Chocolate & Banana Bran Muffins

These delicious muffins were created by my great friend, Jillian!  She is an amazing cook and loves to bake!
For more information about Jillian check out her blog: The Violet Paige

When I first moved to California and tried to bake using my recipes from England, Jillian was the person that came to my rescue and helped me adapt my recipes, learn US measurements, temperatures, different ingredients etc.

This was one of the original recipes she taught me - and I have been using it regularly ever since!

These muffins are so good either for breakfast or just a healthy snack.  They are incredibly low in fat and sugar as all fat that would usually be used in a muffin is replaced with applesauce and yoghurt.

I made these with my wonderful helper, Jayden who chose to make these as he loves banana!














Here is the recipe:

Measure out the wheat bran and place in a bowl.

Add the yoghurt and stir until mixed. Set aside for 10 minutes.

In a Vitamix, blender or using a hand mixer mix the apple sauce, eggs, sugar and vanilla.  Blend until there are no lumps.

Add the bananas and blend again, until there are no lumps.

Add the liquid banana mixture to the wheat bran and yogurt and stir until mixed.

In a separate bowl, measure out the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir the ingredients together.

Pour in the liquid mixture and stir until just combined.

In prepared muffin tins, spoon the mixture into the cups ensuring they are no more than 3/4 full.

Bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes until, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Allow to cool slightly then turn out onto a cooling rack.

.....and serve!

Banana Bran Muffins

Chocolate & Banana Bran Muffins

Ingredients:
Yield: around 26 muffins

3 C Wheat bran
2 C Plain/vanilla yoghurt
2/3 C apple sauce
2 eggs
1 1/3 C brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 C whole wheat flour
1 C all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
3 bananas (optional)

Variations:

For raisin muffins: add 1 C raisins
For chocolate & cherry muffins: add 1/2 C cherries (dried or glace) and 1/2 C chocolate chips
For banana walnut muffins: add 1/2 C chopped walnuts & 3 bananas

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375F.  Grease two muffin tins or line with paper muffin liners.

2) Mix together the wheat bran and the yoghurt, and set aside for 10 minutes.

3) Beat together the apple sauce, eggs, sugar and vanilla extract (if you are adding bananas, add them now and blend). Then add this to the wheat bran and yoghurt mixture and stir until thoroughly mixed.

4) In a separate bowl, mix together the flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Stir flour mixture into the wet mixture and stir until just blended. If you are adding chocolate chips, add then now and stir in gently.

5) Spoon batter into the prepared muffin tins ensuring each one is about 3/4 full.

6) Bake for 15-20 minutes until, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Allow to cool slightly then turn out onto a cooling rack.