We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are Wheat Bran Muffins?

By Brandon May
Updated: Feb 09, 2024
Views: 9,016
Share

Dense and cake-like, wheat bran muffins usually use whole wheat flour with the addition of wheat bran and wheat germ. These two ingredients are present in wheat in small amounts; however, in wheat bran muffins, a large amount of both wheat bran and wheat germ are added to increase nutritional content. Since wheat bran can be quite dry, most likely because of its high fiber content, a large amount of liquid is added to the recipe to provide moisture. Pure wheat bran muffins may not include wheat germ in the recipe, and may call for additions like dried apple, cinnamon and ginger for extra flavor.

Wheat bran is a component in the whole wheat grain, and contains a high amount of fiber as well as other nutrients like protein, calcium and iron. Many times, this ingredient is added to healthy muffin recipes to increase the nutrient content, as well as to create a heavier, denser muffin or cake. More often than not, another component called wheat germ is added to wheat bran muffins, increasing the nutrient content of the recipe. Not all recipes contain wheat germ, yet most will add this ingredient to balance the flavor of the bran.

Since whole wheat flour is used in most bran muffins, most recipes call for a large amount of liquid to prevent the batter from becoming too thick. Adding yogurt, melted butter or oil, as well as eggs and milk are all common to prevent the muffin from becoming too hard or dense after baking. Although the final product will be heavier than traditional muffins made with pure white or wheat flour, wheat bran muffins will still contain some moisture and lightness.

Common ingredient additions to wheat bran muffins include dried apple, cinnamon and ginger to add flavor and complexity to the baked product. There are many known health benefits to wheat bran found in bran muffins, most of which are derived from the fiber present in the grain component. Many nutrition experts believe the high amount of fiber in bran muffins can promote regularity and a healthy colon. Whole wheat and its components, like wheat germ and wheat bran, have also been shown to be helpful in blood sugar regulation by slowing down the absorption of glucose into the blood.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-are-wheat-bran-muffins.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.