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How could a healthy double chocolate bran muffin recipe be so good? Find out how easy it is to make these muffins in just a few easy steps. There’s no complicated recipe here — just pure goodness and CHOCOLATE!
Easy Chocolate Bran Muffins
Old to me but new to you! I have made these easy chocolate bran muffins for years and I have learned one thing. They NEVER fail to impress me. You won’t get used to the moist and crumbly deliciousness of these healthy chocolate muffins. Try this bran muffin recipe for breakfast and see how it’ll be your favorite part of the day.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Aside from this being the easiest bran muffin recipe, these double chocolate muffins are moist and have the perfect amount of sweetness to them. I love a good balance of not too sweet but still sweet enough to satisfy.
These deliciously rich and chocolatey muffins are moist and full of fiber, and protein. Plus these chocolate bran muffins are kid friendly!
Ingredients in Double Chocolate Bran Muffins
- Bran: I’m using Original All Bran Cereal for this muffin recipe, this is an important ingredient and doesn’t have a substitution, unless you find a generic equivalent.
- Milk: You can use any kind of milk, regular or nondairy, any fat content.
- Applesauce: This helps the muffins be nice and moist without a ton of added oil.
- Vegetable oil: I prefer oil in my muffin recipes for a neutral flavor and moist recipe.
- Cocoa powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder makes it nice and chocolatey (not Dutch process).
How to make Chocolate Bran Muffins
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners and spray them with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place bran cereal and milk in a medium bowl. Make sure all the bran is underneath the milk; set aside to soak at least 10 minutes while mixing the remaining ingredients.
- Place sugar, applesauce, oil, egg, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Stir or use a hand mixer to mix until smooth. Stir in cocoa powder.
- Add the bran cereal mixture to the sugar mixture along with the flour and stir or mix until combined.
- Fill muffin cups then bake for about 20 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool for at least 10 minutes before removing the wrappers.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Expert Tips + Diet Variations
- Any kind of milk is okay to use–any fat content, regular milk, or nondairy.
- You can substitute sugar-free sweetener for the sugar to make these sugar free muffins. (I use equal amounts Swerve Granulated but amount used will differ for other brands)
- For a more traditional mouth feel, omit applesauce and increase oil to ¼ cup.
- For a lower-fat muffin, omit the oil and increase applesauce to ¼ cup (will change the texture slightly.)
- For lower cholesterol, use 2 egg whites in place of the 1 large egg (will slightly change the texture).
- You can use half and half all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour or substitute all the AP flour with 1:1 Gluten Free flour to make gluten-free muffins.
FAQs
Yes! I love adding some mini chocolate chips to the mix.
Should be thick, lumpy, and have no bubbles. It’s ok if your muffin batter is a little dry and you see some flour in there.
Poke a toothpick in the muffin and it should come out clean, free of any crumbs or batter.
Yes. You can freeze these bran muffins for up to 3 months.
Chocolate Bran Muffins Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (123g) All Bran Cereal
- 1 ¼ cups milk nondairy, nonfat, or 2%
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (33g) unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
- ¾ cup (93g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (170g) chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners and spray them with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place bran cereal and milk in a medium bowl. Make sure all the bran is underneath the milk; set aside to soak while mixing remaining ingredients.
- Place sugar, applesauce, oil, egg, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Stir or use a hand mixer to mix until smooth. Stir in coco powder.
- Add bran cereal mixture to the sugar mixture along with the flour and stir or mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips if using.
- Fill muffin cups ¾ full. Bake 18-24 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before removing wrappers or they’ll pull off some of the muffin.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
- Any kind of milk is okay to use – any fat content, regular milk or nondairy.
- You can substitute sugar-free sweetener for the sugar (I use equal amounts Swerve
- Granulated amount used will differ for other brands)
- For a fluffier muffin, omit applesauce and increase oil to ¼ cup.
- For a lower-fat muffin, omit oil and increase applesauce to ¼ cup (will change the texture slightly.)
- For lower cholesterol, use 2 egg whites in place of the 1 large egg (will slightly change the texture).
- You can use half and half all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour or substitute all the AP flour with 1:1 Gluten Free flour to make gluten-free muffins.
Recipe Nutrition
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Last Updated on February 14, 2023
DOROTHY! I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am about these muffins!! I always get a little bit of excitement about “skinny” recipes but then everyone ruins them by using bananas (which I LOATHE) so I’m so pumped that these don’t have that ingredient!! I always fall into the same breakfast rut of cheese grits or peanut butter toast since I don’t eat eggs so I’m so jazzed that I can throw these beauties into the mix!! YAY!!!!
I always think I should get a personal trainer… but then I remember I dont even go the gym! Ooops… should do that part first 😉
These muffins sounds great! I’ve actually never had a bran muffin, but I love the twig like bran cereal, so I think I’ll be a fan! Thanks for the recipe
That’s what goes in the muffins – so I know you’ll like them! Thanks Kelly!
I worked out with a personal trainer for a bit and it was super helpful! I am sure your gonna do great. Plus, your trainer is right, the more protein in the morning the better. These muffins are a good starting point. And they have chocolate, win, win.
Thanks Nicole!
Going to the gym is against my religion. But muffins are definitely on my good list. I remember in middle school, my mom used to buy a big box of Krusteaz bran muffin mix, and I’d make some for myself in one of those sandwich maker machines. It was the 90’s. Things were different then. I’d smother them in butter and honey every day. That probably negates any healthy effects. Good thing I used to dance six hours a day. Can’t wait to try these.
OMG those sandwich makers! I used to make muffins in them all the time!
Yum! Will have to try them out, All Bran is an interesting addition! I love, love, love Greek yogurt! Such a great option for baking, knock out some fat and calories and pump up the protein – good stuff!
Thanks so much Christi! I hope you like them. 🙂 Greek yogurt is growing on me…
I love a good light muffin, and these definitely look like ones to try! And I am right with you on the interval workouts…I am drenched by the end, but it feels great.
Yes! I’m loving it. Thanks Dara!
Your theory of going to the gym means you can come home and bake muffins is totally how I like to work out too 🙂 Awesome job going to a trainer…I should probably do that, but…I really don’t want to know the awful truth! I am going to try that run interval thing though. I usually do run full blast for a minute (LOL full blast right now is 5.5…I need to get back to the 8) and then walk a minute. I like having an extra minute of a light jog in between the walk and full run. Although sweating in place I don’t want to doesn’t actually excite me much 🙂 I’m going to need a few muffins like this at home waiting to tell me what a great job I did!!!!
I usually run at 6 max. At 7 I have to hold on ha! And even at 6 I have to slow down occasionally. I’m super slow! Thanks Jocelyn!
Yes, yes, yes!! I love grab and go muffin breakfast especially if it involves chocolate!
Thanks Regina!
Congrats on committing to a trainer. I found that having a trainer, when I first started working out, kept me going to the gym because I had an appointment. Its so helpful to find healthier ways to satisfy cravings. Your muffins are a treat and healthier at the same time! Because I watch carbs as opposed to calories, I am not sure if my favorite high protein breakfast items would work for you. Almond meal pancakes? Omelet crepes?
Almond meal sounds good! I need to try more of that sort of thing. 🙂 Thanks Wendy!
Work it girl!! I NEED to go to the gym.. like yesterday! No time for me lately..but of course time to stuff my face! I wish I could stuff my face with these muffins.. then maybe I wouldn’t feel so guilty for not seeing my good old friend gym lately! These muffins look super chocolatey and tasty! I have actually never had a bran muffin! So I am totally intrigued 🙂
I think there is just a bran stigma. Like it’s for digestion or old people. Totally not the case!! Thanks Elizabeth!
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