20 Best Healthy Muffins for Kids

These healthy muffins for kids include all sorts of flavor profiles that will make babies, toddlers and big kids happy come meal times! Muffins are one of my favorite make-ahead breakfasts, lunch recipes, and snacks for kids—and to help you feed your littles the most nutritious ones out there, this list is here to help.

Muffins for Kids

Each of these toddler muffins has low added sugar and is made with fruit and/or veggies and whole grains. Some include extra protein, some have extra healthy fats, and some are best for certain seasons of the year. Choose based on flavors that you think your family will enjoy or ingredients and whip up a batch as a make-ahead breakfast or snack to share.

I make a lot of muffins because they are convenient toddler breakfasts and toddler snacks, but also because they are a very easy way to serve up a mix of nutrients. These recipes are some of my very favorites! I love that each is loaded with nutrition and has healthy ingredients front and center.

TIP: All of these recipes store well in the fridge or freezer so you can make them one day and enjoy them for many more to come.

(You may also like my best Mini Muffins recipes, healthy snacks to make at home, and my favorite snacks for kids.)

1. Perfect Baby Muffins

You can serve any of these to an older baby who’s eating finger foods. Use maple syrup for honey (babies under one shouldn’t have honey) and dice into small pieces for easy eating.

My favorite baby muffins are the Sugar-Free Banana Muffins and ABC Baby Muffins, which are shown above.

ABC Baby Muffins (Apple, Banana and Carrot!)

These are deliberately very moist (and moister than regular muffins) to ensure they are easy for baby to chew and swallow, so expect that from the interior. They have three types of produce in the mix and are a yummy breakfast or snack.

ABC Baby Muffins (Apple, Banana and Carrot!)

2. Applesauce Muffins

Easy, flavorful, and just sweet enough. With a hint of cinnamon to round things out.

Favorite Applesauce Muffins

Perfectly spiced and just sweet enough, these Applesauce Muffins are a yummy breakfast or snack. We like these on their own, topped with nut or seed butter, or even with a smear of cream cheese. See what your littles like!

Favorite Applesauce Muffins

3. Sugar-Free Banana Muffins

Try these if you’re looking for an added sugar-free baby muffin for your little one or toddler, these are a favorite.

Sugar-Free Banana Muffins

Be sure to use very ripe bananas (with lots of brown spots!) for the best flavor and natural sweetness. (I updated this recipe December 2020 to ensure the most reliable results. The original version of this recipe is the “Egg-free” option in the Notes if you loved that. In the main recipe, I reduced the oil, added an egg, increased the baking soda a smidge, and reduced the baking time. They’re great!)

Sugar-Free Banana Muffins

4. Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Try this blender muffin recipe the next time you have too-ripe bananas on hand.

Banana Oatmeal Muffins (SO Good!)

With just a handful of nutritious ingredients, you can bake up super easy Banana Oatmeal Muffins to share with the kids. For the best flavor and sweetness, use bananas with a lot of brown spots. Bonus: These store so well in the fridge for days!

Banana Oatmeal Muffins (SO Good!)

5. Banana Zucchini Muffins with Blueberries

With three kinds of produce, these muffins are moist and packed with wholesome ingredients.

Banana Zucchini Muffins with Blueberries

Combine three types of produce in a batch of Banana Zucchini Muffins with Blueberries. It’s the best of all the baked goods in one convenient (and nutritious) package!

Banana Zucchini Muffins with Blueberries

6. Vegan Banana Muffins

Made without eggs, dairy, or honey, these vegan mini muffins are an allergy-friendly hit.

Easy Vegan Banana Muffins

These taste best with a very ripe banana with brown spots, as they will have the most natural sweetness and flavor.

Easy Vegan Banana Muffins

Yogurt Muffins

Moist, tender, and with any flavor variation that your family likes, these are one of my top muffins for kids. (You may also like my Banana Yogurt Muffins.)

Favorite Yogurt Muffins

This is an epic of a basic muffin recipe that you can then add flavor to in all sorts of ways—from fruit to veggies to chocolate chips. The batter is packed with protein too, so the muffins are great for breakfast or snack. (The allergy-friendly substitutions are listed in the Notes section at the bottom.)

Favorite Yogurt Muffins

8. Blueberry Banana Muffins with Oats

These taste like a yummy combo of baked oatmeal and a classic blueberry muffin.

Blueberry Banana Muffins with Oats

Like a cross between a fluffy blueberry muffin and baked oatmeal, these muffins are moist and packed with yummy nutrition.

Blueberry Banana Muffins with Oats

9. Lemon Blueberry Muffins

The Greek yogurt in these adds extra protein!

Favorite Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Bake a batch of these Lemon Blueberry Muffins for a family breakfast that's bursting with flavor. They're packed with berries and are so simple to stir together! Serve these warm, at room temperature or cold.

Favorite Lemon Blueberry Muffins

10. Carrot Cake Muffins

You can even top these healthy muffins with a little cream cheese for a healthy cupcake!

Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

These are delicious served warm soon after baking, at room temperature or even chilled, so see what your family prefers. They are naturally dairy-free and can be made gluten-free and egg-free as well. See the Notes section for details.

Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

11. Donut Muffins

Like a cake donut hole, only easier to make in a mini muffin pan!

12. Sweet Potato Muffins

With a hint of apple, these perfect-for-fall muffins pair well with soups and stews.

Fluffy Sweet Potato Muffins

Tender and moist, these muffins are lightly sweetened with warm spices. Plan to prepare the sweet potatoes at least an hour—and up to 3 days—before you start making the muffins to allow time to cool. You can make these plain, with chocolate chips, or with lemon zest.

Fluffy Sweet Potato Muffins

13. Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins

Chocolate and peanut butter are a classic combo…especially with a cold cup of milk!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins

Rich and moist, these chocolate peanut butter muffins are a healthy way to enjoy a treat for any meal of the day.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins

14. Chocolate Protein Muffins (with Hidden Veggies)

With the flavor of a brownie and the nutrition of a smoothie, this is a satisfying and yummy toddler muffin.

Chocolate Protein Muffins (With Veggies!)

These simple blender muffins pack a serious nutrition punch and are dairy-free, with a nut-free option. I prefer the flavor of these once they are fully cooled and chilled in the fridge.

Chocolate Protein Muffins (With Veggies!)

15. Healthy Strawberry Muffins

With a little lemon for bright flavor, these muffins are ideal for those berry-loving kid.

16. Easy Pumpkin Muffins

These have the best pumpkin spice flavors and are so moist and fluffy!

Easy Pumpkin Muffins

Tender, fluffy, and perfectly spiced, these easy Pumpkin Muffins are a one-bowl, no-special-equipment recipe that's perfect to share for breakfast or snack.

Easy Pumpkin Muffins

17. Spinach Banana Muffins

Green foods can be fun and these spinach muffins prove the point!

Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana

These healthy spinach muffins taste like a delicious banana muffin, but with the added nutrition of a big handful of spinach. These store well, so you can make them ahead of time and pull them out of the fridge or freezer to serve.

Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana

18. Savory Veggie Muffins

These healthy muffins have 4 kinds of veggies tucked inside them!

Easy Veggie Muffins

Serve up veggies in a kid-friendly form with these SO-good Veggie Muffins. They have broccoli, carrots, protein, and kid-approved flavor!

Easy Veggie Muffins

19. Pizza Muffins

These have classic pizza flavor in a fluffy, nutritious format that includes carrots and whole grains.

Pizza Muffins (with Veggies!)

These work well to make ahead and warm up for an easy lunch or dinner. These taste best served warm.

Pizza Muffins (with Veggies!)

20. Zucchini Carrot Muffins

These are a great way to use fresh zucchini and are egg-free too! (You can also try my savory Mini Egg Muffins with Zucchini!)

Easy Zucchini Carrot Muffins

I prefer to grate my own carrots to ensure that the texture is finer and isn’t very noticeable in the baked muffins. See the Notes for allergy substitutions.

Easy Zucchini Carrot Muffins

Best Tips for Success

• Find my post on how to freeze muffins for more storage information.
• Read the NOTES under each recipe for the recommended allergy substitutes.
• Pair with milk, water, a toddler smoothie, or a yogurt drink to make a substantial snack.
• Add to a lunchbox toddler lunch idea to make an easy packed lunch.
• I prefer to use nonstick spray rather than muffin liners in my muffin tins.
• I like the Wilton nonstick muffin pans best.
• Find my high fiber Raisin Bran Muffins and my Raspberry Muffins for more ideas.

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I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment below to share!

This post was first published August 2020.