Apple Bran Muffins ⋆ Easy, Moist & Tasty Plant-Based Muffins!

Name: Vegan Apple Bran Muffins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds; ¼ cup hot water; 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour; 1 cup wheat bran; ½ cup light brown sugar; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 ¼ cup plant-based milk; ½ cup apple sauce; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1 cup apple (chopped); Optional: vegan butter or oil to grease pan (if not using muffin liners)

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Apple Bran Muffins, an easy breakfast apple muffin recipe with wheat bran made with all plant-based ingredients. Super simple and great for freezing!

Love apple bran muffins? Make them plant-based! This easy breakfast apple muffin recipe comes together in 40 minutes, is packed with fiber and nutrients, and is a great for meal prep (or freezing for later).

👉 Ready to learn how to make plant-based apple bran muffins? Let’s do it!

Table of Contents hide

1 🌾 Ingredients

2 🥣 How to make (step-by-step photos)

3 ❓ Recipe questions + quick tips

4 💡 Ideas for serving

5 🧊 How to store

6 ♻️ Sustainable kitchen tips

7 👉 More easy plant-based bran muffins

8 Get my meal plan!

9 Vegan Apple Bran Muffins

🌾 Ingredients

Wheat bran: the hard outer layer of the wheat kernel, bran is high in fiber and nutrients
Wheat flour: made by grinding just the wheat endosperm, the flour adds a softer texture to the bran
Apples: both fresh and frozen apples work in this recipe, which means you can make them all year
Flax egg: made with ground flaxseeds and hot water, it acts as a binder for the muffin ingredients
Brown sugar: light brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness and flavor, and helps keep the muffins soft
Baking soda: helps the muffin batter to rise when baking
Salt: a touch of salt balances and helps bring out the flavor of the other ingredients
Apple sauce: a thick applesauce adds moisture to the muffin batter
Apple cider vinegar: a touch of apple cider vinegar adds tang and flavor
Plant-based milk: the liquid base of the batter, we like a creamy oat milk
Vanilla extract: adds a deep flavor
Recommended tools: large mixing bowl, small mixing bowls, muffin tin, muffin liners (paper or silicone)

🥣 How to make (step-by-step photos)

1️⃣ Step One: Preheat oven and prep muffin pan

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (or about 175 degrees Celsius).

Then line your muffin pan by either placing muffin liners (either paper or silicone) into a 12-count muffin pan or grease the muffin tins with vegan butter or a light oil, like avocado oil.

Then set the pan aside until you’re done with the muffin batter.

a muffin pan with muffin liners on a white table — Line muffin tin

2️⃣ Step Two: Make a flax egg

Next, it’s time to make a “flax egg”, or a mixture of ground flax seeds and hot water that thickens and helps bind the batter.

To do this, combine the ground flax seeds with hot water in a small bowl and let sit 5 minutes to make a flax egg replacer.

Once done, set it aside while you mix the batter ingredients.

a bowl with ground flaxseeds and hot water with a small spoon on a white table — Make flax egg

3️⃣ Step Three: Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately

Now it’s time to mix both the dry and wet bran muffin batter ingredients separately:

Dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add whole wheat flour, wheat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together to combine, then set aside.

a mixing bowl with wheat bran, wheat flour, brown sugar, and other dry muffin ingredients on a white table — Mix dry ingredients

Wet ingredients: In a medium bowl, add plant-based milk, apple sauce, apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, and the thickened flax egg. Whisk together to mix well.

a small mixing bowl with liquid ingredients for bran muffins with a whisk on a white table — Mix wet ingredients

4️⃣ Step Four: Combine the batter ingredients with apples

Add the mixed wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and use a baking spatula or scraper to fold in the wet ingredients until they are well combined and all of the flour is wet, but do not over mix.

a large mixing bowl with bran muffin batter inside with a baking spatula — Mix wet with dry ingredients

Next, carefully fold in apples until they are well combined in the batter.

chopped apples stirring into a bran muffin batter — Fold in chopped apples

5️⃣ Step Five: Add batter to muffin pan and bake

Add 1/4 cup mixed bran muffin batter to each muffin tin, then bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until you can stick a toothpick in and it comes out clean.

apple bran muffin batter in a muffin pan before baking — Add butter to muffin pan

Then remove the muffins from the tin and let cool on a baking rack at least 10 minutes before serving.

bran muffins with apples in a muffin tin after baking — Bake about 20 minutes

❓ Recipe questions + quick tips

How do you make apple bran muffins vegan?

To make apple bran muffins vegan, you can replace traditional baking ingredients like eggs, milk, and butter with vegan substitutes. For eggs, you can use ingredients like applesauce, mashed bananas, or flax eggs as a binding agent. Instead of cow’s milk, you can use plant-based milk such as almond, soy, or oat milk.

What is wheat bran vs. wheat flour?

Wheat bran is the outermost layer of the wheat kernel, while wheat flour is made by milling the inner part of the wheat kernel. Wheat bran is high in fiber, protein, and various vitamins and minerals, while wheat flour contains fewer nutrients and is used primarily as a source of carbohydrates in baking.

What type of apples are best for baking in muffins?

For baking in muffins, tart and firm apple varieties such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn work best, as they hold their shape and provide a nice contrast to the softness of the baked muffins.

an apple bran muffin on a table with a whole apple and a bowl of wheat bran

💡 Ideas for serving

As a breakfast food: Bran muffins make for a nutritious and filling breakfast. Pair them with some fresh fruit and a cup of coffee or tea for a satisfying morning meal.
As a snack: Bran muffins can also be enjoyed as a snack. They are a great way to satisfy hunger between meals and provide a boost of energy. They can be eaten on their own or paired with a piece of fruit or some nuts for a more complete snack.
As a dessert: Bran muffins can be used as a base for a more nourishing dessert option. Try topping them with some fresh fruit or a drizzle of maple syrup or coconut cream for a tasty treat.

bran muffins with apples on a white countertop

🧊 How to store

Refrigerator storage: Store leftover bran muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Freezer storage: Bran muffins are great for freezing, simply store them in the freezer in a freezer-friendly bag or container for up to 2-3 months and put them in the microwave for 30 seconds before serving.

♻️ Sustainable kitchen tips

Use locally sourced and organic ingredients: When making bran muffins, try to use locally sourced and organic ingredients whenever possible. This can help reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and promote sustainable farming practices.
Reduce food waste: To reduce food waste, try to use up any leftover bran or other ingredients in other recipes or freeze them for later use. You can also repurpose stale muffins by using them as a base for a bread pudding or crumble.
Use eco-friendly baking supplies: Opt for eco-friendly baking supplies like reusable silicone baking cups, baking mats, or parchment paper made from unbleached and sustainable materials.