These Spinach Muffins with Banana are a super healthy and yummy toddler or big kid breakfast or snack. Each bite is packed with nutrients from greens and fruit—and the interior is so moist that even babies can enjoy these easy blender muffins!
Spinach Muffins
Oh these muffins are one of our very favorites. And they’re one of the most popular recipes on my entire site! And while I know I’ve written about how we actually don’t need to pack kale and spinach into every bite our kids eat, I do think there can be merit in sometimes making nutritious versions of foods our kids already like. Like muffins.
The color green can be a huge red flag to many kids, so I like to try to use the color to my advantage in fun foods—like these Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana.
You can call these Hulk Muffins, Monster Muffins, Green Smoothie Muffins, or any fun name you can come up with!
Made with a not-too-long list of good-for-you ingredients, these muffins are naturally sweet from banana, and have a dose of Vitamin A and C from spinach or kale. They also have healthy fats and protein so they’re a nice meal component that will provide long lasting energy for your busy kids.
They’re great for breakfast paired with a smoothie or milk, as a snack, or packed in a kids lunch.
TIP: To make for a baby, omit the honey and use an additional 2 tablespoons milk. Omit the chocolate chips.
Ingredients You Need
To make these muffins you’ll need:
- Ripe banana: Bananas with brown spots will add lots of sweet flavor to this recipe.
- Baby spinach
- Milk: You can use whole milk, low-fat, or any nondairy milk.
- Honey: Swap in maple syrup if desired (and for kids under age 1).
- Melted and cooled butter: Or you can use neutral oil or plain yogurt.
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Rolled oats: This adds some extra fiber and whole grains, but blend into the mixture nicely.
- Baking soda
- Whole-wheat flour
- Mini chocolate chips: These are optional to add on the top.
TIP: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
Ingredient Swaps
To make these without eggs, omit the eggs. Increase banana to 1 ½ cups.
To make these gluten-free, try King Arthur’s gluten free flour blend instead of the regular flour.
You can make them dairy-free by opting for your favorite unsweetened nondairy milk.
To make with frozen spinach, thaw the spinach, squeeze very dry, and measure out ¼ cup.
Use maple syrup for the honey.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the simple process involved in making this healthy muffin recipe for kids so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the full recipe.
- Place all ingredients into a blender except the flour and chocolate chips, if using. (photo 1)
- Blend until very smooth. (photo 2)
- Add the flour. (photo 3)
- Pulse in the flour just to combine. (photo 4)
- Pour batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about ¾ cup full. Sprinkle with chocolate chips if using. (photo 5)
- Bake until firm to the touch and lightly browned around the edges. (photo 6)
TIP: The veggie muffins are done when the edges are lightly brown, the tops are firm, and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
Why do these spinach veggie muffins require a blender?
In order to get the spinach smooth and incorporated into the batter—which is really the key to getting the kids to eat these, because a muffin with chunks of spinach would be no good!—you need a blender.
It’s basically the same principal as making a green smoothie!
TIP: You can try this with a food processor, though be sure to run it on high for 30-60 seconds to get the spinach as blended up as possible.
Banana Spinach Muffins
These kids muffins (which I happily eat myself too!) are delicious warm out of the oven or chilled, so see what you and the kids like. The ripe banana adds natural sweetness and while there’s a load of fresh spinach in these, they just taste like a treat.
They aren’t super sweet like most bakery muffins are, but they are always a big hit with my kids (and myself!)…especially with a few mini chocolate chips on top.
Spinach Baby Muffins for Baby-Led Weaning
These muffins are incredibly moist and they don’t dry out very easily, so they are a perfect early food for older babies. Cut them up into small cubes so baby can easily pick up bite-size pieces.
You may want to warm them slightly to make them even moister and/or top with applesauce or apple butter.
TIP: Use maple syrup or omit the sweetener and use 2 tablespoons additional milk to make these for a baby.
Spinach Muffins Without Banana
If you can’t do banana, you could do apple butter, a thick applesauce, or roasted mashed sweet potato instead.
Vegan Spinach Muffins
Use the egg- and dairy-free options and opt for maple syrup to make these vegan.
Halloween Breakfast Idea
We love making these all year round, but they are super fun for Halloween with their bright green color. Call them “monster muffins”, add some eyes (I like using cream cheese and raisins and sprinkles for eyelashes) and you have a healthy and nourishing breakfast or snack to share.
How to Store
You can store the muffins in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days and eat cold or slightly warmed. Or store in a zip top bag with as much air removed as possible in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature.
Best Tips for Success
- Use very ripe bananas with brown spots for the best natural sweetness.
- To make for a baby, omit the honey and use an additional 2 tablespoons milk. Omit the chocolate chips.
- Dairy-free: Use unsweetened nondairy milk and using a neutral oil instead of butter.
- Gluten-free: try King Arthur’s gluten free flour blend.
- Egg-free: Omit the eggs and use 1½ cups sliced banana.
- To make with frozen spinach, thaw spinach, squeeze very dry, and measure out ¼ cup. Proceed with the recipe.
- To make as mini muffins, use a 24-cup mini muffin pan and bake for 12-14 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
- To make these with kale, I prefer using kale that’s been frozen since it tastes less green. Simply wash, dry, and store it in a zip top bag in the freezer. Crush gently in the bag and measure with a measuring spoon. (I use it in smoothies this way too!) Baby spinach usually has a milder flavor when used fresh.
- You can stir ⅓ cup chocolate chips into the batter before baking, or sprinkle some on top depending on your preference. You can also just omit them.
- These are not crazy sweet without the chocolate chips (though my kids like them just fine!), so if you think your kids will prefer a sweeter muffin, add ¼ cup granulated sugar to the batter.
- You may also like Applesauce Muffins, ABC Muffins, Yogurt Muffins, and Spinach Banana Pancakes.
Please comment and rate the recipe below if you make it—I’d love to know what you and your kids think! And your feedback helps me continue to improve my content.
This post was first published March 2018.
Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana
Ingredients
- 1 cup sliced ripe banana (about 2 small or one medium/large)
- 2 cups lightly packed baby spinach
- 3/4 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plain nondairy)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons melted and cooled butter (OR neutral oil OR plain yogurt)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- Mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a standard-size muffin tin well with nonstick spray.
- Place all ingredients into a blender except the flour and chocolate chips, if using.
- Blend until very smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowls as needed. You want the greens to be very finely blended in so the batter is green, as if you were making a smoothie.
- Pulse in the flour just to combine, or stir it in gently.
- Pour batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about ¾ cup full. Sprinkle with chocolate chips if using.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until firm to the touch and lightly browned around the edges. (You can also check to see if a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.)
- Remove from the oven and use a paring knife, if needed, to transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Serve slightly warm, at room temp, or chilled.
Equipment
- Muffin Tin
Video
Notes
- You can store the muffins in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days and eat cold or slightly warmed. Or store in a zip top bag with as much air removed as possible in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature.
- Use very ripe bananas with brown spots for the best natural sweetness.
- To make for a baby, omit the honey and use an additional 2 tablespoons milk. Omit the chocolate chips.
- Dairy-free: Use unsweetened nondairy milk and using a neutral oil instead of butter.
- Gluten-free: try King Arthur’s gluten free flour blend.
- Egg-free: Omit the eggs and use 1½ cups sliced banana.
- To make with frozen spinach, thaw spinach, squeeze very dry, and measure out ¼ cup. Proceed with the recipe.
- To make as mini muffins, use a 24-cup mini muffin pan and bake for 12-14 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
- To make these with kale, I prefer using kale that’s been frozen since it tastes less green. Simply wash, dry, and store it in a zip top bag in the freezer. Crush gently in the bag and measure with a measuring spoon. (I use it in smoothies this way too!) Baby spinach usually has a milder flavor when used fresh.
- You can stir ⅓ cup chocolate chips into the batter before baking, or sprinkle some on top depending on your preference. You can also just omit them.
- These are not crazy sweet without the chocolate chips (though my kids like them just fine!), so if you think your kids will prefer a sweeter muffin, add ¼ cup granulated sugar to the batter.
Could these be made without oats?
Yes, use the same amount of all purpose flour instead of the oats called for.
These are lovely with a swipe of peanut butter for easy morning breakfast for my 18mon old twins. We make ahead and freeze and they taste just as good as fresh. Thank you!
Can i ise instant oats instead? That’s what i currently have in the cupboard. Thanks.
Sure
I just made these and I’m hoping my 9 month old, 6 or old, and husband all like them as much as I do. I left out the honey for my baby but felt it needed some sweetener, and I’ve had some prunes just sitting in my cuppard since I couldn’t get anyone besides me to eat them, so I chucked them in this batter. It sweetened it up, and I added chocolate chips to our muffins(not the baby’s) so fingers crossed its sweet enough for my processed food loving hubby and daughter. I’m trying to switch out processed for whole foods and this would be a big win for me if everyone likes these. Thanks for the recipe🥰
Fingers crossed!
Yummmm my 1 & 3 year old both loved these!! We all made them together!!
Can I replace the whole wheat flour with all purpose? If so, how much all purpose should I use?
I would do 1 cup plus 2 tbsp all purpose flour. Enjoy
These are delicious. They just came out of the oven. I followed all the steps and mindlessly dumped the flour into the blender. Oops. But they came out great!
Delicious! My daughter made these for her children and saved me one to try. They were a hit with her youngest two and with me!
For the egg-free version, are we adding an additional 1 1/2 cup banana in addition to the 1 cup banana listed in recipe?
Can’t wait to try!!
My picky toddler loves these! The chocolate chips on top definitely made them taste extra yummy.
Taste great and looked nice and round in the oven, however once removed to cool the tops immediately sank down. Not sure why, didn’t use any subs.
Such an easy but great recipe. Just made these and my toddler barely waited for them to cool from the oven before he ate four straight! Bonus: Barely any dishes to wash if you do everything in the blender!
Could I use spelt flour instead of whole wheat flour? Does this change the amount?
Could I use kamut flakes instead of oats? Does this change the amount?
Thank you!
I haven’t tested this recipe with either of those options but my best guess is that they would work similarly.
We love making these and they’re delicious for all ages. I have tried with chocolate chips in the mix and I do think they bake better with them sprinkled on top.
For extra fun, we bake these in a donut pan!
Hi! How long do you bake them in a donut pan?
I would guess 12 ish minutes.
Curious if I would be able to use breastmilk instead of milk for this?
I haven’t made them that way but I bet you could.
My muffins seemed a little flat , I used Almond flour and Pure Maple syrup . I used a Ninja blender and had to blend it quite a bit to make sure Spinach was incorporated well ( not too many bits). Is it possible I blended it too much ? The also seemed kinda dense and gooey inside , is that normal . I am going to try again this time with all purpose flour and Honey to see how that works. I will let you know ….
That would be from using almond flour, which does not bake the same as wheat flour and is therefore not a good direct substitution.
Made these with my 5yo all the way in Australia! We called them ‘Hulk’ muffins and they turned out perfectly. My batter was a little wet so we added a touch more flour and baked at 170C in a fan oven. Perfect for the lunchbox!
What is a sub for banana ? My daughter can’t have bananas.
I made these today with 1/2 cup full-fat Greek yogurt instead of the eggs for an allergy, and it worked really well. The muffins did fall a little bit, but the inside has plenty of air bubbles and the texture is a little like a steamed pudding instead of dense bread. I think the added fat helps, vs. just using more bananas.
What is a sub for banana ? My daughter can’t have bananas.
A thick applesauce or apple butter.
My son, who really struggles to find food that he enjoys, asks for these regularly and gobbles them up! Thank you Amy for your simple, yummy recipes! Also, as a note, I substitute 1 Tbsp flax for each egg and it turns out great.
3 year old approved – quote: “Yummy!” I made the egg-free version and used whole wheat pastry flour. I enjoyed mine with honey drizzled over the top to sweeten it up. It wasn’t quite as airy/light as other egg-free muffin recipes, but since my toddler loved them, this is going into our rotation. Thank you!
I made these but the inside isn’t cake like there’s no transfer from the knife but the inside is gooey almost, is this because of the banana? As I didn’t use egg, do they firm up as they cool, I’m just worried the flour won’t be fully cooked if it’s like that as they’re for my 16 month old
Did you use my replacement with the baking soda? If your baking soda isn’t fresh or active, they may not have baked through as expected. Does it seem like raw batter or a bit of banana is what I’d look at.
Would I be able to use applesauce or something else in substituion for the Oats?
You can use all purpose flour instead of the oats.
I love everything you make!
So far my 3 year old loves everything! We all do!! Thank you!
I used almond milk and added the yogurt for extra protein it’s lovely!!!! ❤️
My 8 month old loves these! I omit the honey and add 2 additional TBSP per the recipe. He can’t get enough of them! Love knowing he’s getting a healthy snack that’s easy to make.
We come back to this recipe probably once a month – the kids love “monster muffins”! I love that they use all whole grains (oats/wheat) but are not at all dry. Just the right amount of sweetness too. For me, one batch usually makes a full muffin tray (12 regular or 24 mini) plus 5 or 6 “donuts” (Wilton donut pan). Thanks for this keeper of a recipe!
I made them and didn’t measure the chocolate chips, so if she doesn’t find them sweet enough, do you have any suggestion?
You can cut in half and drizzle with a little honey (as long as she’s over 1)
These muffins are so good! The texture is perfect and the flavor is great. Thank you!
These turned out PERFECT! Amazing, easy recipe that’s really hard to mess up. And only the blender to clean. I had leftover batter that I made into mini pancakes for eating right away and those were also equally as easy and delicious!
Nicely done!
I made these and my 11-year-olds loved them! I want to make them again tomorrow, but I’m out of honey and maple syrup. Can I use an equal amount of regular sugar, or will that mess up the dry/wet ratio?
Use the same amount of sugar as the honey/maple syrup and add 2 tbsp milk. Enjoy!
There is no baking powder in this recipe so the muffins turn out deflated and impossible to get out of the tins. When I pulled them out of the oven they looked like regular muffins but then while cooling they quickly deflated in like gooey muffin piles. They were impossible to get out of the muffin tins because of this. They were inedible. I will not be making this recipe again.
There is baking soda in the recipe, which you must have missed. That is what ensures that the muffins rise and bake through. Hopefully that clears it up!
I said there is no baking powder. I added the baking soda because I did not miss that ingredient. Baking powder is also needed in baked goods, as this websites says:
The muffins without baking powder (not baking soda, which is included in this recipe and which I did read and include), fall flat. Which is exactly what happened to the muffins i made. This recipe needs baking powder as well as baking soda.
Actually, whether you need baking powder, baking soda, or a mix or the two depends on the mix of ingredients in a specific recipe. Using just active fresh baking soda in this recipe works really well. I am sorry that you had an issue, but it is not due to the lack of baking powder.
To my comment below: I made these dairy and egg free so am hoping to leave them in airtight container overnight at room temp?
Can these be kept in an airtight container out on the counter for the next day or fridge?
Yes, that’s fine.
Could i used whole milk yogurt instead of milk?
Can these be kept in an airtight container out on the counter for the next day or fridge?
Yes!
Please ignore my comment, it was intended for the carrot pancake recipe
Love your recipes – just want to note that it would be helpful if you made clear at the beginning of the ingredients list that the number of eggs depends on flour choice.
Delicious!! My 4 year old ate 3 for lunch and said, “These are so de-wiscious!” I think they’re a keeper 🙂 Thank you Amy!
Could I omit the the oats? Do I need to replace them with more flour?
I would replace with 3/4 cup all purpose flour
Another recipe that’s a hit! Thanks for making healthy meals less stressful 🙂
You’re welcome!
Just made these with dark chocolate chips (what I had on hand) and they came out great! This recipe is genius, I love it.
Looking forward to making these! So sorry if you’ve answered this previously – I’d like to make them egg-free, do I use 1.5cups banana in total? Or 1.5 cups banana additional to the 1cup already in the recipe?
1.5 cups total. Enjoy!
can i use white flour for this?
Sure
All of the baking recipes I’ve tried here have been easy, forgiving and delicious! This is the ultimate way to use leftover spinach.
Not sure if I did something wrong, but mine ended up with a really weird gummy/dense base instead of being fluffy and airy like the picture. They were cooked, just an odd texture and my LO won’t touch them.
It sounds like your baking soda didn’t activate. That’s the only reason I know of for them not to have a classic muffin texture. I hope that helps.
This was so easy to make & my girls loved them! What a nice way for them to get some green in their diet. Thank you for sharing with us! 🫶🏼
So yummy! It made about 30 mini muffins for me. I over poured some cups. Whoops.
Me again. My toddler is eating this muffin. He wouldn’t in the first offer and asked for one. He’s eating it!!! This kid has been on a veggie strike for too long. I’m thrilled!!. Thanks yummy toddler food!
That’s so great to hear!
We call these monster muffins, I double the recipe and do one set of regular sized muffins and one of mini muffins, froze some for later. My daughter is normally not a muffin fan but she’s eaten like 6 minis in the past two days and I’m delighted because I know how healthy they are!!
We love these! Our 13 month old still doesn’t like chocolate and we have just made them consistently without. I will only make these in my silicone muffin tray as they seemed to stick terribly in my regular pan even with pre greasing. We also use half the honey listed and he enjoys them warm, room temp or cold.
We LOVE these
Sorry if this is a silly question. But could I make this recipe in a 9×9 instead of a muffin pan?
Yes, the baking time should be about the same or a few minutes more to set the middle.
Can I make this batter the night before to make fresh muffins in the morning? Also can coconut flour be used?
Coconut flour doesn’t work the same as wheat flour, so I wouldn’t use it here. You can make the batter the night before, but I would recommend taking it out of the fridge a while before baking so it’s not freezing cold when it goes into the oven. That could impact how they rise.
Hi thank you for the muffin recipe! My daughter actually ate spinach! Mine turned out with air bubbles and a mushy gooey center. What did I do wrong? Maybe too much banana? Clean toothpick and I cooked them an extra 10 min so I know they weren’t under done.
If they didn’t bake in the center, the most likely explanation is that the baking soda used wasn’t fresh or active. I hope that helps!
If I don’t have ripe bananas what could I use instead? Thanks
I haven’t made them any other way, but typically a thick applesauce can be used in place of bananas in baking.
Plenty sweet, and they domed when baking just like in the picture! It’s a perfect size recipe to make a dozen in regular muffin tins.
When making these for baby and omitting the honey, chocolate chips and optional sugar they are quite earthy. Good texture though and baby likes them with apple sauce on top
Delicious! My 2.5 yr old gobblers these up and I enjoyed them as well.
Non baker here. Just made these tonight for my daughter who is bordering on iron deficiency. The flavor is great. They are not very “fluffy” and are a bit dense. What did I do wrong?
If they aren’t very fluffy, I would double check that the baking soda you’re using is fresh and active.
Made this and subbed whole wheat flour for unbleached white. And I accidently forgot to add the milk 🤣 they still turned out delicious and we’re a huge hit for all 4 kids!
I made these but since I did not have a muffin tin I used a loaf instead. Was not sure about the time changes so I did double. Also, I am at 7400 ft altitude, so what changes to the recipe would you suggest?
Hi Amy, these are great! We love your recipes! Quick question on the egg-free version – is it an additional 1.5 cups of banana, so 2.5 cups total, or just an extra 0.5 cups for 1.5 cups total? I made them with 1.5 cups total and they really collapsed. Maybe some baking powder would help too?
I do an extra 1/2 cup. If they collapsed I would add 1/4-1/2 tsp more baking soda (not powder).
Yay! I just made them again with an additional 1/2 tsp of (a new box of) baking soda and that helped a lot. Also pouring the blended mixture into a bowl and then mixing the flour in so that it wasn’t over-mixed really did the trick. Thanks again! They were a huge hit at preschool 😊
These “green cupcakes” are constantly a hit with my VERY picky toddler!! I make a few with extra chocolate chips for myself 🙂
I’m so glad!
Great!! I made these gluten free and without chocolate chips, I used too much Spinach, packed it too tight and I would not do that again. I used maple syrup instead of honey, great texture and flavor.
We made the egg-free version using swiss chard instead of spinach and our toddler is a fan! It’s surprising how the leafy green flavor disappears and you mostly get banana. Great way to sneak in some veggies!
A family favorite! And even my neighbors ask me to make them!
Wow! Sooo good!
Loved them. I used dark chocolate chips in mine. Will definitely make this again! Thank you for this delicious recipe.
can I replace the 3/4 cup milk 1:1 with whole milk greek yogurt?
I haven’t tried that so I can’t say for sure but it might work!
I was a little worried because I only have a food processor so the batter wasn’t quite as smooth as I wanted it to be, but they still turned out great. We’ll definitely be making these regularly.
Very tasty! I did half the sugar but added chocolate chips on top and still a hit with 1.5 and nearly 4 year old (and me!)!
Could I do 1/8 cup of syrup or honey and add an extra 1 tbs of milk?
Sure, just be sure to use very ripe bananas.
Delicious. I may eat these before the baby!
Very easy and yummy! My baby loved them and so did we!
How long can they be stored and what would you use the excess batter for? How long can it be refrigerated?
You could make more muffins? They can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days or for a few months in the fridge.
Quick, easy, and delicious!
I want to try this recipe, but I’m fresh out of bananas. Would it be possible to incorporate a sweet potato instead? How would you recommend it be done?
You could roast a sweet potato and let it cool, then mash it and use it in place of some of the banana to equal the same overall volume.
This is our new favourite breakfast muffin! So moist and tasty and he gets my daughter to eat spinach!
Hooray!
My whole wheat flour expired a year ago, whoops. So I threw that out and used regular white flour. They’re baking now. Are they going to turn out ok? Lol.
They should
Can you use AP flour instead of whole wheat?
Sure
I love your muffin recipes, especially this one! Do you have an ebook that contains all your muffin recipes?
Yummy Toddler Snacks has most of them!
These are SOOOO good! I really like to look for toddler friendly foods that adults will like too so that we don’t waste so much. And these hit the mark!! Not too sweet, I even left out the chocolate chips as well, and I think it’s a nice healthy treat for kids and adults!!
how many calories is one of these
The nutrition info is at the end of the post.
These are excellent. Quick question and sorry if I missed it, but do they freeze well?
Yes, let cool and freeze in a freezer bag with as much air removed as you can.
Very good!
If you make us frozen kale that you crashed up, how much do you use? 1/4 cup like you do the frozen spinach?
Sure
Hello! Can I add blueberries? I looked everywhere and for whatever reason, I was surprised not to see an “optional” note anywhere stating that you could add fruit. So now I’m nervous adding them lol
Sure, that will work fine!
We made these without eggs due to an allergy, and followed the directions to add extra banana instead. These muffins turned out SO dense and heavy. I used a brand new container of baking soda, so I’m not sure what went wrong here.
Maybe using flax seed is the way to go instead.
Also, pro tip: don’t use cupcake liners- they stick terribly!
Oh no! I’ve never had that happen but I am sorry to hear that you did. Did you use the same flour as in the recipe?
Thank you so much
. Is it possible to get the old recipe from some where?
Thank you so much
There isn’t an old version of this?
Soooo looking forward to making these…for myself :)) I am new to this whole “Healthy cooking” thing and would like to substitute with steel cut oats and almond flour. Would this work and do I need to make adjustments in measurements/cooking time?
Thank you for your amazing recipies!!!!!
Hi- Almond flour is not a good sub for wheat flour since it absorbs liquids very differently. The recipe as is is pretty healthy, so maybe just go with what already works? 🙂
These are delicious. I made them exactly as the recipe called for and they turned out great. My toddler loves them and so do I. I think it is the perfect amount of sweetness with the chocolate chips.
So good! My 9 mth old devoured a whole muffin! I subbed maple syrup for the honey. You’re right, they aren’t super sweet without chocolate chips, but these are perfect for BLW and tasty for everyone else in the family. basically like a green low sweet banana bread in muffin form. I will definitely make again!
So happy to hear that!
Can these be made in a 9×13″ pan?
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure, but they might be very thin? I might do 8×8 inches if you have it.
I dont plan on adding chocolate chips but 1/4 cup of honey is still alot of sugar for a toddler. Would they still come out fluffy without a sweetener?
If you divide that amount by 12, it’s a very small amount of added sweetener. If you prefer not to add it, omit it and add 2 tbsp more milk but be sure to use very ripe bananas for sweetness. Enjoy!
I used frozen Bananas and made sure to measure and not just use a number of bananas and they turned out fantastic!
I made these today with my 19 month old granddaughter. Soooo easy and we had fun together. Everything is pre-measured for when she gets here and then I let her put it all in the blender. We filled, we I filled, mini muffin cups then let her put a few semi sweet mini chips on the tops. She loves seeing how we can mix ingredients together and put them in the oven to come out delicious treats! We mad a triple batch with Bobs Red Mill GLUTEN FREE FLOUR, Xanthan gum as recommended on the flour package, soy milk, and mini muffin tins. Due to the gluten free flour, I used a bit more soy milk but not much. These turned out better than expected. We loved them. Healthy, flavorful, moist and just the right amount of sweetness.
Next time, I will do a single batch and try using monk sugar, and flax seed eggs just do to an egg allergy in the family as well as blueberries instead of chocolate. Thank you for sharing this recipe. It will definitely be a go to recipe for our family.
These are great! I made them vegan using flax eggs and maple syrup. Came out perfect…thank you!
Hi! Would these work with a frozen banana?
I think so, you can either thaw it first and drain off any liquid or I think you could probably add it right to the mixture like you were making a smoothie.
My 18 month old is OBSESSED with these. I make them with a flax egg (he’s allergic to eggs) and blueberries instead of chocolate chips. These have become a staple in our house!
I’m so glad to hear that!
I just made a batch of these without egg. They are wonderful. Perfect amount of sweet. Love this recipe.
Can these be made with oat flour instead?
I haven’t tried that but I think it would work okay. The texture might be a little denser but the baking time should be similar.
Love these! I left out the sugar and they’re still tasty. However, they’re not pretty muffin like, like in the photos 🙁 mine deflated. Is it because there’s no sweetener?
These are great! Totally forgot the eggs on a triple batch and they turned out wonderful still. I tell my girls they are alien muffins, as we have been studying space together. Easy way to sneak in some greens! Thoughts on adding some protein powder?
Hello. Can I substitute maple syrup for thr honey?
Sure thing!
So nice and fluffy! The batter looked a bit runny so I thought it wasn’t going to work or take very long to come together but it worked great right at 20 min! Will make again.
My kids devour these! I told them they are Hulk muffins and they’ll make them so strong. not even my pickiest eater batted an eye at the green color!
Can these be made with all purpose flour? And if so, would any adjustments need to be made for the milk and eggs ratio?
I added chia and flaxseed. Even without, they’re perfect
Hey, i love following your recipes, i dont know why when baked the inner wasnt cooked well at all, tried for 15 min extra than the time mentioned. I dint know what went wrong here. Plz advise
Hi- the most common reason would be that the baking soda you used wasn’t fresh or active. Hope tha thelps.
I really wanted to love these! And they looked so cute. Not sure what happened, as I followed the recipe, but these were the heaviest, densest muffins ever. I think blending takes all the air out.
It actually sounds like your baking soda didn’t work. Maybe check that it’s fresh for next time?
Tried them and they turned out awesome💕 Thank you for sharing
P.S I’m the 500th comment
Love it!
We make these all the time and love them! We call them “treetop muffins”.
I used muffin tin liners because I’m a little lazy and it was a fun task for my toddler grandson to line the tins and they really stuck to the paper so would not do that again. Also, do not omit the chocolate chips. I’d even mix them into the batter instead of sprinkle them on top. They were the clincher for Blake and me to give them the thumbs up!
Made these yesterday with spinach from our garden! They were a hit with my picky 16 month old who wouldn’t eat the spinach sautéed. I also used a combo of date syrup and maple syrup. Not too sweet but I’ll try 1/8 c. next time just to compare.
Would these work with alternative flours like coconut flour or oat flour?
Thank you for sharing another great recipe!
Great to hear! Coconut flour won’t work in the same ratio since it’s much much thirstier than oat flour. I don’t know what the right amount would be without playing around with it.
So easy and so tasty! Perfect for my one year old but we all enjoyed them.
Hi Amy,
These muffins are a house fav! Do they store well at room temperature? I plan on taking these to go on our 14hr flight tomorrow. Just wanted to make sure that they will be safe to eat
Yes, they’ll be fine. Safe travels!
These muffins were delicious, my toddlers loved them, so did I. I don’t eat wheat so I substituted the 1 cup of flour with 1 cup of plain gluten free muffin mix and turned out perfectly!
Hi can I use buckwheat flour instead of whole wheat? Would it be a 1:1 substitute? Thanks!
Since buckwheat is thirstier, I would probably add either an additional egg or 1/4 cup more milk. I am guessing since I haven’t tried that, but I think they’d be too dry if you didn’t make any other adjustments
Thank you! I added an extra egg and that worked well! Not too dry! I appreciate your help (and all of your delicious recipes!)
Oh good!
This recipe is amazing! My husband and I, as well as my toddler enjoy these!
These are delightful! I love all of the nutrition included. I also love that they aren’t overly sweet and the mini chocolate chips on top add just enough to make it sweet enough. My family loved them! 4 year old and 1 year old approved. Thanks Amy!
We made these this morning and were pleasantly surprised by how delicious they taste. I didn’t hesitate to eat a 3rd one knowing the ingredients are all healthy. Thank you, Amy!
If I wanted to use all purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour how much would I use?
It should work to use ap flour with the same recipe.
Had no idea what to do for a leprechaun trick, but these green muffins came to mind! I love that you can make them in the blender. It literally took me about 5 minutes to make these muffins which at 9:30 at night on a work/school night, I don’t have much in me! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
I just wanted to let you know that your website has kept my kitchen functional. Most of my kids meals are from your site. Thank you for all the recipes and tips/tricks as well. Please keep em’coming for kitchen noobs aka new moms like me.
I’m allergic to oats so can I just omit those or do you have to add extra flour or something to make these turn out correctly?
I would replace the amount with additional flour.
Just made these for breakfast and they are chef’s kiss! Made them with and without chocolate chips and all of the kiddos loved them both ways. I love how your recipes are just the perfect amount of sweetness. I had to make a few modifications; I used 1 3/4 C of all-purpose flour (I didn’t have oats). I used 1/4 C sugar since I didn’t have enough honey. They came out perfect! (I’ve made a few of your other recipes so I based my modifications off of those) My kids are asking me to make another batch! I sincerely appreciate your blog, Amy. I love how all of your recipes are nutritious and fun for kids. Thanks a bunch!!
I’m so glad to hear that and I appreciate that you came back to leave a comment!
Hello- looking to make these tonight- for myself! I don’t have a Vitamix- nor even a blender. I do have a Nutribullet! Can I blend the spinach in there with the milk and then mix in a bowl? Or ? Do you have any suggestions?
Hi- I would do that and also add the oats. So spinach, milk, and oats and then stir it with everything else in a bowl and you should be good.
Life saver tonight. We had bananas and spinach that were both about to go bad and hangry toddlers. I did prep some of it before calling them over to help, but they devoured these between the two of them, leaving very little for us parents. Hope to add this into our regular rotation.
Hello! I love your recipes and tips for helping babies and toddlers eat a variety of things – very helpful for this new mom 🙂 I made this recipe for the first time today and ended up with a ton of extra batter! I used a mini-muffin tin but I only have one, and I don’t have a regular muffin tin. Can I refrigerate the leftover batter and use it again in a day or two? How long do you think it would keep? Thanks!
Hi- Sure, that should be fine for 2 days. Just cover it tightly!
Made with plain Greek yogurt because I didn’t realize I was out of butter 😂 and used unsweetened coconut milk. They turned out great! Nice and fluffy!
Can I make this as a bread in a bread pan rather than a muffin? My son is insanely picky but we’ve seem to have success making healthy breads.
I haven’t tried that but I would think it would work. Typically in a loaf pan, breads take about an hour at 350 F.
Are these supposed to be dense? Have made them several times and can’t seem to get it right. Is it from the oats?
They should have a normal muffin texture, so I would check that the baking soda is fresh and active and make sure to gently stir in the flour at the end. I hope that helps!
Same here Betty! Dense as 😞 they taste nice but something is definitely not right in my baking process
The most likely explanation is either the baking soda is not working properly (it needs to be fresh so it helps the rise) or the flour was overmixed. The baking soda is likely the answer.
I really liked these!! Is there a way to make them fluffier? Mine come out dense. Thank you!!!
I would check that the baking soda is fresh and be sure to just gently fold in the flour at the end.
Hi! My toddler loves these. If we don’t have some out in the counter he’ll ask to make “green banana muffins”. Mine never come out puffed out like regular muffins though. They always deflate inward, like they don’t rise. We all still love ‘‘em but what am I doing wrong??
I would check that your baking soda is fresh, that’s the most likely explanation.
Hi! My daughter is allergic to eggs. I know you recommended more banana as substitute but could I use flax seed instead? My daughter just turned one so im looking for a moist muffin thank you!!
Hi, there’s an egg-free option in the Notes at the end of the recipe for you!
If at altitude, how would I adjust this recipe?
I haven’t tested this recipe at altitude but King Arthur Flour or America’s Test Kitchen are good resources for general tips with that issue.
These are so good, my son loves them! So glad to find a spinach muffin he will eat. I’m wondering if your nutrition counts such as protein are based on one muffin as the serving size? Trying to make sure my son gets enough protein so it looks like each muffin is approximately 4 grams? Thanks!
Hi, yes it’s per muffin. Glad he enjoyed them!
Can we add blueberries for example to get make it less green? or how can i make it less green?
The easiest way to make it not be green would be to add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder. Then it would look more like a chocolate muffins.
Can i use all purpose flour? instead of the whole wheat?
Holy cow. These were incredible. I called them booger muffins, and my sometimes picky 5 YO and very picky 2.5 year old ate them happily. We didn’t need more than the 1/4 c sweetener (we replaced with maple syrup bc i ran out of honey). We used the chocolate chips but only put in 6 per muffin. I used Cup 4 Cup Gluten free flour (I didn’t have king arthur). It was a little gummy (par for the course w gluten free flour), and we had to bake them like 15 m longer! But the taste was amazing. I will use King Arthur next time for sure. Thank you so so much for sharing. This will be a meal prep moving forward. So grateful. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I have regular spinach i bought fresh and then I froze, does this impact how much spinach I should use?
No, it should be about the same.
Would adding grated carrots cause any texture change or make them too moist? Would love to add a bit more veggies in. Thank you!!
I think it would be okay if you kept it to under 1 cup. (You may wind up with a few more muffins though due to increased volume.)
Delicious! Even without the chocolate chips they have a nice sweetness to them. Would recommend baking for closer to 15 minutes….they were almost a little burnt after 18 minutes.
Where are the measurements for each ingredient? Thank you!
The recipe is always at the end of the post, so just go down to the bottom.
What amount of each 🤔
It’s at the end of the post.
Silly question… any swap for the banana? My daughter loves them but gets constipated so easily… applesauce maybe? I know the title includes banana 🤣
Hi- when bananas are ripe, they are actually not considered to cause constipation. That can be an issue with underripe ones though. You could use applesauce, just be sure it’s thick so it’s similar in consistency to mashed banana. I hope she likes them whichever way you make them.
My kids LOVED these. I was nervous bc of the spinach thinking they wouldn’t eat them but they came home from school asking for more. Thank you!! I love your recipes. Healthy and tasty!
I rarely leave comments but I had to say something here. My toddler absolutely loves these spinach muffins!! I find myself baking them every other day 😂
I’m so glad!
Hello! I made this recipe for the first time tonight however mine don’t quite look like yours haha. The surface of them is almost totally smooth, not very spongey really. Wasn’t sure if it’s because I used yoghurt instead of butter? They are a bit dense, any tips?
I use yogurt when I make them and they turn out soft and spongy. I know the recipe says to use 2 lightly packed cups of spinach but I usually pack those cups pretty tight because I buy a big bag of spinach every week and I hate to waste any. The muffins still turn out fantastic. I think one easy and pretty common mistake is using baking powder instead of baking soda which would definitely affect the texture of the muffins.
Love all your recipes so thanks Amy! But with this one I have frozen Kale, how do I measure it out without thawing? Thx
If it’s in leaves, rather than compressed into a block, use a small handful. Or crush it in the bag and measure it out with a measuring cup. If it’s compressed into a block, I’d break off maybe a 3 inch piece. Hope that helps!
I made these for my daughter and I ate 3 of them for myself 😅These are really, really good. I used applesauce in place of the eggs. I was thinking of adding some cinnamon next time. Thank you for this recipe!
These have become nearly a weekly staple. So tasty and easy to make and my little one loves them! I like to add in hemp seeds or chia seeds instead of chocolate chips and have even added some avocado and it hasn’t messed with the texture at all.
These were a a hit for all 5 of my kids (ranging from teenager to 2 years old!) I was very surprised! Thank you for sharing!
Great way to pack in nutrients!
Followed exactly and inside was moosh no matter how long I baked. Waste of ingredients:(
I’m sorry that happened. The only reason I know that would cause is that is baking soda not working properly.
Could I sub whole wheat flour for all purpose? How would you adjust?
Sure, you may just need a few more minutes of baking time.
My son has a wheat & rice allergy (if we were to use gluten free). Would I be able to sub in oat flour instead? Thanks!
I think that should work just fine.
I have a 17 month old so getting veggies into his diet is a bit of a struggle let alone finding healthy snacks that don’t contain a lot of sugar or sodium. As someone who is not a fan of cooking and a first time mom, I worry so much about what he is or is not eating and these muffins were a hit! He loves bread and at first was reluctant to try them because they were green but once he had that first bite he went in for more. SUCCESS!!! I didn’t add the chocolate chips because we didn’t have any but they didn’t need any. Also, I forgot to add the salt but I don’t know if actually made a difference? I will definitely be making these again soon and maybe add blueberries or shredded apple.
My 1 and a half year old absolutely loves these muffins! Thank you for this easy, healthy and yummy recipe that the whole family enjoys!
Thanks for this recipe, I have been using your recipe for quite some time and have probably made over 50 batches. They are great for breakfast and my grandkids love these muffins. They freeze well, I don’t make any adjustments, I use parchment paper muffin liners and they work great.
I’m so glad to hear that!
Great recipe! We saw these at Halloween but just now got around to making them at Christmas time, so they are grinch muffins. My 4-year old loved helping measure and pour, and was so excited watching the batter turn green in the blender. Great recipe to cook along with kids, and I don’t feel like I’m hiding veggies because she puts them in herself. Thanks!
My toddler kept requesting “green muffins” and I was thinking, how the hell am I going to make these muffins green?? So glad I found this recipe. A yum way of her getting some green in too.
Oh, I’m glad you found them!
I’ve made these several times, and sometimes change it up by adding peanut butter instead of honey. Sooooo good both ways. I’ve also used this as a pancake batter. I add ground flax seed and a small bit of nutritional yeast no matter how I end up cooking it. Always a hit!
They came out really well and my son liked it!
Could we make this as a loaf instead of muffins? Do you know what temp and cooking time you would suggest?
I haven’t tried it that way—what size pan did you want to use? That would determine the time and temp.
Could you add in frozen blueberries instead of chocolate chips?
Sure
Will frozen bananas work with this recipe?
yes, they should
My son loves these. We keep them in the freezer so they are easy to pull out on busy mornings
Definitely a keeper recipe! Used frozen bananas for the first times and I just strained them and added them to blender. I also added the baking soda when I pulsed in the flower and the muffins turned out light and fluffy. Thank you!!
Can you make the batter ahead of time? Like the day before?
I haven’t tried that so I’m not sure if the batter would brown a little from the bananas.
Hi, can I use adult spinach instead of baby spinach?
Sure, I’d just leave the stems out if possible
Made these today and my 7 yo son ate 3 and 5 yo daughter ate 2. Loves them! Love the ingredients:) thank you!!
Two changes made these muffins much fluffier and puffier for me:
Adding 3 Tbsp lemon juice
Keeping the baking soda out until the last minute, rather than blending it at the same time as the spinach.
If we leave out the honey, how would you recommend making up for the acid that the baking soda needs to work? If yogurt, how much yogurt? If baking powder instead of soda, how much?
My best guess would be that you could try 2 tablespoons yogurt. This recipe is hard to get to work using just baking powder since the mixture is so thick.
Unfortunately I didn’t see that I was supposed to wait to add the flour until after the first blend…If I blend with the flour included, will the muffins not turn out? Anyway to fix this error?? Thanks!
They should be fine!
I followed the instructions exactly and these muffins would not cook. I doubled the time and they were still wet in the center and the outside had turned brown. This was a fail for us.
Hi- The only reason that would happen is if you forgot the baking soda or the baking soda wasn’t fresh or active. If that’s not working or isn’t in the batter, they won’t cook through. I hope that helps and I am sorry that happened. (The recipe is great when the baking soda is doing its job!)
OMG, my very picky 18 month old twins loved these muffins! 🥳 I was so excited to watch them eating and asking for more 😍😍 Thank you, Amy, SO SO much for this recipe! ❤️
Hi! My kids love these muffins! Even my most picky! Is there a trick to have them not deflate once cooked? As soon as I take them out of the oven they start to deflate at the top lol. Thank you for this great recipe!
Hi- You could check that your baking soda is fresh. Are you at high altitude or normal?
May I ask if i can replace with brown sugar? if so should i increase the liquid? Thanks!
Yes, use that instead of the honey and add 2 tablespoons additional milk. Enjoy!
Excited to make these soon! Have you ever tried adding cocoa powder or anything like it so the muffins are not green? My toddler sees a color that resembles veggies and usually snubs whatever it is. If I were to add cocoa powder, what would you suggest so as not to ruin the taste? Thank you in advance!!
Hi- I haven’t tried this, but my best guess is that you could use 1/4 cup cocoa powder and decrease the flour by that same amount for very similar results with a chocolate brown color. Let me know if you try that!
These are SO delectable! I’ve made them twice now and plan to about a hundred thousand more times. I replaced the cup of oats with a cup of almond flour and used gluten free all purpose flour for the wheat flower for a gluten free option. These do not last longer than 24 hours in my house.
I was just looking to see how to make these GF! I am about to try it! 🙂
I really like your content but had two big issues with these. 1. They came out very dense! Is that the oat four? Like, thick chewy bread. 2 They stuck to the muffin tray/liners. How do I stop this and any ideas on how to make them lighter?! Thx
I would check that your baking soda is active and fresh. If that’s not working correctly, they won’t bake up fluffy like normal muffins. (Hopefully that solves it!) I use classic Pam spray to coat my pans. I don’t use paper liners since they tend to stick to muffins (they don’t have as much fat as cupcakes so they often stick). Parchment liners may work better or lightly coat paper liners with nonstick spray. I hope that helps!
Use wheat flour and oats, not oat flour.
Excited to try these – would frozen bananas work or do they have to be fresh to not be too soggy?
I would thaw it, drain any extra liquid that comes off, then use them. That should work the same!
Hi, could I use Almond flour?
They don’t bake through the same since almond flour doesn’t work the same way as wheat flour in recipes. Some people have used it though. Expect the muffins to be much wetter and not as fluffy though. (I do have a nice Almond Flour Muffin that’s specifically written for it if you want to look for that.)
We love all of your recipes, so first off, I’d like to thank you for all of your resources.
We’re in Denver, so I have to always adjust for altitude or else our baked goods come out flat. I’ve tried a few adjustments in the past, but this most recent effort has been the only one that gave me a good rise and I’m including it here in case it’s helpful for anyone around 5,000’:
For 24 mini muffins:
– set the oven to 370° convection
– reduced baking soda by 1/8 tsp
– increased milk by 1/8 cup
– baked for 12 mins
Thanks for sharing that, I appreciate it!
Love this recipe and so does my 2 year old! Can I use frozen spinach in place of fresh if I can’t find fresh? If so, how much?
Yes, I would thaw it and squeeze it dry (since it often has a lot of liquid in it). And then use 1/4-1/3 cup since it’s very concentrated.
If omitting the oats should I add more flour? If so, how much do you suggest?
I would do the same amount as the oats. They may bake a little faster with all flour
Made these for my 11m old who hasn’t always loved solids and wow, they’re a hit. He kept asking for me. I skipped out on the honey and chocolate chips and they were incredibly moist still. Huge fan over here. I loved how easy it was to make these too.
I’m so glad to hear that!
Loved them…super healthy and the little one ate.
Thank you
Hi Amy! Have you ever experimented with making this into a loaf of bread, rather than muffins? I was thinking it’d be great to slice it and use it for French Toast!
Hi- I haven’t tried that but I bet it would work in either an 8×8 as a square or in a regular loaf pan. I would guess 350 F for about an hour if you do a regular loaf pan? Let me know how it goes!
Hi! Have been making this recipe for quite some time and wondered if you have any suggestions for how to get the bottoms/sides not to “brown.” It’s not burnt, but my toddler does not like eat the edges. And I’m tired of slicing them off. 😀 Is it inevitable with wheat flour? Should I bake/cook differently? Right now using muffin tins greased with olive oil. Thanks!!
Hi- What type of muffin pan are you using specifically? I use a light colored nonstick one from Wilton and haven’t had the dark edges, so it’s possible that a different type of pan might work better. Or you could try greasing with nonstick spray (which may not get as dark) or adding a little more greens to compensate. I hope that helps!
Thanks for the reply, Amy. Will keep experimenting. Using canola oil and more greens this week seemed to help a bit. Will try even more for next batch. 😀
Possibly using cupcake liners might work.
Hi! Have been making this recipe for quite some time and wondered if you have any suggestions for how to get the bottoms/sides not to “brown.” It’s not burnt, but my toddler does not like eat the edges. And I’m tired of slicing them off. 😀 Is it inevitable with wheat flour? Should I come differently? Right now using muffin tins greased with olive oil. Thanks!!
My almost 11 month old and I both loved these! Mildly sweet. Used maple syrup. Good with and without chocolate chips (choc chips for the adults lol). Would definitely make again!
Can we make this with white flour?
Sure
swapped the honey for maple syrup since i baked these for my 6 month old. She seemed to really enjoy them! and i add choco. chips for me! super YUM! I couldn’t get these by my picky toddler though. hehe. it was worth a shot!
Excited to try this recipe! Do you think I could replace chocolate chips w/ frozen berries?
Absolutely!
Thanks for the quick response and recipe! The muffins turned out great!
Saw an Instagram post where you were talking about Hiya, which my girls love…and I love that you’re discussing healthy children’s vitamins. So went to check out your blog! Looks great!
Thanks for coming to check it out!
Love all your recipes, thank you
If you could send me the quantity for spinach muffins ingredients please
Appreciate it.
The full recipe is always at the end of each post!
These look amazing. Has anyone tried making them with Almond flour? Just curious… 🙂
I cannot guarantee that they will bake through the same way, but some have commented that they have done them and they’ve turned out. I would imagine the texture would be not as fluffy.
Just made these with my nearly 3 year old and they are amazing! I devoured three myself. Super easy recipe in the blender which I greatly appreciate. This one’s a keeper and will be part of our regular rotation. Thank you!
Can I use baby oatmeal instead of the rolled oats? Would that still turn out ok?
I haven’t made them that way so I can’t say for sure, but let me know if you try it
Hi! How much apple sauce would you sub for the bananas? Thanks!
I think I’d do 3/4 cup
I like this recipe! It’s quick to pull together and the type of recipe where we have everything in our fridge/pantry already. I don’t have an upright blender but I’ve got an immersion blender, which worked pull to blend everything. I did come up a little short on batter volume–just barely yielded 10 muffins. The flavors were yummy and they set well though… will definitely make again!
Help – stuck horribly to out paper cupcake liners! What did I do wrong? Does it need a bit more butter/grease? I tried two different brands of liners, but same problem…when taking the liner off, it takes off like 1/4 of the muffin!
Muffins commonly stick to paper liners since they don’t have as much grease in them as a cupcake. You can try spraying the liners lightly with nonstick spray, baking them directly in the muffin pan coated with nonstick spray, or trying a parchment paper liner instead of paper. I hope that helps!
These muffins were amazing. Packed with such delicious and healthy nutrients and everyone in my household loved them! I love that all you have to do is just throw everything in a blender to mix! It makes this one happy mama :-)!!
Will the muffins look and taste the same if you replace butter with something else? like olive oil and greek yogurt?
I’ve done them with plain yogurt in place of the butter and they’re very similar. A light flavored olive oil should work too
Thank you for always including the substitutions – if you are making them egg-fee – do you ADD 1.5cups bananas to the existing bananas in the recipe? Or is it 1.5cups total? The birthday cupcakes recipe made this clear but I wasn’t sure for this one and my son is excited to make it! Thanks!
That is the total amount for the bananas. I hope he enjoys these!
I just made these muffins and they are delicious! I substituted the whole wheat flour for almond flour, and used maple syrup instead of honey. They were very moist and tasty. I would make them again.
These spinach muffins look amazing. My son is allergic to oats. Can I just omit the oats? Should I add more flour instead? I’d love to still make them.
I would omit the oats and add 1 3/4 cups of the whole wheat flour after blending the spinach and the liquid. I haven’t tried that, but I think it should work similarly!
Looks yummm and filled with many nutrition. Thank you sharing wonderfully recipe. Will surely try for my kids.
These are a snack staple at my house. My kids (2,7) devour them-I don’t think they realize they are healthy! I’ve made the following tweaks- I add ground flax seed (1/4 cup) and decrease the flour to 3/4 cup. Sometimes I add a little vegan protein powder or shredded carrot/zucchini/apple-whatever I have on hand. My kids seem to prefer the bite-sized mini muffins, so I bake @350 for ~12min. Yields 36+ mini muffins. Thank you for your healthy family friendly recipes. We have yet to find one we don’t love.
I just made these for the first time and they were such a hit!! All I was thinking was. . . these just need a little protein to top it off! I was planning to add flax and some protein powder. Glad to hear it works well. Have you ever tried adding peanut butter?
I haven’t but you could use it instead of the butter! Let me know how that is if you try it!
I recently made these mini muffins for St. Patrick’s Day and they were absolutely loved and devoured by everyone, especially my 3 year old (who recently has become strongly opinionated about what she will and will not eat)…we will definitely be making these “leprechaun muffins” again! Thanks for a great tasting and healthy recipe:)
I haven’t made these yet. Quick question: can I substitute the flour for almond flour? Would prefer to as a lower carb option.
Many people have done that, though they may be a little denser since almond flour absorbs liquids differently than wheat flour.
These were so yummy!! Question – I forgot to put these in the fridge overnight so they were left at room temperature. Would they still be safe to eat? Thank you!
Yes, they’re totally fine to eat!
Is there anything I could substitute for the oats? My daughter and I love all of your muffin recipes with oatmeal, but my son unfortunately has an oat allergy.
I think it would work similarly if you used all purpose flour instead of the oats. Stir it in with the whole wheat after blending the spinach and the wet ingredients.
Just made these with my 3 year old son and he loved helping .. but more importantly they were delicious I added the mini chocolate chips and were the perfect sweetness.
THANKS for a great recipe
I’m so glad to hear that!
Your add box doesn’t have a way to close it and it’s so big I can’t read your site. It’s very frustrating.
There’s an X in the top corner. If you don’t see that, please let me know. It should always be simple to close it.
My 3-year-old loved this monster muffin! An absolute hit.
I only have a small blender but I improvised! I also forgot to add the oats!!! They turned out looking very green and they tasted deliciously sweet. Next time I’ll not forget the oats! Can’t wait to make again. Thank you for the great recipe
Hi! I can’t wait to try these. My son has type 1 diabetes so I’m always counting carbs for him. Is the nutrition info for one large muffin? Thank you!
Yes it’s for one standard muffin (the batch makes 12).
My kiddo loves this recipe! I use gluten free flour (it’s what I have at the house for my allergy) and make them as thin loafs instead of muffins. He devours multiple slices and always asks for more. I’ve frozen and thawed with no issue. A great snack/meal to have on hand.
Could I sub the whole wheat flour for white flour? My toddler used to love these and is now refusing to eat them. I think if I use white flour, she might eat them again.
Yes, that should be fine! Fingers crossed for you
Finally got around to making these and they were a hit with the whole family! I ended up with 100 muffins because I thought the recipe was for mini muffins 😆 (and I doubled the recipe.). Was sort of a blessing because they’re so good, I’m happy to have the extra to freeze. Maybe consider specifying the muffin pan size, and including minis as a “tip” (I cooked them for 9 minutes). Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks for the feedback! (In the meantime, anytime a muffin recipe on here says it makes 12, it’s for a standard size muffin pan!)
I didn’t see when the oats were added in the video. Do they go in with all the other ingredients, or after with the flour?
They are blended in the earlier part with the rest of the ingredients. The full info is in the recipe at the bottom.
Sounds delicious 🤩 can i use frozen spinach? And if so, how much? Thanks
I think I would thaw it, squeeze it, and use about 1/4 cup
Can you add chocolate powder to cover the green color? If so, how much?
Thanks!
Love your recipes and all your helpful tips on social media.
Could I sub the oats for another cup of wheat or other flour?
I think you could use more flour in place of the oats. You may want to check them for doneness a few minutes sooner to make sure they don’t overbake.
Hi, I have a question. I made these but they turned out very dry and dense. Did I do anything wrong, I followed the exact recipe.
The only thing I can think of is that they were either overmixed or baked a little too long?
Love these muffins and so does my 2 year old. Thanks for the modifications, we appreciate it since we have an egg allergy. If we make these into mini muffins what would be the adjusted bake time? Thanks again!
For minis, I’d do about 14 minutes give or take. I’m glad your family enjoys them!
Has anyone used oat flour versus wheat? I substitute it a lot for other toddler muffins since I tend to have it in the pantry. I wasn’t sure how it would be with spinach.
Do you have a recommended substitute for honey for baby under 1? Thanks!
You can use maple syrup or omit it and add 2 additional tablespoons nondairy milk.
How much maple syrup did you use?
You can use the same amount as the honey.
Hello there- Love your IG page! I feel so inspired by you and appreciate your realistic approach with feeding kids! What is the best kind/brand of mini chocolate chips you recommended using? Thank you.
Thanks so much! I’m not sure that there’s really a “best” when it comes to chocolate chips, though flavor-wise we prefer the semi-sweet ones from Ghirardelli.
I’ve made these several times with 2 cups frozen spinach and it seems to do fine ha ha ha at least no one in the house has complained about to much spinach. Still has a nice banana flavor. I do wonder if I could incorporate flax to this recipe somehow? I’m afraid to much flax will dry it out if I add to much. My little guy is constipated and won’t eat the blueberry oatmeal muffins you have as well as these ones. I guess he just loves green 😂
Anyway thank you for the recipe I use so many of your recipes and have had lots of success sneaking veggies into my picky boy. Unfortunately he has recently quit eating smoothies so now we are all muffins ha ha
My kids loved these! I had my doubts about the kids eating them due to the spinach but these muffins are honestly delicious. We love your recipes, thank you!
My son has a lot of food intolerances/allergies so I appreciate modifications to a lot of your recipes. One particular ingredient that he need to avoid is oats, which I noticed is in a lot of muffin recipes. Is there a way to adapt this recipe to omit the oat?
Thanks!
You can use quinoa flakes if you can find them or I think you could omit it and use 3/4 cup all purpose flour and just stir it in at the end with the other flour. I haven’t tested that, but I think it would work okay!
These were delicious and so easy to make!! Your muffin recipes are always a hit!
OMG these were the bomb! Even my veggie hater daughter loved them and likes to call them “monster muffins”. Toddler approve as well! And hubby took a bite and I heard him saying ” yum, these are good”!
I’m so glad!
Hi Any, if I were to use frozen spinach, how much should be used? Thanks in advance!!
Hi- I think you’d want to thaw it, squeeze it dry, and use about 1/4 cup. Should work similarly!
These were so delicious!! I’m a baking newbie so I’m a little confused at the nutritional info — is that per muffin or is that for the whole recipe? 🙈
It’s per muffin.
These look delicious. I’ve made several of your recipes and they are always a hit. I’m excited to try these. Can you tell me is I can make these in a food processor instead of a blender?
The only issue with using a food processor is that it would be harder to blend the spinach completely so there may be small pieces. It would work though, if you don’t mind that visually it may not be that uniform green color.
Can I add more maple syrup and omit the chocolate chips?
I’m sure that would work fine!
I don’t have whole wheat flour but I have buckwheat. Could I sub buckwheat 1:1 or should I do 1/2 buckwheat and the rest regular flour?
I might do half buckwheat and half regular. They may be done a little sooner as buckwheat absorbs liquids more than regular flour, so I’d check them for doneness 2 minutes sooner than the recipe says.
I am absolutely satisfied by the method used to cook, to blend all in one place, that’s a super time saver! And then to just pour the batter in the muffin forms, easssyyy!! I am writing while cooking so I don’t know the results yet, but thank you very much! Your revipe saved good baby spinach that my boys weren’t showing any interest in :))
Gave this to my kid and she absolutely loved it!
These look amazing? Can I use I in bleached flour or almond flour instead of whole wheat?
You can use unbleached wheat flour, but it would not bake the same way if you substitute almond flour (they would be much denser and moister and may not bake through the same). I hope that helps!
Great tasting muffins! For some reason mine completely stuck to the muffin cups. I tried baking them longer after noticing that and it didn’t help. Could it be from the water content of the spinach?
I don’t use paper liners myself (I use nonstick spray) since they can often stick to muffins that have a lower fat content. You could try parchment paper cupcake liners which tend to be less of an issue.
Would you use the same temperature and baking time if making mini muffins?
I would do the same temp but the time would be closer to 12-14 minutes for minis.
very nice
Wow! I had at home all of there ingredients and decided to try this recipe. Honestly, I thought I would fail. Half way through when I checked them, they looked like they wouldn’t be ready in 18 min but I was wrong! Not only they turned out so beautiful and fluffy, they were tasty and just amazing! Will return for more muffin ideas and other recipes! It was my second time trying to cook muffins. First time I failed and was scared to try baking again. Thank you.
Hooray!!
Love love love this recipe!! I made with non-dairy milk substitute and more banana instead of egg due to my daughter’s food allergies and everyone in our house loved them. Thank you Amy!
These were 1 of 3 mini muffin recipes I made this week. I’ve been saving 1/2 for his meals and freezing 1/2. Typically I color her guide to take a couple out of the freezer the night before to thaw in the fridge. They’re approved by my little man who’s 2+. He gobbles them up.
What age range do you mean by baby? I have twin two-year olds, would they be babies or toddlers?
When talking about “babies” as it relates to honey and cow’s milk, that is under 12 months as you’d want to avoid both of those.
Hi! Is it possible to use instant oatmeal instead of rolled oats? Thank you!
Yes, I think so (just not flavored!)
Hello! Do you have a possible replacement for the oats? My little has FPIES and can’t have oats or rice, thank you!
Hi- I haven’t made them without oats but I bet you could stir in 1 1/2 cups total ww flour at the end instead of adding oats. I think I’d check them for doneness starting at 16 minutes. Let me know if you try that!
Thanks for explaining in simple words how to make these Simple meals that kids will love so much.
Could I use frozen spinach? How much? Thx.
I would use 1/4-1/2 cup thawed frozen spinach squeezed very dry of any extra liquid. It is super concentrated so you don’t need a ton.
My first recipe I made from @yummytoddler and my daughter cannot get enough. I literally have to make them and freeze most because otherwise they’ll be gone(my husband likes them too)!
Love that it’s all natural ingredients like honey and ripe bananas to sweeten. Huge win when you’re trying to give your kiddos treats and trying to keep it healthy.
**Highly recommend**
Hi Amy.. i am so glad to have found your website.
I tried these spinach muffins .. but they turned out dense from inside .. i must have done something wrong.
Can you please suggest what could it be ?
Thank you so much for sharing these yummy recipes
Hi—I would check that your baking soda is fresh (that is the single most important thing in this recipe), be gentle stirring in the flour, and if you’ve already done those things, you could try baking for 2 minutes less and see if that helps!
We LOVE these!!
I’m so glad!
My food processor doesn’t get anything super smooth, if there’s small chunks of Spinach still would it affect the flavor or texture?
The main difference is that they likely won’t be bright green, but they should still taste about the same!
I’ve made something very similar to this may times in a 9×13 pan. I’ve always just winged it, throwing in ingredients like this that I have until I get the consistency that I like, and called it breakfast spinach cake haha. I’ve added berries to the top of it before, and it was so pretty and yummy! Today, though, I really wanted to make muffins, so I wanted an actual recipe. This worked absolutely perfectly! I omitted the chocolate chips and added two tablespoons of brown sugar. I also doubled the recipe and did have trouble with the flour not blending in, so I stirred it in as well as I could with a spoon. My kids and I loved them! I also had a bit of batter left over after my muffin pan was full, so I made a big pancake with it, and it was delicious!
Hello! Is it possible to make this in a loaf pan instead? And if so what time change would you recommend? Thank you so much for this yummy recipe. I like all your content!!!
Hi- I haven’t made this as a loaf, but if you were going to use something like a quick bread loaf pan, I would estimate the timing to be 45-55 minutes. You could also likely do it in an 8×8 inch pan too for about 28-30 minutes. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
I used frozen bananas and baked into 4 mini loaves for 35 minutes. Came out LUSH. Thank you so much Amy. I was so frustrated today because a previous recipe from someone else utterly failed and I put everything into it. Yours was a breeze, no sweat and it’s so yummy. Keep doing what you do. <3
Thank you for a muffin recipe that isn’t super sweet! My toddler isn’t really into sugary muffins/cupcakes (no idea how that happened…) but she’s GOING TO TOWN on these. I skipped the chocolate chips but added a metric ton of kitchen spices (it’s fall, finally!) so they have a nice cinnamon/nutmeg/ginger flavor, and made them minis (baked 12 minutes in a small silicone pan) and popped half in the freezer. We had them with butternut squash chili for dinner last night and she asked me for more for lunch today. Happy to oblige, kid! Thanks so much!!!
Thank you for this recipe. My 2 year old loves them. I like them too, but I think I might be doing something wrong… my muffins are really dense. Is that normal? Should I add baking powder? I’ve made these 3 times now and each time I do, the muffin is cooked (clean toothpick, brown on edges) but when I cut it open after it’s cooled or eat them, it’s not at all fluffy. It’s heavy and dense, so in a sense, I guess it’s moist. But your pictures show that the muffin has a normal muffin texture, with air bubbles in the cake not sure what I’m doing wrong. I bought a new box of baking soda for the last 2 batches. Same result. The taste is still good so I keep making them, but I wish it could have a better texture. Any advice?
Hi- Are you stirring the flour in at the end, rather than blending it? Can you send me a photo next time of the inside so I can help troubleshoot? It does sound like an unusual result. Maybe try baking 2 minutes less time? (They really don’t work with baking powder—they’ll just be mushy on the inside unfortunately.)
Thank you for the quick response! I add the flour at the end directly into the blender. The pulsing thing doesn’t seem to get the flour combined so I mix it with my rubber spatula and also blend a bit (tho the blending doesn’t really seem to do anything for the flour) but let me try reducing the cook time next time.
I don’t know how to share a photo but I have a picture.
Thank you!
amy @ yummytoddlerfood.com is a great way!
Just made these for baby and 5 year old. Ommited the chocolate chips and honey for baby and she devoured them!! For my 5 year old, I added the chocolate chips and baked in a donut pan for added fun. Thank you for making such an easy, nutritious, and versatile recipe!
I’m so glad to hear it!
I wanted to try to make these as mini muffins. How long would you recommend I’d bake them? Thanks!
Probably about 14 minutes for minis!
Another winner!
I used 1/2 cup frozen (thawed and squeezed dry ) spinach, 1/2 cup grated zucchini (had some leftover from another one of your awesome recipes), used 1/2 cup milk (bc zucchini was wet), threw in some hemp seeds for added protein.
I topped half with blueberries (needed to use up from fridge) and other half with raisins
Amazing! 2yo toddler ate a whole one and asked fore more!
The muffins came out wonderfully! My 2 year old loves them. I did make some substitutions. I used 2 cups overflowing cups of packed baby spinach, 1/3 cup coconut sugar and only a drizzle of honey, spelt flour instead of the whole wheat, dark chocolate chunks, half almond milk and half soy milk. The color was a bit brown; but still had a nice greenness. Probably from the extra spinach
Another egg free moderation that worked so well, thank you! These are a staple in our freezer stash.
I think I mixed something in the wrong order…??…mine were not such a pretty green color. Oh well and who cares. 🙂 They had all the good stuff and were yummy – we all enjoyed!
Mine aren’t consistently the same color green. I just put everything in the blender except the flour and chocolate chips and let it go. My guess is that it has more to do with the color of the bananas and spinach being used for each particular batch.
I’ve been making a batch of these (using the yogurt option) once a week for the past 5 weeks. I add a teaspoon of cinnamon but other than that I follow the recipe exactly and they’ve turned out perfectly every time. My family loves them. Thank you sharing this fabulous recipe!
I’m so glad!
second time making these and they’re a big hit with me and my 2 year old! i used vanilla yogurt this time and made half of the batch with chocolate chips and half blueberries. toddler liked both! i looovvee your recipes!
Okay I finally did it. I had this saved for a year and just didn’t think my kids would go for it. They were a huge hit! My husband can’t have chocolate so I left that off of a couple and he said they are great plain. I was wondering about maybe adding some milled flax to the next batch for more boost. I don’t want to throw off the batter though any suggestions?
I’m so glad! I think you could add 2 tbsp without an issues (maybe check for doneness 2 minutes sooner). If you want to add more than that, I think you could sub some for the oats.
These are so easy and tasty! My 20 month old loves them, sent I live that he’s getting so many nutrients and exposure to green food, too. Thanks for such a great recipe!
I’m so glad!
I’ve made these twice in 10 days following the recipe exactly (using the yogurt option). They turned out perfectly both times and were absolutely delicious! Just sweet enough with a sprinkling of mini chocolate chips on top. I’ll definitely be baking these regularly.
I’m so glad!
This is so delicious I made it for my 13 months old daughter, she loved it. Thank you
I’m so glad!
Yummy! My 13 month old son loves them. I substituted avocado oil for butter. I’m not a fan of baking but these were so easy to make! Thanks 🙂
Okay, I made these tonight because I have a HUGE bag of of Costco spinach that I’m trying to work my way through – hahahaha! I added blueberries to the mix, hoping the babies love them- they sure do look good!
Awesome and fingers crossed! (If you are having a hard time using the whole bag, stick it into the freezer and you can add the frozen leaves to this recipe in the future or to make smoothies!)
I made these in mini muffin cups for my 9 month old – I skipped the honey, used finely ground oats, yogurt instead of butter, and gluten free flour. They turned out awesome! I was really happy about how quick and easy it was to make the batter in the blender, and my cook time was only about 10 minutes. Got a nice stockpile in the freezer and I’ll definitely make these again in the future 🙂
Sorry if I am missing it but read the recipe and watched the video and not sure! Should the oats, baking soda & salt go in at the same time as the flour?
They go in with the other ingredients per the written instructions. Only the flour is added at the end!
These are wonderful! Did them yesterday and the whole family loved them. Thank you
My toddler loves these (and so do I)! I made it using yoghurt instead of butter as the recipe states and still so good.
These were very easy. I used all purpose flour instead of wheat (just what I had on hand). I was really nervous it wouldn’t work, but it turned out great. Toddler & husband each ate many of them. Thank you for the fun recipe ! We had them for St Patrick’s Day 🙂
I’m so glad!
These muffins were amazing – I used cocoa nibs on top. Do you have any tips for them to not cave in?
Great! I’ve actually not had them cave in but perhaps fresher baking soda would prevent that?
Can you use quick oats instead of rolled oats?
Do you think Oat Milk or another alternative would work in place of whole milk?
that will work just fine!
OMG these are AHHHHHMAZING! My toddler kept catching me eating them in the kitchen…and he kept asking for more!
I’m so glad!
What can you use instead of flour? I saw almond flour is something you wouldn’t suggest. How’s about another flour like. Coconut ? Or any other alternative? Thanks! Sounds great but we don’t give flour to our toddler if possible.
I haven’t made them any other way but I think coconut flour, if used in the same amount, would make them too dry. You could try using half the amount for coconut flour or I think all oats would likely work okay too!
Any tips on how long to cook if you’re making them as mini muffins?
Thanks!
I think around 14 minutes!
Came out so so good ! How do you store them? Fridge ?
Great! I usually store them in an airtight container in the fridge, but room temperature for 2-3 days is also okay.
Easy to make and it has veggies! My little one loved them and me too! The taste reminds me of pandan flavor.
These are SO GOOD! Perfectly sweet and my kids love them.
I’m so glad!
Do you think adding shredded carrots would have a negative effect? I have extra and my 2yo will not eat them plain. Hoping to incorporate them into some recipes (while continuing to expose them to him plain as well)
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure. I don’t think it would impact how they bake (I wouldn’t add more than 1/3 cup or so just to be sure)
So easy, so delicious! I have shared this recipe with so many moms. I’ve made this recipe gluten-free, vegan, gluten-free and vegan, dairy free, with and without chocolate chips. My kids liked all options…but with chocolate chips the best. Thanks!
Made them for myself, used maple syrup instead of honey.I also mixed the flour and soda and salt together.
Added poppyseeds. Will add the sugar next time, not sweet enough for me. Will sprinkle today’s batch with powdered sugar.
Can I use frozen spinach and if so, how much?
I would thaw it, squeeze it dry, and use 1/4 cup at most. I think that should be fine!
This was amazing. I made this today and my son ate a whole muffin! He’s been fighting vegetables lately and I felt good knowing he got spinach out of this
I’m so glad!
Can I substitute the wheat flour with almond flour?
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure and usually I don’t recommend that substitute since they absorb liquid differently. It might make the muffins too moist…
It looks delicious, can’t wait to prepare some, but can we use frozen spinach, and if so, which quantity? Also could we substitute the spinach by zucchini? thank you!
If you use frozen spinach, I would thaw it, squeeze it dry, and use 1/4 cup. And no, zucchini won’t work the same!
Hi, can you confirm if it’s salted or unsalted butter? Also, baking SODA and not baking POWDER? Just want to be sure I’m making it right. Thank you!!
I use unsalted butter and YES baking soda not powder. Baking powder makes these turn out very mushy so use fresh baking soda!
These are great. My super picky toddler was way into them (I even had to cut her off!). I told her I made cupcakes and all day she was asking for “more cake”.
I also really enjoy them!! I didn’t have quite enough honey so I added a bit of maple syrup. And definitely added chocolate chips.
10/10 recommend
Love this recipe! It’s my go to with any left over bananas and my toddler LOVES them – and so do I! I love that it’s as easy as throwing everything in the blender and I really appreciate that on your recipes you give an overview of what can be substituted and how.
Can you recommend an alternate to rolled oats? My toddler has a severe oat allergy so I’ve tried spelt flakes which are ok but not that great. Thanks!
Maybe try quinoa flakes or use using all flour? (Just stir it all in at the end, don’t blend it)
HI there! Have you tried this recipe with any of the oat alternatives? I’m in the same boat with my toddler and cannot use oats. Looking for feedback!
I haven’t tested it any other way, but it’s possible it would work to stir in the flour, plus additional flour in place of the oats, at the end. It might be done a few minutes earlier. That’s a best guess!
Did you try this with just using 2 cups of flour? I’m curious on how it came out! Thanks!
I have used this recipe over and over. My toddler and I can’t get enough of them. Delicious! Thanks for always giving gluten free instructions!
Can you use frozen spinach? What would that measurement look like. I know fresh is two cups.
Does this recipe have to be muffins? Can I pour the batter into a square pan and make it a cake?
I’m sure you could do it in an 8×8 inch pan. I haven’t done it that way but I see no reason why it wouldn’t work. The baking time might be a little longer to get the center of the pan cooked through, but I bet you’ll be able to tell if it’s done by looking at it/using a cake tester.
Can I use frozen spinach?
I began a skeptic: Green? Are they going to be sweet enough? Will my blender be able to handle the spinach and oats? I was blown away. Perfectly sweet, incredibly simple to make, and absolutely delicious. 5 stars (even from my 4 year old); will definitely make again!
In the video you never added oats. So do you actually use oats in it?
Yes. Follow the recipe as written.
Another great recipe! I made them without the chocolate chips (for my toddler) they were the right amount of sweet for my preference, and very very tasty!
I made these for Halloween. Right after I pulled them out of the oven I added marshmallows with mini-chocolate chips for eyes and mini chocolates chips for a mouth. They turned out great!
So fun!
Do you know if any changes are needed for high altitude? I live at 8k ft. Guess I’ll try it and just see!
I don’t off hand but I can look into it if you have issues!
I made these for my very picky 6 year old. I told him they were Monster Halloween Muffins. He loved them! They came out great!
I’m so glad!
Hi – How long do you suggest baking if using mini-muffin tins? Thanks!!
I think 12-14 would be the timing for minis!
I am a terrible baker and my favorite part about this recipe is that no matter how much I screw it up, it’s very forgiving. I’ve substituted coconut flour in all sorts of wrong quantities, used baking powder instead of soda and omitted various ingredients but have produced a muffin that was still enjoyed by my 18 month old and even his father. I make this at least twice a month and am pleased every time. Thanks!
I am so glad to hear that!
Love this recipe! After a few tries, I don’t put the oats in the blender anymore (I don’t have space in mine and doing half at a time is a lot when letting my son help) and I add a 1/4 cup more oats and flour . We like the chunkier/lighter consistency this creates.
They are a favorite for my 18mo and for me to get some precious veggies in!
I’m so glad to hear that!
My muffins came out perfectly but I think they desperately need a little salt or maybe sprinkle of cinnamon.
Thanks for letting me know that! (and you can add both next time if you prefer!)
Made these as a first introduction to chocolate for my little one as also pretty healthy and she loves them! I do too. Thank you!
Do the oats go in with the other blender ingredients or stirred in with the flour at the end? Your video doesn’t show them going in and I want to make sure I put them in at the right time. Thank you!
They go into the blender with the rest of the ingredients!
I’ve made these several times for my kids. I try to make a different healthy muffin or cookie every week to include in their school lunches. This my 4-year-old’s favorite of the ones I’ve tried so far. I add three chocolate chips/chunks to the top and call them “Hulk Muffins.” Thanks for this versatile recipe! I’ve been out of some ingredients before, but you included wonderful substitutions. I also finally remembered to buy gluten free oats so that I can actually try them next time! Thank you!
We followed the steps exactly, but muffins always turn our raw. I tried it 4 times already. I don’t know what I am doing wrong 🙁
Are you using baking soda, not baking powder? They will not bake through with baking powder. If you’re using baking soda, check that it’s not expired. That is my best guess (I’m sorry you’re having issues)
These muffins are wonderful! My son has dairy and egg allergies so I followed the substitution instructions and they turned out perfect! (THANK YOU for including those in your recipes!!)
I now always double Amy’s muffin recipes and bake them in mini muffin tins to have a stockpile of healthy, delicious snacks in the freezer!
I’m so glad that the allergy substitutions are helpful!
Thanks so much for this recipe! It is delicious and I hope my 14 month old daughter likes them
Unfortunately I made my first batch today and they have turned out raw inside. I baked them at 375°f for 20 mins and then another 10 mins. Then I increased the temp to 450°f and baked for another 10 mins. They are still raw! Where have I gone wrong? I used all the same ingredients except baking powder instead of baking soda. I used whole wheat flour. And Yogurt. No chocolate chips. I used eggs, milk and everything else on the list you provided.
Pls let me know! Thanks
Hi! It’s the baking powder—they will not bake properly unless you use baking soda. At least we know what caused it, though I am sorry you had issues!
Hii
What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder? I can’t seem to figure it out.
I’m loving your recipes! I’ve made a few so far. My toddler likes them!
Thank you
In this recipe, baking soda ensures that the batter will cook through. Baking powder will result in raw insides of the muffins. I hope that helps!
Hi,
Tried them with baking soda and they are delicious
However, they are extremely moist inside which we as adults at home love but my daughter doesn’t like the stickiness and that distracts plus stops her from even trying it. She is a toddler who is used to making a 100 pieces of the muffin first and then trying it. Could you give me any inputs on how to have a more stiff texture on the inside? I made them without eggs.
Thank you
I’m glad they worked out. Maybe try dicing them up and just giving her a few pieces at a time? I don’t really know how to make the texture stiffer without making them less appealing.
Haha yes she will eventually eat them as she grows I am sure! Thanks a ton. We love this recipe and it is a sure keep!!
Subbed maple syrup for the honey for 1 year old and 2.5 year old and both loved them. Made half with chocolate chips and the other half plain and served with some peanut butter on top. Froze really well!
I’m so glad to hear that!
They were a hit for my LO almost 1 yr old next month! Thank you, I substituted the chocolate chips for blueberries delicious ?
I can’t wait to try with blueberries—I’m glad to know they work!
What if i used white flour instead of whole wheat? Is there a difference in cooking time?
No, it should work the same!
Would a flax egg work to make this egg free?
There’s an easy egg-free option in the Notes section!
will whole wheat roll oats work also can i use extra virgin oil for for the none stick or avocado oil ??
If I forgot to store these in the fridge yesterday after I made them (BIG hit with my family!!!), are they not good anymore? They are in an airtight container on my kitchen counter right now ?.
All good, just pop them into the fridge today!
Loved the muffins! They came out great! They did smell a little odd haha but they tasted DELICIOUS!! Thank you !!
I’m so glad!
Hey! I make these all the time and my daughter loves them!! They always have come out green like your photo but this time they were kinda of brownish green. Do you know what I could have done to make them change? Haha they still taste the same!
I’m not sure other than the amount of spinach? I’m glad she likes them!
These are great!! I made the recipe exactly as given (I didn’t have butter so I used the yogurt I had on hand!) and I may have lost my mind a little when I added the chocolate chips because the bag tipped over a little too much ???
These are absolutely a keeper!!! Thank you for getting some good leafy greens in my toddler this morning! ♥️
Awesome!
These are DELICIOUS! I hope my toddler approves, I can’t believe how sweet they are with no sugar!
Can I use shredded carrots instead of spinach? My toddler loves these with spinach, just exploring some options for variety.
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say if the texture would be different. Let me know if you try it!
These are my 2-year old son’s favorite breakfast. I double the spinach and he still loves them. They’re not quite sweet enough for my taste, but they’re perfect for him. We always keep a bunch in the freezer so we can microwave them for breakfast. Thanks so much!
I’m so glad!
Just wondering if I could substitute a little bit of flaxseed meal for some of the flour, just to add in some more fiber/healthy goodness – also I seem to have a lot of flax to use up! Thanks so much!
You could maybe do 2 tablespoons— I haven’t substituted it for flour in amounts more than that though so I can’t say for sure if it would work!
What do I set my oven to?
All of the information is at the bottom of the post in the recipe.
They definitely have a “healthy” taste to them. Next time I may use a touch less spinach and more banana, or maybe more choc chips. My 3 yr old ate some of them bec I called them Monster Muffins, lol. I don’t think I could eat them without Choc chips though. I used 3 bananas, plain Greek yogurt, and 1/4 cup maple syrup instead of honey, and followed the rest as written. Will try again with small modifications. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks so much for the feedback!
Delicious! My 4 year old loved them.
Can you make this in a loaf tin instead of muffin tin? I assume yes, but not sure if the inside would cook properly…
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure, but I bet it would do well in an 8×8-inch pan around similar baking time as the muffins if you have that option.
My kids enjoyed them. I substituted the flour for Almond flour and used 85% cocoa chocolate chips.
I’m so glad!
Brianna if you don’t mind how much almond flour did you use. I am having an issue that when I substitute almond flour using same quantity as what was supposed to be for flour my muffins si k. Any suggestions would be great please: thank you
Why did my muffins sink? 🙁
I’m not sure! Did you use baking soda? Was it expired?
Oh gosh, I didn’t check the expiration date. I’m sure that’s what it was.
I made these today, had the same question, and after reading this comment realized I just completely forgot the baking soda! Ha!
Oh well. Maybe my toddler won’t notice the weird texture…
Fingers crossed (And I’m sorry, I’ve totally done that!)
My muffins always sink in the middle too. I have brand new baking soda. Also, what is the best way to store them. Sometimes in a Tupperware in the fridge they can get soggy.
You can line the container with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel to help absorb some of the moisture. I’m really not sure what’s causing them to sink since I’ve never had that happen but I’m trying to research potential causes!
Great recipe! They baked perfectly, too. I was a little hesitant since my batter seemed a little wet, but they turned out great.
I don’t have kids, but like finding ways to incorporate more spinach. I usually buy tubs of spinach and freeze them for later use.
I modified the recipe slightly by using a dash of agave instead of honey (and adding cinnamon). I didn’t notice much (if any) spinach flavor. The chocolate chips made it sweet enough. Will use this recipe again!
My kids loved them, it was a great way to use up some extra spinach going bad. I also threw in a mushy apple in the blender too. I told them they are “muscle muffins” since spinach helps you grow strong!
I’m so glad to hear that!
The recipe won’t work without the baking soda so that is your issue. It works well if you follow the ingredient list!
Hi,
I am preparing to make these muffins for myself and my 2 year old but I don’t have any whole wheat flour – I don’t suppose you’d be able to let me know of a way I could substitute this ingredient?!
Many thanks,
Jo
If you have regular all purpose flour that would work too!
Can you use frozen spinach and frozen bananas?
Yes, thaw the frozen banana first and drain off any extra liquid. For the spinach, if it’s in a packed block, you’ll likely only need to use about 1/4 cup. So thaw it slightly until you can measure some out and then add it to the blender.
These are really good! I froze a bunch and recently thawed them and they are still just as tasty. They are not very sweet so the chocolate chips are necessary for us haha
I’m glad to hear that! (We like the chocolate addition too:)
Our family needs more recipies like this in our lives!
Love this! Made this for my 16 month old and he is obsessed. I give it to him for a snack or in one of his meals, so it’s really easy to get spinach for him. I even like them as a snack for myself, so on some of them I add a little pinch of salt.
I’m so glad to hear that!
AMAZING! My 15 month old, picky husband (he would normally NEVER eat green anything!), and I all love these! I substitute applesauce for the honey and frozen blueberries or raspberries for the chocolate (also made it with chocolate and it’s delicious!). They are a perfect snack to send to day care or to eat on the go because they’re nutritious and not messy! Plus, insanely easy and quick to make in the blender. I’ve also substituted roasted sweet potato (scooped out the inside) for the banana when I didn’t have a ripe one (you really want to use a super ripe one for sweetness) and it was amazingly delicious! Thank you for the awesome, healthy recipes and inspiration!
Great recipe! I made it for my 1 year old picky eater and she loves it. She even eats the chocolate chips on them which surprised me as she refused to eat a banana choc chip muffin that I’ve made before. Thanks Amy!
I’m so glad to hear that!
I’m planning on making these muffins, but I’ would like to clarify the rolled oats, the written recipe calls for 1 cup rolled oats, but the video doesn’t show you adding the oats. Could you explain?
Thank you,
Yuka
Follow the details in the recipe since that is more specific than the video.
Use melted, slightly cooled butter and add it when you add the milk!
I would like to make this for my 10 month old. Would it be possible to substitute maple syrup for the honey and would it be same measurement?
Yes, that works great and it’s the same amount.
Thank you for this! It came out well and my 2.5yr old enjoyed it!
I’m so glad!
I used one minute instead of rolled oats. Is that why they came out…gummy?
Did you make any other changes? For example, not including baking soda would make them gummy.
I think they are delicious for a healthy muffin but my two year old only picked off the chocolate and spit the one bit he took out unfortunately .
I do my absolute best to make recipes that kids will like and eat, but obviously I can’t guarantee it. I wish I could! (I’m glad you like them though. You could off them again a few times to see if he comes around…)
I tired this recipe and my 13 month son likes it. I did not add chocolate chips because not sure which one is not too sweet or too bitter.Which brand mini chocolate chips did you use for this recipe?
If you get “semi-sweet” or “dark” mini chocolate chips from any brand, they should be a good flavor. They’ll all be sweet, but since you don’t need to use very many, it’s still an overall low amount of sugar. I used a local store brand here.
Mine didn’t rise much. They are very dense. Obviously I did something wrong but not sure what. I’ll have another go soon. My 2 year old is eating them anyway so not a total fail!
Did you use both baking soda and powder? That is key. I’m glad he’s eating them regardless!
How much Baking Powder should be used? I only see the recipe above calling for 1 tsp. baking soda.
Just baking soda—I updated the recipe and adjusted the leavening for better texture!
These look great, I can’t wait to try them!
Do you think I can use almond flour instead of regular flour
It doesn’t bake exactly the same as regular flour, but I know that cup for cup gluten-free flour is a good substitute!
I have made these numerous times now, my toddler loves his “Monster Muffins!” It’s the only way he’ll eat greens. We make them gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free and with agave so the baby can enjoy them too. Thanks for the awesome recipe 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that—and that the baby gets to enjoy them too!
I don’t ever buy rolled oats. Is this something I can substitute?
I haven’t made them any other way, but you could try using all flour. Just stir it all in after you blend the rest of the ingredients. Let me know if you try it!
I followed this recipe exactly as stated and used melted butter . The bananas I used were very ripe (black/yellow). It was easy to make and delicious. Everyone loved it, including my two year old. The texture came out moist and fluffy. What a healthy and delicious muffin.
I’m so glad!
I haven’t baked in years! Looking for ways to trick my son into eating veggies and found this recipe! I think they’re great and so does my son! Yum! Thank you!
I’m so glad!
I followed the recipe exactly and these turned out great! Very soft, not too spinachy, and my daughter really liked them. They do need a little more sweetness; maybe if I had used riper bananas or more honey? The chocolate def helps but I try limiting that for my 2 year old who gets too much energy after chocolate!
I’ve made these 3 times in the past month. Both, my 14 month olds & 11 year old really likes them, so that makes me super happy! A few things that i found: they come out a bit more moist when you use oil vs butter; using frozen (thawed) ripe bananas is a real game-changer!!! It really masks the spinach taste.
That’s a great tip about the banana, thanks for sharing! And I’m glad your kids enjoy them!
Can you please tell me how much frozen (rather thank fresh) spinach to use? Thanks!
I haven’t tried it with frozen so I can’t guarantee that it will taste the same but maybe 1/4 cup if it’s tightly packed together.
Do these have to be refrigerated after baking?
They will stay fresh longer if you refrigerate them in an airtight container.
Thanks for sharing! Do you think using frozen spinach instead of fresh would work?
I haven’t tried it with frozen spinach. If you try that, use 1/3-1/3 the amount since it will be wilted. Let me know!
My super picky toddler ate one and even asked for more!!! She generally refuses everything but fruits and pb&j or grilled cheese sandwiches; if she eats them again tomorrow, I think I will have to make these every week!
Thank you for another great recipe!
Hooray!
I am planning to make these as mini-muffins since I don’t have a regular muffin pan. Any advice on baking temperature, baking times and other adjustments?
I would think you can start checking for doneness at 12-14 minutes!
I was wondering if plain Greek yogurt would work in lieu of the butter or does it have to be just plain yogurt? We typically only have Greek yogurt in the fridge but am wondering if it would maybe be too thick? Can’t wait to try these for my son!
I think that should be fine since the amount you need is so small. (I’m making a batch of them myself right now!)
Do the oats get prepared beforehand or do they go in dry?
They go in raw!
Made this with my child today. It’s a great, not to sweet recipe. I added perhaps more kale than called for. I also used very ripe bananas that I had frozen for recipes like this. My daughter and I love the muffins. This is going into regular rotation
I’m so glad to hear that you both enjoyed them!
Great recipe! Very yummy. I made mini muffins and it required only 10 mins in the bottom rack of the oven so it was even faster.
Love that! Thanks for sharing the timing on the minis!
I’m sorry to hear that!
Hi there! I would love to make these and I’m curious if you tried them with Almond flour or not? Thanks!
Hi! I haven’t tried these with almond flour and don’t bake with it enough to guess how it might work. Let me know if you try it though!
Hi, I just used almond flour in these and they turned out great! My 18 month old loves them. I also doubled the batch and put half in the freezer.
Awesome, thanks so much for sharing and I’m glad that they worked well!
Hello! My one year old is allergic to eggs. I am familiar with egg substitutes however not sure if they work with this. Any suggestions?
Hi! I haven’t tried this recipe with an egg alternative but give me a few days and I’ll see if I can figure something out. The batter is really moist so I don’t think I can suggest something without trying it first!
Hi again! We just tried these with chia seeds instead of eggs and they were great. I added a variation with the specifics at the end of the recipe for you!
These muffins were really easy to make (I loved putting all the ingredients in the blender) and came out with a nice texture. They are sweet, but not too sweet. My 2 and 4 year olds, who will not touch greens, gobbled them up on the first try.
I’m so glad to hear that, thank you for sharing how they went over!
Hi there! Thank you for all of these great recipes! I would love to be able to incorporate blueberries into this recipe. Would you suggest following the recipe and baking the muffins for a short time, then adding the blueberries so that they do not sink to the bottom of the muffin? Thanks!
Hi! I would think you could sprinkle a few on top of each muffin, like you would the chocolate chips, and that might work. Or yes, adding them after maybe 5-8 minutes. If you pull them out of the oven to do this, you may want to add a few minutes to the total baking time. I’d love to hear how this works out if you do it!
My 18 month old who never eats anything new just demolished 4 of these! I would call that a win! Thank you!
Hooray! I’m so happy to hear that!
The muffins didn’t raise and i suspect is because the ‘cup measurement’ that I have used it’s not accurate. Could you share your recipes in grams instead of cups?
Hi! I’m sorry to hear that you had trouble. Do you want the leavening agent in grams or everything? I can work on converting this recipe for you but at the moment I don’t have the bandwidth to do all of my recipes. I’m happy to help as I can though!
How would I reheat these from frozen? Thanks!
Place a muffin onto a heat-safe plate and microwave in 15 second increments until thawed and warmed. You could also put a few in the fridge in an airtight container to thaw overnight, then heat slightly (if you want—they’re okay cold too) to serve.
Just made these, turned out great!
Hooray! Thanks for letting me know!
Can I substitute applesauce for the yogurt/butter?
I haven’t tested it but I am pretty confident that will work well!
I would love to make these for my 9 month old’s breakfasts however she cannot have honey. Do you have any suggestions to use in place of the honey it calls for?
You could omit it and just make sure that you use very ripe bananas for natural sweetness!
I’m making these with maple syrup as we speak, so I can let you know how they turn out with that substitution for honey.
Fingers crossed!