Make the batter for these bran muffins and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks! A great way to serve up fresh muffins for breakfast or snacking, any time the craving strikes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
My mom shared this recipe for Make Ahead Bran Muffins with me a while back, and it’s become one of my all-time favorite muffin recipes!
The batter can be made and kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks! Which means you can have freshly baked bran muffins any time!
Besides being convenient, these muffins are absolutely delicious! And the longer the batter sits, the better they get.
I actually recommend making the batter a day before you plan to make your first batch of muffins. But I’ve also baked them right after mixing up the batter and they are still wonderful!
I realize bran muffins aren’t for everyone, but even my 12 year-old son loves these, so even if you’re skeptical, I’d still give them a try! I love having these muffins handy for grab-and-go breakfasts and afternoon snacking.
You are going to need a pretty large bowl for mixing up your batter. This recipe makes enough for 4-5 dozen muffins. But remember, you can make a dozen at a time and have freshly baked muffins every week for a month!
I usually bake two dozen muffins at a time and put one dozen in the freezer. A few weeks later, when those are gone, I bake two dozen more.
Every time I make these muffins, I think of what a great recipe this would be if I owned a bed-and-breakfast. I could just keep this batter in the refrigerator and serve my guests fresh-baked muffins any time!
I find that pecans and walnuts work best in this recipe. And I love the chopped dates, but raisins are a great substitution.
Feel free to change up the mix-ins to suit your tastes. I hope you love these muffins as much as we do!
Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Ingredients
- Baking soda
- Butter
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Vanilla
- Flour
- Salt
- All-bran cereal
- Bran flakes (such as Raisin Bran)
- Dates
- Nuts
- Buttermilk
Make Ahead Bran Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups boiling water
- 5 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 cup butter softened
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 5 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 3 cups All Bran cereal
- 2 cups bran flakes such as Raisin Bran
- 2 cups chopped dates
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- 1 quart buttermilk
Instructions
- Combine boiling water and baking soda. Cool to room temperature.
- With an electric mixer, cream the butter, eggs, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Set aside.
- In a very large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, All Bran, bran flakes, dates, nuts and buttermilk. Stir in the butter and egg mixture, and then the water and baking soda mixture. Mix until combined.
- Store batter in covered containers in the refrigerator for up to four weeks.
- To make muffins, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin tins with papers, or lightly grease tins.
- Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and done in the center.
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12 comments
Nancy Joneth
I made this recipe in the sixties a nd seventies but have lost it. I do remember that we poured the boiling hot water over the the two cereals to soften them prior to mixing it into the batter. That would explain why you heat the water.
Sophia Malik
If u don’t wasnt to make a huge batch can u just divide everything by 4, I.e 1 eg ect who’d that make a batch to make immediately
Danelle
Sure!
Susanne. Leason
This batter is so convenient to have in refrigerator.. only make the amount of muffins you want to bake.
Very good
Suzanne
Hi. A friend just gave me her tweaked version of this recipe.
4 c All Bran 5 c flour
2 c Bran Flakes 5 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt 1/4 c. vege oil
2 c boiling water opt: 3 bananas
4 c buttermilk 2 c blueberries
3 c sugar 2 c chopped nuts
1 c butter
4 eggs Could also use applesauce, apples and cinnamon
Edith
Do you have nutritional information for this recipe?
Danelle
I am currently working on adding nutrition info to my recipes. But for those that don’t have it yet, like this one, I recommend using a tool like My Fitness Pal.
Irene
can you use applesauce instead of butter
Danelle
I have not tried that, but I would think so.
Donnelle
Bran cereal needs to soak up the water and soda helps the rising process letting air into the dough
Michelle Krumenacher
Why are you boiling the water, adding the baking soda and cooling it?
Danelle
I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing it’s all part of the chemistry that makes this recipe work.