Wholesome banana bran muffins are refined sugar free

Wholesome Banana Bran Muffins are Refined Sugar Free

These wholesome banana bran muffins are sweetened with molasses and mashed banana. They’re moist, beautifully textured and filled with healthy ingredients.

This is one of those recipes that can be a good stand-in for breakfast if you’re on the go. The muffins are filled with healthy ingredients and contain lots of fiber so help you feel full longer.

Don’t flinch at the raisins. In this recipe, half of the raisins are blended into the batter to help to sweeten the muffins and provide extra moisture. We use Thompson raisins and soften them slightly with water (see method) to help with the texture.

Six banana bran muffins with table cloth

We like to garnish our muffins with thin slices of banana. I just lay the slice on top of each muffin before they go in the oven. It makes the muffins look nice but is only a good option if the muffins are to be consumed within a day.

This recipe is adapted from the always excellent recipe blog, The Cafe Sucre Farine.

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Refined Sugar Free Banana Bran Muffins

  • Author: Crosby’s Molasses
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 16 muffins 1x
  • Category: Muffins & Quick Breads

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup raisins (Thompson)
  • 2 tsp. water
  • 1 ½ cups wheat bran (natural bran)
  • ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
  • ¾ cup flour, spooned in
  • ¾ cup whole wheat flour, spooned in
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 1 ½ bananas)
  • ½ cup Crosby’s Fancy Molasses
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt (plain)
  • ½ cup milk
  • ¼ cup oil (grape seed, canola or olive)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line muffin cups with papers or grease them well.
  2. In a medium pot combine the raisins with 2 tsp. of water. Cook over medium heat until warmed. Remove from heat. (Raisins can also we warmed in a microwave.)
  3. In a large bowl combine the wheat bran, oatmeal, flours, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add ½ cup of the raisins and stir until well combined.
  4. In a blender or food processor combine the remaining ½ cup of raisins, banana, molasses, yogurt, milk, oil and eggs. Whir for about 30 seconds.
  5. Pour in the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until combined.
  6. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
  7. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350˚F and bake for another 10 minutes or until muffins are set.
  8. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

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nutrition facts for banana muffins

Comments

  • January 7, 2024
    reply

    Lisa K

    These muffins were the very best I have ever made. I subbed in flax seed (in with the dry ingredients, 1:1 substitution) for the oil. Also I doubled the recipe .

  • January 7, 2024
    reply

    Lisa K

    These muffins were the very best I have ever made. I subbed in flax seed (in with the dry ingredients, 1:1 substitution) for the oil. Also I doubled the recipe .

    Could not have turned out better.

  • May 6, 2023
    reply

    Ju

    What can I sub for wheat Bran?

  • June 25, 2022
    reply

    Maureen

    This IS the one! I made a double batch, used (up) those over-ripe bananas from the stash in the freezer, used (up) buttermilk in place of yogurt, used (up) a whole, pitted date into each muffin in case they needed more sweetness (to MY taste). Just ate one, still warm, and this IS the recipe I’ve needed for a loooong time. Delicious and didn’t need the date to sweeten it at all. However, spreading that warm date across the warm muffin totally enhanced my wonderful experience. Many thanks for this one.

  • March 24, 2022
    reply

    Elaine

    Muffins are delicious…and lots of health benefits as well. :)

  • January 20, 2021
    reply

    Rose Swigart

    This looks delicious, can’t wait to try. Have a suggestion for the raisins. Instead of the microwave with 2 tsp water. Mix the raisins with the molasses and the oil on the stove. I let them cook 5-10 minutes process 1/2 mixture. Have another recipe (hermit cookies) that I do this with.

  • December 21, 2020
    reply

    Gail

    Great recipe, we are enjoying the muffins

  • June 25, 2018
    reply

    Theresa

    These muffins look absolutely delicious, and healthy…. I can eat without guilt.. 8) Thank you… can’t wait to try them!!

  • June 21, 2018
    reply

    Jan Wooden

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes with me. My husband loves them too.
    This recipe feels like a really great one , I can just tell. ?

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