Spinach Apple Mini Muffins

These spinach applesauce mini muffins are nutritious and delicious – your little one is sure to love them!

These little green muffins were a huge hit with my son (my husband too 😂 ) that’s why the picture has empty spots because they got eaten so quickly! I’m sure your little one is going to love them too.

I get messages from moms for banana free recipes since that doesn’t always agree with little one’s tummies, so these are perfect for that!

BABY LED WEANING

This would be a great recipe to serve babies starting at 6 months, once they’ve been safely introduced to the allergens in the recipe. For younger babies, typically it’s best to serve bigger pieces since those are easier for them to hold. Once they develop the pincer grasp (pointer and thumb pinching together), then you can start to give them smaller pieces.

For information on how to safely serve foods to babies depending on their age (plus so much more), I recommend Solid Starts. The app is free and has tons of information!

If your little one is under 1 years old do NOT use honey in this recipe. Either omit the sweetener altogether or use an alternative like maple syrup, date syrup, etc.

ALLERGENS

This recipe has eggs, dairy, and wheat.

If you’d like to try it with an egg replacer, this one available online at Target. This post highlights other ideas for egg substitutes in recipes. DF yogurt will likely work here.

STORAGE

I stored these in the fridge for 4 days, then transferred to the freezer. I’m not 100% sure if they can stay just on the counter so I kept them in the fridge to be safe. They can stay in the freezer for 2-3 months.

To freeze I would line a baking sheet with foil or parchment then lay in a single layer and place in the freezer. Once frozen (give it a few hours) you can transfer to another container. This way they are individually frozen rather than all stuck together in one huge block!

To reheat I would either thaw in the fridge overnight then toast or microwave, or just toast or microwave from frozen. Best served warm (according to my 14 month old 😉 )

SUBSTITUTES & ADD INS

I haven’t tried yet with any subs or add ins, but let me know if you do! Applesauce and banana can be interchangeable, so if you’d like to try with banana you can add in 1 whole banana mashed in place of the 1/2 cup of applesauce.

TOOLS USED/RECOMMENDED

Mini muffin tin – this is the one we have. I love it because you don’t need to use liners with it and it washes really easily!

Mini Food Chopper – I have been using this a TON when making food for my son. So easy, the charge lasts for a while, and I love being cordless. Plus, it washes up in the dishwasher. Love it! A blender or bigger food processor would work here just as well.

Cookie scoop – I love using this to scoop meatballs, pancake batter, and tons more. I use this thing ALL the time when cooking for my son (and just in general)

More easy and delicious recipes for your little one found here!

Spinach Applesauce Muffins

These slightly sweet muffins have iron and fiber thanks to the spinach and oats!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:14 minutes mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh spinach or about 1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained
• 1/2 cup applesauce unsweetened
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/8 cup honey or maple syrup optional, for extra sweetness
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
• A pinch of salt

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a mini muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease it.
• Wash the spinach thoroughly. If using frozen spinach, thaw it and squeeze out excess moisture.
• Place the spinach in a blender or food processor.
• Add a small amount of water (or a bit of applesauce or yogurt) to help with blending. Blend until smooth.
• In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, Greek yogurt or buttermilk, honey or maple syrup (if using), egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
• Stir the blended spinach into the wet ingredients until well incorporated.
• Add in the the flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon (if using), and a pinch of salt. Mix until just combined.
• Spoon the batter into the mini muffin tin, filling each cup about 3/4 full.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
• Allow the mini muffins to cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Serve and enjoy!

Let me know if you give these a try and what your little one thinks!

This post was all about my spinach applesauce mini muffins.