Well hello! You may have noticed I took last week off. What started the week before with us all just not feeling well turned into some awful flu or virus of some kind. On top of that(or before, I’m not really sure when one thing started and another ended) I had my first, and hopefully last round with mastitis. I spent an entire day in bed, and if you have kids – let alone 3 of them – you know you must be really sick if that ever happens. I seriously don’t remember that ever happening since having kids! It was a ridiculously depressing week and I am so glad it’s over.
Speaking of depressing, how about the opposite…. It’s amazing how good it feels to workout after you’ve been so sick! I’ve been on that post-workout high all day and it is so awesome. I’ve missed it so much. It’s hard getting back into the swing of things after having all the energy zapped out of you, but that high is so worth it!
Not to mention how good it feels to get back into the kitchen! I literally had no energy to even cook the simplest thing for days so I’m making up for it now 🙂 I did make these muffins before we all got sick though so these were awesome to have waiting in the freezer. Just a few seconds in the microwave and they were a perfect quick snack.
Of course the original recipe is a more normal bran muffin, but I love bites of fresh fruit in muffins so I decided to try out some apple. These muffins are incredibly moist as it is, but even more so with fresh apple in them. Yum!
So now that we’re all pretty much feeling better, I have a bazillion to-do’s before my wisdom teeth come out next week. Thanks for all your reassuring words. I’m a little less scared now 🙂 I have baking to do and so many recipes to test, I know I wont get through it all, but at least I’m feeling creative and motivated, right? I love feeling like that!
Apple Cranberry Bran Muffins
Ingredients
- 3/4 C boiling water
- 1 1/4 C wheat bran divided
- 3/4 C dried cranberries
- 1/2 C raw sugar or brown sugar, coconut/palm sugar
- 1/4 C oil
- 2 1/2 C white whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 C buttermilk or milk with a splash of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 C orange juice
- 3 C fresh firm apples, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line or grease 2 muffin tins(only if baking muffins immediately).
- In a small mixing bowl combine the boiling water with 3/4 C bran and stir well. Stir in the cranberries and oil and set aside.
- In a separate, larger bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, beat the egg with the buttermilk(or milk mixed with lemon juice or vinegar) and orange juice. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients along with the remaining 1/2 C of bran and the bran-cranberry mixture. Mix well. At this point you can cover the mixture and refrigerate overnight and bake the muffins in the morning if desired.
- Gently fold in the chopped apple and divide the batter between 24 muffin cups(for smaller muffins) or as little as 20 for larger muffins(increase bake time slightly for larger muffins)
- Place in the oven and bake for 12-13 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the muffin tin, then remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely or serve while still warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Comments & Reviews
Marcela says
I absolutely love these muffins and I didnt have an apple so I substituted with a chopped pear and it was awesome. These muffins are so filling and tasty I didnt expect for such healthy ingredients.Thank You.
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
Oh no. You and I. It’s really sad. 🙁 Same thing with the awful flu or virus or whatever it is, take away the mastitis (which sounds awful!) and add terrible neck pain and as of today, a cold. Ugh. Oh and the virus doesn’t seem to want to leave my tummy. 🙁
I’ve been wondering what people with children do when they’re really sick. There was no way I could have taken care of other people when I was sick so what do you do when you’re really sick and the kids are really sick? Grandparents? Hospital?
Anyway, enough sick talk. These muffins looks great! Awesome ingredient list, as always. 🙂 I’m happy you’re back to baking!
heather says
I can’t believe how low in calories these are – they look like a good pre work out snack!
Good luck with your wisdom teeth, I hope it all goes well and you heal quickly 🙂
Ari @ Ari's Menu says
Heidi, these muffins look fantastic, and I love the ingredient list!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
I’m glad you’re feeling better! I think I’m coming down with another cold myself–this winter has been the worst! I love having frozen muffins on hand too. They’re always my go-to breakfast. I might have to make these next!
Holiday Baker Man says
A great morning treat!
Rachel @ The Pescetarian and the Pig says
Those look great! So glad to hear you’re feeling better, it’s horrible what feeling sick does to you 🙁
PS- I LOVE your teapot. And, holy cow, sometimes people say things that are so obvious… Put your muffins in the freezer, eh? Haha, I never think to freeze anything and I end up having one and giving the rest away so they won’t spoil (durrrr). Thanks for bringing the freezer to my attention! 😉
Aleks says
they look so awesome and delicious…I’m wondering what could I use to replace the buttermilk, any ideas?
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} says
I’m glad you’re feeling better. So sorry to hear about the mastitis. I cringe just thinking about it! My last bout (just before Christmas!) I was able to cure with raw garlic and apple cider vinegar rather than antibiotics. Give those a try if you feel it coming on again! 🙂
These muffins look great. I’ve been making a lot of mini muffins lately (for little fingers to grab!) and these would be perfect for that.