bran muffins?

Sure! To make mini bran muffins, follow the recipe as directed. Then, just spoon smaller amounts into a greased mini muffin tin until all of the batter has been used. It may require a shorter baking time since the muffins will be smaller, so keep a close eye on them to prevent them from getting overcooked.

Storage Guidelines

Room temperature: You can store these honey bran muffins at room temperature overnight. Any longer than that, and they should be placed in the fridge or freezer to keep them fresh.

Fridge: To prevent your bran muffins from becoming soggy, store them in a container in the fridge for up to 4 days in a single layer with paper towels placed on top and underneath.

Freezer: Freeze the muffins in a large freezer safe bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. To keep them from sticking together, stack them in layers with parchment or wax paper in between.

What to Serve with Muffins

These bran muffins with applesauce can be served as a complete meal on their own. Or, for an extra balanced and healthy breakfast or brunch, they can be paired with all your favourite proteins and mains.

Try them along with:

Banana Smoothie without Yogurt
Egg Bites
Spinach Zucchini Frittata Fingers
Overnight Breakfast Casserole
Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Yogurt
Crustless Asparagus Quiche with Feta {Low Carb}
Turmeric Latte
Yogurt (or try this Fruit on the Bottom Yogurt)
Extra drizzle of honey
Apple butter
Fresh fruit (with Yogurt Fruit Dip)

A woman's hand holding a bran muffin with a bite taken out.

Bran Muffin Variations

To make dairy-free: Use unsweetened almond milk, soy milk or other preferred milk alternative.
For different flavour: Use molasses instead of honey.
Add vegetables: Try adding grated carrot and/or zucchini.
Swap out raisins: Add chopped dates, dried cranberries or chocolate chips instead of raisins.
For extra crunch: Try adding some chopped walnuts or pecans.

More Tasty Muffins

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Course Breakfast, muffins, Snack