These Healthy Toddler Muffins are delicious for breakfast, but also work as a healthy snack or lunch. This is an easy muffin recipe for kids. Make one batter and choose from 4 different mix-ins to get variety, including a vegetable muffin!
Coming up with toddler breakfast ideas has been one of the trickier things in the household recently. It has to be quick, I like it to be healthy, the toddler likes it to have variety, and of course it has to be tasty.
Sure, I often plop a bowl of cereal in front of him and get to my morning coffee ASAP. But I love making breakfast a family affair, and our toddler loves getting involved in anything we are doing. So we try to have him help make his own breakfast.
How can your toddler help in the kitchen?
Our toddler often demands to make these Toddler Pancakes when he wakes up. With these pancakes, he likes to pull out the ingredients from the cupboard, help measure out the ingredients, and mix the batter together. I do the stovetop cooking, but he likes watching me scoop on the batter and flip the pancakes.
Another favorite breakfast idea is to allow our toddler to choose his own porridge toppings from these 10 toddler friendly porridges. Our toddler looks at the pictures, points to the one he wants, and mixes everything together in his favorite oatmeal bowl, which is conveniently shaped perfectly to hold everything in it.
Recently, we introduced him to these Toddler Muffins – and it was a hit!
With these Toddler Muffins, our toddler can help pull the ingredients out from the cupboard, measure out the ingredients, mix the batter together, line the muffin tin with the cups, and scoop the batter into the muffin cups. It’s quite a fun and involved process (albeit much neater and quicker when I just do it myself – 10 minutes tops).
This is an easy muffin recipe for kids that they can help make
This easy muffin recipe for kids is as healthy and easy as you want it to be. With one batter, you can get up to four different toddler muffins. You choose 1, 2, 3, or 4 favorite ingredient mix-in, and simply split the batter into separate bowls, then add in the mix-in of choice at the end.
If you think you have a winning combo that will have your kid proclaiming these as the best toddler muffins, then by all means make the entire batch with only one mix-in. Regardless, this recipe for healthy kids muffins offers flexibility and variety. You can even get a vegetable muffin for your kids by using the carrot and raisins mix-in option.
The four mix-in’s I’ve made so far are blueberry, apple cinnamon, carrot and raisins, and chocolate chips.
This Healthy Toddler Muffin is delicious for breakfast, but also works as a healthy snack or lunch
I chose what I thought were flavorful mix-in ingredients that were naturally sweet to make up for that fact that these kid muffins are made with little sugar added (you can leave out all the sugar if you prefer too). Instead, these Toddler Muffins use a grated apple in the batter as a natural sweetener.
After making this Toddler Muffin recipe a couple of times now, I have found my toddler’s favorites are apple cinnamon and carrot + raisins.
A healthy kids muffin recipe that also packs well for lunch and snack
He would happily eat those for breakfast several times a week, and then eat them for lunch and snack. It works out conveniently too, because they pack so well into his yumbox.
For a healthy kids muffin, I found them pretty tasty. I even spied my husband taking the occasional bite off my son’s plate while he was feeding him.
The small size of these muffins makes it easy for our toddler to handle, while we eat eat them as if they were healthy donut holes. Enjoy these muffins with a cup of coffee, or in our toddler’s case, a glass of oat milk!
One last thing… my husband draws parenting cartoons and has just launched a kickstarter for his first publication: An illustrated choose your own adventure book for parents. Baby not included. I think you’ll really enjoy it, so I wanted to share it with you!
Toddler Muffins
These Healthy Toddler Muffins are perfect for breakfast, but also work as a healthy snack or lunch. This is an easy muffin recipe for kids. Make one batter and choose from 4 different mix-ins to get variety, including a vegetable muffin!
Ingredients
Muffin Base
- 1 1/3 cups white whole wheat flour (also called golden wholegrain flour)
- 3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats (jumbo rolled oats)
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds (milled flax seeds)
- 1 small apple - grated with peel
- 2 medium eggs
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter - melted
Apple Cinnamon (enough for 1/4 of the muffin batter)
- 1/2 small apple - chopped into 1/2-cm pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Blueberries (enough for 1/4 of the muffin batter)
- 1 handful blueberries
Carrot and Raisin (enough for 1/4 of the muffin batter)
- 1/4 medium carrot - grated
- 1 tablespoon raisins
Chocolate Chip (enough for 1/4 of the muffin batter)
- 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C. Grease or line a 24-hole mini muffin tin.
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In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and flax seeds. Fold in the grated apples.
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In a small bowl, beat the eggs. Beat in the milk and butter.
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Pour the egg mixture into the batter, and fold together, being careful not to over mix.
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Split the muffin batter evenly between 4 bowls. In each bowl, gently mix in the mix-in ingredient. You can adapt the recipe to make 1, 2, 3 or 4 varieties. Adjust the amount of mix-in as required.
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Using a cookie scoop, evenly distribute the batter into the mini muffin tin, filling each muffin cup about 3/4 full. For each variety, you should be able to get 6 mini muffins.
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Bake for 10 minutes, or until cooked in the middle and a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before transferring to a cooling rack.
This looks and sounds so easy, excited to make them.
are there other fruit or veggie options you would recommend?
Hmm.. we add chopped pears sometimes! If you try any other combinations, please do share :)
Can you omit the brown sugar all together or sub in applesauce?
Hi Alli, I wouldn’t recommend reducing the sugar completely, although if you do, your toddler may still enjoy it. This article explains it really nicely, with photos: How to Reduce Sugar in Muffins.
If you do the math for this recipe, the sugar is about 25% of the flour, but keep in mind this recipe also uses oats in the base. So it’s already pushing the boundaries of a muffin as we know it – browned top, moist, and not rubbery.
As for applesauce, I haven’t personally done it before, but it shouldn’t be a problem. If the batter ends up too wet, you may want to reduce some of the milk. If you are worried about sugar content though, keep in mind that store bought apple sauce often has added sugar in it.
Hi I made these muffins to serve at my daughters party day after tomorrow. But they seem a little chewy and stuck to the paper. Any idea where I went wrong?
Hi Annette, I’m sorry you found that the muffins stick to the paper and you think they are a bit chewy. I have a few thoughts, though I’m not sure they apply to your specific situation.. muffins can stick to the paper if they are left to cool in the pan too long instead of a cooling rack. They also can stick when the muffin hasn’t cooled enough. Muffins can become chewy if the dough is over mixed. Also if undercooked.
As this recipe is for healthy toddler muffins, the ingredients naturally have a bit more heft and chew — oats, whole grain flour, flax and apple peel. Its not a particularly fluffy and light muffin, which makes it more toddler friendly actually — it doesn’t fall apart when my little one holds it to take a bite.
I’m not sure if any of this is helpful as your party is so soon.. I hope it is though. Happy birthday to your daughter!
Thank you for this recipe. How should I store them? In the fridge? How long will they last for?
Hi Annette, we eat them rather quickly since we all like these muffins! I would store in an airtight container overnight at room temperature, or a couple days in the refrigerator. Otherwise, they do freeze well. You can store them in a zip lock bag, and defrost individually as you need.
I don’t have ground flax seed. Will this affect the batter mixture?
Thanks
Hi Catherine, You can bake the muffins fine without the flaxseeds in the recipe. The flaxseeds give the muffins a bit of extra binding power. I find that it works well for my toddler, so the muffin doesn’t fall apart when he feeds himself. But the muffin will bake fine without the extra flax seeds too. Enjoy!
Can I use frozen blueberries instead of fresh?
Yes, you can. Just beware that frozen blueberries will make the batter turn blue. You can rinse and dry frozen blueberries to avoid it a little though.
Can’t wait to make these! Do you know how long they keep after baking? I jut have one toddler so i don’t want to make too many at once.
Hi – sorry for the slow response. I missed the comment. We eat them rather quickly since we all like these muffins. But I store in an airtight container overnight at room temperature, or a couple days in the refrigerator. Otherwise, they do freeze well. You can store them in a zip lock bag, and defrost individually as you need.
Love this! Is there a way to make these without eggs?
Good question! Posting an egg free muffin recipe has been on my list to do. Generally, yes you can tweak this recipe, but unfortunately I don’t have the exact measurements for it written down. If you are up for experimenting a little bit, I would start with adding a bit more flax seed, some baking soda, and some cider vinegar. In the meantime, you can try these Free From Pancakes, which do not contain egg.
Hi – I just wanted to update to let you know that I just posted an Egg Free Banana Muffin that is great for toddlers.
So delicious! I love this recipe! Note- for anybody who wants to make these for the whole family…. ADD SALT!
HI Tina, thank you for sharing this recipe. I’ve been looking for a healthy recipe for my very picky toddler. I decided to try just the blueberry version and I added carrots and sunflower seeds. I can’t believe how good these are and they contain very little sugar! My toddler loves them! They also freeze very well. Thanks again!
Would it affect the muffins if I made them in 12’s instead of 24’s? Just double the time in oven maybe?
Hi Destiny, Yes you could do 12 muffins. The baking time will be longer, but not quite double the time. Personally my little one prefers the mini muffins though – you get more muffin top with each bite. Enjoy!
These are going to make a great compromise for my LO’s first birthday “cake smash!” I’m not real comfortable giving my baby loads of sugar and empty calories in the form of birthday cake, but I am all in favor of the smashing! What size cookie scoop do you recommend for a mini muffin tin?
Hi Laura – happy birthday to your little one! I use either a heaping 1 tablespoon, or a 2 tablespoon scoop not fill it up all the way. I think my mini muffin tin holds works best with about 1 1/2 tablespoons. Enjoy!
Do these freeze well?
Hi Julie, sorry to say, but I haven’t froze these before. I will have to try next time and update the recipe. If you do so, please do let us know how it turns out.
Can you substitute banana or something for the grated apple or omit all together? What is the function of the grated apple in the muffin?
Hi Nicole, the apple gives the muffins taste, texture, natural sweetness, fiber and moisture. The recipe is generally very forgiving, so you likely could replace it with a different type if grated fruit or fruit puree/mash, such as banana.
Thank you so much for this amazing recipe! I made these tonight for my daughter who has severe food allergies to dairy, eggs, and nuts so we have to get creative with breakfast and snack ideas. These came out perfectly with the replacements – eggs: flax seed dairy: soy milk, Enjoy Life brand chocolate morsels
Definitely a keeper! Thank you again.
Could you substitute apple sauce for the grated apple? Would that make the batter too wet? Or is there any other substitute?
thanka
I haven’t made these muffins with apple sauce before. You could try it and reduce the milk a little if the batter seems too wet.
Can you use regular flour? Does that change the recipe at all?
Hi Allison, you can definitely use regular flour. It won’t be as “healthy”, but the recipe will work just fine! Enjoy!
So many options to choose from! I think even my big boys will love them.
This is brilliant! I love all your mix in options! You’ve made this perfectly easy for moms like me!
My boyfriend has two little nieces that would love these muffins I’m sure.
These are darling! What a time-saving tip to have one base for so many different flavor options.
Great treat to get your little one helping out in the kitchen! I want to try these with my niece!
I just love the idea of having one batter that you can doctor up many ways! That way they won’t get tired of it :) Thanks for the recipe!
These are so cute! I make a similar recipe all the time! Yum yum.
I love how they look all lined up and plentiful!!! How exciting! So helpful and fun to have a basic recipe like this; thank you!!!
I don’t have toddlers anymore, but I would totally make and eat these!
These are just sooo stinkin’ adorable! I don’t have kids but I just might make these for myself.
These are so cute! What a fun idea to make these little mini muffins with different variations. My kiddos would love muffins like this … I would too ;)
Toddlers? Toddlers? The toddlers will have to share because I want to eat those for breakfast!
Little hands perfect! My girls will love all the different options to mix in! Thank you!
Lucky toddler…so many choices so young!