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As a pediatric dietitian, I love recipes that make simple ingredients work harder, and these carrot oatmeal muffins are one of my favorites. Made with oats, Greek yogurt, and freshly grated carrots, they’re soft, nourishing, and naturally sweetened.
Why You’ll Love These Carrot Oatmeal Muffins
- No refined sugar – They’re naturally sweetened with dates, so you get just the right amount of sweetness without relying on added sugar.
- Soft and moist texture – These muffins stay tender and fluffy, making them easy to enjoy at any age.
- Whole grain goodness – The oats add hearty texture and fiber to help keep you feeling satisfied.
- Protein boost – Greek yogurt adds a little extra creaminess and staying power.
- Blender-friendly batter – Everything comes together quickly in the blender, which means less prep and fewer dishes.
- Great any time of day – Enjoy them for breakfast, pack them in lunchboxes, or grab one for an afternoon snack.
- Freezer-friendly – Make a batch now and stash some away for busy mornings or snack emergencies. For more inspiration, check out these 18 healthy muffins for babies.
“Omg this muffin is sooo moist and soft! Thanks for sharing the receipt, my 2.5yr girl loves it!” – Del
Now, if you are specifically looking for sweeter healthy carrot muffins, give these banana carrot muffins a try! Or cozy up with these healthy pumpkin muffins (with chocolate chips) for a fall-inspired treat.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
I am highlighting just the ones that need further explanation. The complete list is in the recipe card below.
- Rolled oats (old-fashioned oats) – Quick oats will also work, but avoid steel-cut oats as they won’t soften properly.
- Grated carrots – You’ll need about 2-3 medium carrots to get 1 packed cup finely grated.
- Dates – Medjool dates work best because they’re larger, softer, and naturally sweeter than other varieties. If using smaller dates, you may need a few extra. Soaking them in warm water for at least 30 minutes helps create a smoother batter. You can also swap in 1 medium ripe banana for natural sweetness.
- Unsweetened applesauce – Along with dates, adds natural sweetness and provides moisture without having to use oil. You can use store-bought or homemade unsweetened applesauce.
- Greek yogurt – Whole fat is preferred, especially for kids under 2. Plant-based yogurt will work too. Just be sure to check the label for sugar content as they tend to contain added sugars. Here’s how to choose the best yogurt for babies.
How to make Carrot Oatmeal Muffins
Step 1: Add all the ingredients, minus the carrots, walnuts, and coconut into the blender. Process until smooth.
Step 2: Stir in the carrots and walnuts.
Step 3: 3. Spoon muffin batter to a greased or lined baking pan. I absolutely LOVE this silicone baking pan as there’s no need to grease and the muffins come out so well after baking. Top with coconut. Press into the batter slightly.
Step 4: Bake in the oven!
Expert Tips
- Skip the pre-shredded carrots from the store. They’re usually dry and thicker, which can affect texture, especially for babies and toddlers who are still developing chewing skills. I like to use my box grater for this or the shredding attachment on your food processor for best results. Grate extra and add them to smoothie bowls, chia puddings (bye bye constipation!), peanut butter waffles, healthy carrot pancakes, or overnight oats or quinoa.
- Use a mini muffin pan to make about 24 mini carrot oatmeal muffins. They bake faster and are great for smaller portions.
- Every oven is slightly different so check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle, making sure it comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before removing. This helps them firm up and prevents sticking.
- If you find that the muffins are too moist, put them in the fridge to help firm up.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with milk for a balanced breakfast. Check out all of my favorite healthy toddler breakfast ideas.
- Pair with yogurt and fruit for toddlers. For more inspiration, check out these healthy toddler snacks.
- Pack in lunchboxes. Here are cold school lunch ideas as well as toddler lunch ideas.
- Warm slightly and spread with nut butter for older kids. You could also try this homemade sunflower seed butter.
- Spread or drizzle this healthy cream cheese frosting.
Carrot Oatmeal Muffins FAQs
Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. You’ll find that the flavors develop more over time.
Freeze for up to 3 months. Here’s how to store and freeze muffins so they’re as good as the day you made them.
Thaw in the fridge overnight. Serve as is or warmed up in the microwave or toaster oven for VERY briefly. Otherwise, they will become too soggy.
Yes. Quick oats work well. Do not use steel-cut oats.
Yes. Use oat flour instead of whole oats and finely chop dates before mixing.
Yes. These muffins are soft and naturally sweetened, making them appropriate for babies 9 months and older. Always check texture and modify to your child’s chewing ability.
More Healthy Muffins
Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
Healthy Carrot Oatmeal Muffins
Equipment
Ingredients
For the blender
- 1 cup (100g) rolled oats
- 3 medjool dates, pitted and soaked (see note)
- 6 ounces (3/4 cup) Whole fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup (110g) unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg (or flax egg)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional but highly recommended)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Stir-ins
- 1 cup packed (125g) grated carrots, about 2-3 medium carrots
- 1/3 cup (35g) finely chopped walnuts
Topping
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Into a blender of food processor, add the oats first and then the rest of the ingredients under "for the blender." Blend until smooth.
- Stir in carrots and walnuts. Spoon the batter evenly into a prepared muffin pan. Top with coconut, as much or as little as you wish. Press onto the batter slightly.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely (wait at least 10 minutes) before taking them out of the pan.
Notes
- Dates: soak in warm water for at least 30 minutes as it will result in smoother consistency. You can also swap the dates out with 1 medium banana if you wish.
- Dairy-free? Can substitute with non-dairy Greek style yogurt.
- Every oven is slightly different so check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle, making sure it comes out clean.
- Once done, don’t attempt to take them out immediately from the muffin pan. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes. This is VERY important.
- If you find that the muffins are too moist, put them in the fridge to help firm up.
- Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days in the fridge. You’ll find that the flavors develop more over time.
- Freeze for up to 3 months. I personally flash freeze all my baked goods.
- thaw in the fridge overnight. Serve as is or warmed up in the microwave or toaster oven for VERY briefly. Otherwise, they will become too soggy.
These are amazing .. I used banana instead of dates because it’s all I had, my 1 year old LOVES them
I’m SO SO glad these were a hit!!!
Omg this muffin is sooo moist and soft! Thanks for sharing the receipt, my 2.5yr girl loves it!
Yay!! I’m so glad!!
Hi, any subs for the applesauce? Thanks
you can add more banana!
Hi Min,
Just wanted to take the time to write that I’ve tried a number of your recipes and they’ve all turned out great! I have a 3.5 and 1.5 year old and they both love all the different muffins I’ve made from your site. I’m so glad I found you at the beginning of the pandemic, and have been returning for more dishes since (and will definitely continue to try more items)! Thank you so much for all the healthy yummy recipes!
Dearest Ella, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this super encouraging comment! Truly motivates me to keep on sharing even when the going gets tough! So thank YOU 😉
Hi! Can I make this without a blender? Do the oats really need to be ground up? Was hoping to just make it in a bowl without using the bulky blender.. thank you!
hi! You do need to blend the oats. You can either purchase oat flour, all purpose flour, white whole wheat, or 1:1 gluten free baking flour
Hii m from India n I absolutely love ur receipe ideas n how easy they are to cook when u hv little one glued to u whole day. I made these oatmeal carrot muffins n my 9 mon old loved it .. he ate 2 instead of only 1
Oh I’m so glad to hear that these were a hit! And that truly is my goal to make healthy cooking as easiest as possible!
Can I blend the carrots instead of grating and folding them into the batter?
The muffins are already soft so by blending the carrots they may turn out way too soft. I recommend folding them in!
Ah, this explains my problem! I blended them in (I was using steamed carrot sticks that I needed to get rid of by today), and the muffins turned out quite soft and gooey, and I had to bake them extra long. Now I read this comment and see why! Still good, though 🙂
Hey,
I have a lot of baby oatmeal and buckwheat cereal that I would like to use and they’re pre-food processed (come as a fine powder). Any idea how much of the baby cereal I would use in place of 1 cup of oatmeal?
Also! I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping me through my journey. I consider myself a healthy eater but not a frequent one. As a result, figuring out what to feed my baby has been a challenge. Trying your recipes have given me back “me” moments while still focusing on baby. Freezing the extras also has given me a chance to get a grasp on starting solids and I’m starting to feel like a professional after 4 months!
Hi! I can’t say for certain as I haven’t tried but I would start with the same amount. And thank you so much for this thoughtful and encouraging message! I’m so glad that you’re finding my website helpful!!
My picky eater loves these!
Yay! Makes me so happy! thank you for sharing!
Hi, do i need to squeeze out the liquid from carrot?
There’s no need. Just make sure to use the larger hole if using box grater.