Emily, I'm sorry you had trouble. I think that too much flour might have been the problem. I know the recipe calls for 6 cups of flour, but whenever I make any kind of bread, I always hold back at least 1 or more cups. I only add more flour if I think the mixture is too, too wet. I forgot that I kind-of ran into the same problem you're describing. Even at the five cup stage, the flour mixture seemed more like a kneading dough than a batter. So I remember (now) adding about 1/4 -1/3 cup additional water to make it more batter-like. When I got the batter into the pans, I was so worried about over-proofing the dough. I didn't want to pop the pans into a hot oven and then watch the bread deflate. So I think I could have let the dough rise in the pans longer. I'm sorry you had trouble. Forgive me for not mentioning anything. This old gray mare's brain ain't what it used to be. I need to make a note on my copy of the recipe too or else the next time I make it, who knows what I'll remember. I hope you'll try the bread again. It really did turn out well. My biggest problem right now is that my husband keeps wanting to have "toast" snacks.

Yes to a lot of the former. Also in common with cakes--cream the butter and sweet to mix well and aerate. Aerate (sift) the flour, too. Summary: Use a light (lower protein) flour. This could be cake flour, or even just a lighter AP like Gold Medal or Pillsbury. King Arthur unbleached all purpose is noticeably heavier. If you want really fluffy and flyaway, go for Swansdown (cake flour) or similar. Measure by weight (but don't convert cups to weight by formula). If using volume, definitely sift rather than spooning or dip and level. Don't overbeat lest you develop gluten and make the muffins tough. Use fresh baking powder Get it in the oven right away after you add the liquid to the dry. The liquid will activate double acting baking powder, or baking soda rising, and if you leave your tin on the counter waiting for the oven to get hot or something the baking powder will half discharge and it won't rise well with only the heat rising (or none if you're using only baking soda).

While linnea56 seems to be looking for a more elaborate recipe, this is my favorite bran muffin. It's the one that Kellogg's used to have on the All-Bran box; they changed the recipe a few years ago to one I don't like as much. Be sure to grease (or spray with Pam) muffin cups; paper liners don’t work well with oily muffins. Our Best Bran Muffins from a Kellogg’s All-Bran package in the 1980s 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar (I've always used just white granulated sugar) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon baking powder 1-1/2 cups Kellogg’s All-Bran cereal 1-1/4 cups milk 1 egg 1/4 cup vegetable oil Stir together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder; set aside. In large mixing bowl, combine Kellogg’s All-Bran cereal and milk. Let stand about 3 minutes or until cereal softens. Add egg and oil, mix well. Add flour mixture, stirring only until combined. Portion batter evenly into 12 lightly greased 2-1/2 inch muffin-pan cups. Bake in 400 degree oven about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

I just used the internal search and something like "lemon ricotta muffin" All kinds of wonderful old threads come up when you use the internal search. Hard to find something recent that way, but lovely, interesting threads of old can be found.