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These spinach muffins are an easy and delicious way to incorporate greens into your family’s diet. They’re fluffy, moist, and suitable for babies and kids of all ages!
Hello Green Monster Muffins!
My kids love it when I call them hulk muffins, monster muffins, or dinosaur muffins (it’s the little things). They are soft and easy for little ones to eat, just like these spinach cakes!
Made with simple ingredients, these bright green spinach muffins are naturally sweetened with banana and contain healthy doses of protein, fiber, and fat.
Enjoy for a quick and easy breakfast, snack, or pack for school lunch box.
Healthy Baby and Toddler Muffins ALL in one place!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
I am highlighting just the ones that need further explanation. The complete list is in the recipe card below.
- Fresh baby spinach – Mild in flavor, it’s perfect for muffins and green smoothies. I don’t recommend using frozen spinach. Not only will the muffins not be this vibrant in color, but they will also turn out too soft.
- Banana – be sure to use very ripe banana with many brown spots
- Greek yogurt – use plain and preferably whole fat for best results. If dairy-free, you can use any Greek-style plant-based alternative.
- Eggs – use room temperature for best results
- White whole wheat flour – It’s the same nutritionally as whole wheat flour but is lighter in texture and a little sweeter in flavor. It’s a great way to incorporate whole grains into your child’s diet.
Substitutions
- No white whole wheat flour? You can use All purpose flour or a combination of 1 cup all purpose flour and 3/4 cup whole wheat flour. I don’t recommend substituting entirely with whole wheat flour as the muffins will turn out more dense
- Gluten-free? Use a 1:1 gluten free flour or oat flour. Almond flour will not work.
- Don’t like bananas? Try using unsweetened applesauce. The general rule is 1/2 cup applesauce to replace 1 medium banana. let me know if you try it!
How to Make Spinach Muffins
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.
Step 2: Add all the wet ingredients into a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
Step 4: Stir until just combined. At this point you can stir in the optional sweet potatoes or carrots.
Step 5: Divide batter evenly into the muffin cups.
Step 6: Bake until the inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooking rack to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
- Use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup rather than scooping the flour out of the container or bag with your measuring cup. Using the latter method, you could end up with a lot more than what you need.
- Take eggs and yogurt out of the refrigerator at least 15 minutes prior to baking. This will help the muffins rise more.
- Use over ripe bananas – Your muffins will turn out sweeter and moister.
- After combining the dry and wet ingredients, do NOT over-mix the muffin batter. Mix lightly with a spatula until just combined. Otherwise, you will end up with dense muffins.
Vegan Spinach Muffins
You can use flax eggs. In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal (ground flaxseed) and 6 tablespoons of warm water. Allow the mixture to sit for 8-10 minutes until thickened like gel-like consistency.
As for the yogurt and milk, any plant-based Greek style yogurt and milk (e.g. unsweetened almond milk) will work.
Equipment
I highly recommend using a silicone muffin pan! It makes it SO much easier to remove the muffins from the pan and makes cleanup EASY.
Note that if using a tin muffin pan, the outside of the muffins will turn brown like you see in the cooking video above. Doesn’t make any difference texturally or flavor wise but something to be aware of.
You can also turn into mini muffins by using a mini muffin pan.
Spinach Muffins for Babies and Toddlers
These tender spinach muffins are not very sweet. So if you desire a pretty sweet muffin, add the optional honey, maple syrup, or date syrup (a great no added sugar option). Chocolate chips are a tasty addition, too, for older kids.
But do try serving them plain at first. My kids love these without any added sugar. You can always drizzle the suggested sweeteners or spread some fruit purées on top.
Enjoy as is or with nut butter, mashed fruits, more yogurt, etc.
Storage Suggestions
Store the muffins in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Enjoy cold, at room temperature, or microwave briefly.
Or freeze for up to 3 months.
Here’s the best way to store and freeze muffins!
More Healthy Muffin Recipes
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!
Moist Spinach Muffins
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry ingredients
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour (245g) or rolled oats (200g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- a pinch of salt
Wet ingredients
- 3/4 cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt (170g)
- 1/3 cup milk of choice
- 2 medium very ripe bananas (240g weighed weighed without peel)
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups loosely packed baby spinach
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional (for added nutrition and texture): 1/2 cup raw grated sweet potatoes or carrots, see note and/or 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
- Optional for additional sweetness: (3-4 tablespoons maple syrup, honey, or date syrup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add all the wet ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Combine the dry and wet ingredients. Be careful not to over mix. Use a spatula (instead of a whisk) to gently stir together until all the flour is wet. The less you stir the mixture, the lighter and fluffier your muffins will be. At this point you can stir in the optional sweet potatoes/carrots and/or nuts.
- Divide batter evenly into a greased, lined or silicone 12-cup muffin pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool for at least 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Video
Notes
- Use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup rather than scooping the flour out of the container or bag with your measuring cup. Using the latter method, you could end up with a lot more than what you need.
- Take eggs, milk, and yogurt out of the refrigerator at least 15 minutes prior to baking. This will help the muffins rise more.
- Be sure to squeeze out as much liquid from the sweet potato/carrots as possible, if using.
- These muffins are not very sweet. So if you desire a pretty sweet muffin, add the optional honey, maple syrup, or date syrup. Chocolate chips are a tasty addition, too, for older kids.
- Store in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Enjoy cold, at room temperature, or microwave briefly. Can also freeze for up to 3 months.
Do you think I can use ricotta instead of the yogurt?
I haven’t tried so can’t say for certain but think it will…
Made these many times and love them!
Yay! So happy to hear that!
I love all your recipes but this one is by far the best muffin I’ve ever made… period!
My 14 month old LOVED it, my father-in-law couldn’t get enough of it and I just couldn’t believe how easy it was to make.
I used oats so I added 2 tbsp of vegetable oil to make it a little lighter/fluffier, since oats tend to be more dense. It was absolutely perfect!
Thank you so much for the recipe.
Aww!!! Reading this brought so much joy! Thank you for sharing!
Hi there! I was wondering if you have to grind the rolled oats first, if opting for that route? Thanks!
Hi! Yes you do!
Thinking of packing these onboard – long haul flight about 10 hours. Are these okay left out in an airtight container for 10+ hours – from frozen ( thawed in fridge overnight ) ?
Oh we took these with us for our 14 hour flight to Korea when my son was 2! What I’d do is pack straight from the freezer before heading out
I hate all the washing up involved with using the blender or food processor, so I used my stick blender & it worked perfectly. These look & smell amazing (they’re fresh out if the oven so we haven’t tasted them yet). I added grated carrot & chopped pecans. When I was putting the batter in the pan I thought the muffins would be really nice with raisins maybe next time!
Ooh love the idea of adding raisins! Hope you guys enjoy!
These rose beautifully! So high and fluffy and moist. I added the shredded carrot and didn’t add any extra sweeteners. I think they are wonderful, despite not being very sweet at all. If I want sweetness I can serve with some fruit or a dip. My 1-year old eats just about anything, and I have no doubt he will enjoy these (especially since he has loved every other recipe off this website!) 🙂
Thank you so much for putting a smile on my face! I’m so glad to hear that he’s been loving everything you make!
Hi Min!
Would these work without baking soda? Could I add more baking powder instead if I don’t have any on hand?
Thanks!
Hi! No I wouldn’t mess with the leavening agents!
Hi Min,
Superb recipe! Made it today and the whole family loved it. So thankful you added metric measurement. Our 2 medium size bananas were nowhere near 240g. I added the carrot and macadamia nuts, it was delish.
Thanks
I’m so glad!! Ooh love the addition of macademia nuts!
Do you use Greek yogurt for texture reasons or health reasons? I have everything to make these, but I grabbed regular yogurt instead of Greek last time we were at the store. Worried it’ll be too runny, but maybe that’s not an issue?