Michelle shared a Berry Best Bran Muffin recipe from Healthy Family Meals for dessert at the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club on Earth Day.

Wheat bran is a very good source of fiber, omega fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. It also can help you feel full and satisfied without adding lots of calories.

It’s useful to add fiber to muffins, quick breads, cookies and breading mixtures for fish or chicken. Unprocessed wheat bran can be found in the cereal section of the supermarkets.

Ingredients

• 1 cup wheat bran
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup buttermilk (or milk mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh or frozen berries

Source: Healthy Family Meals

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 12 mufffins cups with liner cups.In a large bowl, stir together wheat bran, flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients except blueberries until well blended.

Pour into the well of the dry ingredients. Stir until wheat bran mixture is just moistened. Don’t over-mix; batter should be lumpy.

Using a rubber scraper, carefully fold the blueberries into the batter.

Spoon into baking cups to fill about 3/4 full.Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until a cake tester or wooden tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the muffin pan to a cooling rack and let the muffins cool for 5 minutes. Turn the muffins onto the rack and let continue to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.