12.17.2011

Cranberry-bran muffins

When hosting guests overnight at Christmas it's always a good idea to have some muffins at the ready for early risers. Before I go to bed I put the muffin containers on the counter and set the coffee pot so that I just have to push the button when I get up. This way Grandma gets her coffee hit and the grandkids don't have to eat dry Honeycombs until the real breakfast is served. I don't cook breakfast (hubby does) and when that bacon fat starts flying - I'm outta there! It's about that time that I decide that the bed needs to be made and I need a shower . . . I hate bacon fat . . . love bacon, just hate cooking it and hate smelling like it . . . So, having some homemade muffins makes my disappearing act a little less guilt-ridden.

Cranberry-Bran Muffins


moist and satisfying, and because we don't get enough sugar and fat at Christmas I dip the tops in melted butter and then sugar and cinnamon . . .


I like to have my 'ducks in a row' when I'm baking - learned that in "Home Economics" (ahem) many years ago


see this baby? a surprise from hubby about a month ago - out of the blue (well, I did grumble a bit about my old mixer that I'd had for over 30 years . . .)


love my mixer, and my hubby :)



Cranberry-Bran Muffins
PREP 25 MIN | TOTAL 50 MIN

4 cups flour
3 cups wheat bran
2 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp each of baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice

5 eggs
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cups vegetable oil
1/3 cup molasses
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

300g pkg frozen cranberries
3/4 cup raisins

PREHEAT oven to 375F. Combine flour, bran, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice in a large bowl. Whisk eggs lightly then add buttermilk, sugar, oil, molasses and vanilla, whisk lightly again. Add flour mixture and stir until just mixed - do not overmix. Stir in cranberries and raisins to evenly distribute.

FILL 24 (or more) muffin cups to the rim (I always use paper liners - just so much easier to get out of the pan).

BAKE until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean, about 15 - 20 minutes. Watch them closely and rotate and alternate muffin tins on racks (mine got a little too brown on the bottoms because I didn't rotate them).

Remove from pans and place on cooling racks. If you like, melt some butter, dip each muffin in it and then in a sugar cinnamon mix - yumminess!

NOTES: I used fresh cranberries, chopped

Friday Flair at Whipperberry Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple These Chicks Cooked at This Chick Cooks Tasty Tuesday at For the Love of Blogs Cookiepalooza at Centsational Girl Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Tutorials and Tips at Home Stories A to Z Craft Catwalk at Embellishing Life Craft-O-Maniac Monday at Craft-O-Maniac


15 comments:

  1. Looks really good. Thanks for the recipe. Have a great Saturday.

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  2. Oh, Barb, so yummy again! Thanks for sharing your recipe! And I also love the photos of your preparations - I'm just the same :-)
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  3. These look really yummy and the recipe seems pretty healthy too. Love your organizational skills! That is one impressive mixer, I have the smaller version and love it too. Happy Holidays to you! ~ Diane

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  4. They looks really tasty. Maybe I'll learn cooking with you:)
    Have a nice weekend!

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  5. I love bran muffins and cranberries! Thanks for the recipe.
    Hugs!

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  6. Oh yummmm! And what a great idea for your multigenerational family visits. Thanks for a lovely visit. :)

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  7. I thought I was the only one who hated making bacon because I hated smelling like bacon..LOL...love those mixers..they go forever and the muffins look yummy...

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  8. Those are so pretty they MUST be delicious. ;)

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  9. these look scrumptious!!!!! hubby got me the same mixer and i LOVE IT! enjoy yours and keep creating! sending holiday hugs...

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  10. not only am I drooling over the muffins, it's the mixer that I covet! you are blessed to have such a thoughtful hubby! and look at your ducks in a row. I took home ec. too but I didn't quite master that step of preparation. just recently though I've been doing a better job of it, actually getting the eggs out of the fridge beforehand, butter softened, etc. but I have a long way to go before I'm as organized as you. last time the eggs rolled off the counter...splat. when I bake, it's a comedy act. happy day to you Barb.

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  11. Oh I really want to come over and enjoy those wonderful, delicious looking muffins. And what a sweet hubby to surprise you with the mixer. I bet you have really been enjoying it. Hope you have a Merry, Merry Christmas!!

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  12. Must try these! Thanks for sharing the recipe:D

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  13. Fantastic, wholesome recipe. We both posted Cranberry-themed recipes for Tasty Tuesday :)

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