Bran Muffins with cereal

1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine 2 cups sugar 2 cups boiling water 5 teaspoons baking soda 4 eggs 1 quart buttermilk 5 cups flour 2 cups 40% bran flakes 4[...]

1 (15 ounce) box all-bran cereal 2 cups raisins 6 pitted dates , finely chopped 2 cups boiling water 4 1/2 cups flour 1 tablespoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt[...]

softened unsalted butter , for the pan 1 2/3 cups wheat bran (not bran breakfast cereal) 1 2/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder[...]