Blueberry Banana Bran Muffins

I'm not sure how people are able to make bran muffins look not so bran muffin-y. 

I mean... they're not the most attractive looking things out there. 

That being said, they are tasty and healthy. Your insides will thank you, if you know what I mean.

I made them even a bit more healthy by cutting out almost all the fat and lowering the calories. I made one batch and cooked it in muffin tins and made another batch and cooked them in a skillet (like pancakes). The muffin tin way is probably a bit lighter but both versions tasted really yummy. 

These freeze really well. All you have to do is microwave one for a few seconds and it is good to go.

According to Myfitnesspal, the nutritional info is: 

106 calories, 1 fat, 21 carbs, and 4 protein.  (That is PER MUFFIN. One recipe makes 12 muffins.)

Blueberry Banana Bran Muffins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups bran

1 cup 1% milk

1/2 cup mashed banana

1 egg

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup blueberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, stir together the bran and milk and let sit while you prepare the rest of the batter.

In a separate bowl, mix together the mashed banana, egg, brown sugar, and vanilla. Set aside.

In a third bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda and baking powder, and blueberries. 

Stir the bran mixture into the mashed banana mixture until well combined.

Stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Do not over mix. 

Fill the prepared muffin cups with batter. 

Bake at 350 until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 - 20 minutes. 

Enjoy for breakfast or for a quick 100 calorie snack anytime.

Or, if you are feeling like trying something a little different, you can cook them in a skillet like a pancake. I made baby sized ones, about 1 generous Tablespoon of batter.

The recipe made 48 baby pancakes, each only 25 calories.

Again, these freeze really well. You can just pop one out of the freezer as you need it and microwave it for a few seconds. 

4 mini pancakes or 1 muffin. 

Both 100 calories (okay, 106 calories technically), both tasty, both fairly healthy. 

I like them because they are quite filling so I feel like I've really indulged in a treat. 

Chef In Training and Table For Seven have tons of fantastic links, be sure to click over and check them out!