When JT and I were first married, we lived in our first home in Stouffville, a bedroom community Northeast of Toronto. JT would drive 30 minutes to an hour to work and I would take the hour long GO Train (Government of Ontario commuter train) downtown. Fortunately, the downtown train station was connected to an intricate underground system called PATH, Toronto’s Downtown Pedestrian Walkway that I would take all the way to work in the Financial District. Of course, these underground paths were always lined with stores, tempting you to buy, buy, buy!! There may have been one or two instances when I may have picked up a new outfit on the way to work, and I would change into it at the fitness club after my workout!
There were also several food courts along the way, so if one became a little famished from the long journey to work, one might pick up a nibble or two along the way! That is when I became addicted to Bran Date Muffins. These overly processed, moist and sticky muffins were sold at a “healthy” eatery along my walk to work. I usually don’t go for the ready made treats but there was something so moreish about these muffins (texture and taste) that I bought one or two every week (that’s when I had a metabolism!). These days, I wouldn’t dare eat that type of muffin, knowing what I know about the ingredients they use to make them so moreish so that is why I decided to try to recreate my obsession using healthy ingredients. I also decided to make them mini so that I could have a small treat without committing to a regular-sized muffin.
They are not the same as the ones I had so many years ago, but they are quite tasty and not nearly as bad for you so I’m pretty happy with the outcome. The bran and nuts provide great texture, the apples and the dates give it some moistness. Next time, I think I will reduce the flour component and increase the apples and fruit juice.
Apple, Bran and Date Mini-Muffins revamped
A KitchenInspirations Original Recipe
Makes 30 mini-muffins
Ingredients:
- 250 mL (1 cup) fruit juice
- 1 egg
- 2 egg whites
- 375 mL (1 1/2 cup) peeled and shredded apple
- 125 mL (1/2 cup) chopped dates
- 250 mL (1 cup) bran buds
- 125 mL (1/2 cup) chopped pecans
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 30 mL (2 tsp) cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375° F (190° C). Spray 24 mini-muffin pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- Combine the whole egg and the egg white and beat until well mixed, add the milk and stir to combine.
- In a large bowl, add the bran buds, shredded apple and dates, stir until combined. Pour the egg mixture over the top, stirring it in. Allow to stand 5 minutes.
- Sift the flour with the baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- Fold the flour mixture into the bran mixture until everything is combined. Stir in the chopped pecans.
- Divide batter into 30 mini-muffin cups evenly (24 first, then 6). Bake for 20-22 minutes or until cake tester comes clean.
Notes:
- If you’d rather make regular-sized muffins, this recipe will produce 12.
- The bran buds I use are rather hard so soaking is important, your bran cereal may be loser and not need as much time to break down. I like a little bran texture so I didn’t soak my bran very long.
- I used fruit juice instead of milk so that I could eliminate the 1/4 cup sugar from the recipe. I used Mango because I had it on hand, use whatever you wish, apple juice would work equally as well.
- You may use 3 whole eggs instead of 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites, someone over here used up the whole eggs and forgot to write it on the shopping list. I wonder who that was?
- These were pretty moist, even without the use of oil. Next time, I will reduce the flour to 1 1/2 cups and increase the fruit juice and shredded apple by 1/4 cup each.
I love city life and I love the story that led to these muffins. GREG
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It sounds like a loooong time to get to work every day! These muffins look so delicious (I love the way the seem to fly over the plate!) and quite healthy too. I already see myself baking those and replacing dates with prunes because I love tangy flavour more and more.
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Last time I visited Toronto, I explored The Path extensively. I found myself thinking that if I ever were to live in Toronto, it would be on the condition that I would take The Path to work each day – especially if it involved a several-mile walk with many twists and turns.
I love oat bran muffins and haven’t had any in years. Thanks for the recipe.
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Dates and bran really work well together, don’t they? Really nice mix of ingredients. And they’re just the right size. To have two. 🙂
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… ‘that’s when I had a metabolism’ ;-)) oh dear, it doesn’t get any easier, that’s for darn sure! I hear you sister. I ate way more than I care to admit from that underground world back in my prior life as a bay street lawyer… feels like a universe ago. You’ve packed these little bites with all kinds of goodness – I especially like the bran addition (actually get cravings for bran, strange as that may be).
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Thanks for your comment, Kelly. I also get cravings for bran, which lend credence to cravings being what the body needs! That underground world was sure a very strange place, because it wasn’t as well documented, I often had to pop my head out (like a groundhog) to see that I was going in the right general direction. Wish we had known each other back in those days!
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OMG Eva this is amazing. I used to get tempted by muffins on a similar walk to work although mine was in Sydney!! Maybe it’s a morning commute sort of thing! 😀 Love your healthy version!
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Hi Lorraine, I often attributed it to being bored of the train commute. Thanks for your comment.
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Yeah, I remember those days of grabbing a huge bran muffin for breakfast—not worrying about what was in them or the calorie count! I definitely prefer your version these days—especially with the shredded apples. Delish!
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Thank you kindly, Liz, the apple definitely adds a nice moistness that oil used to add.
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I love refined sugar free treats. These muffins look wholesome, Eva.
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Thank you so much Angie, I admire the way that you bake, using all wholesome and healthy ingredients.
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The problem I have with mini anything is that I end up having more than one thus defeating the purpose.
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Or dear, that can be an issue, JT may, in fact, come across that problem as well!
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A heathy snack!!
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