I’m thrilled to share a parent-approved toddler and baby muffin recipe that my daughter loves. These easy and healthy baby apple banana oat muffins combine banana, applesauce, oats, and your choice of add-in like blueberries or small pieces of chopped apple. The batter comes together in a blender and the muffins freeze wonderfully.
We had a difficult time introducing chunkier solids to our oldest. She loved her pureed fruits and vegetables, but it took a long month of trial-and-error with “real” food. Once she began enjoying soft foods like scrambled eggs and small pieces of fruit, I made her homemade muffins. She loved them and I felt so proud! To this day, these muffins are her favorite. She doesn’t eat anything quicker. This recipe is a goldmine.
These Apple Banana Oat Muffins Are:
- Healthy and wholesome
- Naturally sweetened
- Made with real ingredients—no preservatives
- Loaded with fruits and oats
- Made without flour
- Gluten free if using certified GF oats
- Delicious for adults too!
- Adaptable with plenty of substitution suggestions
- Freezer-friendly
And, as a busy parent, you’ll be happy to know that these muffins are SO EASY! You put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor, which breaks down the banana and oats, pour into muffin liners, and bake. That’s it.
How to Make Baby Muffins
As a parent, I appreciate how quick and easy these muffins are to make, and know you will too. If you’re using muffin liners, spray the muffin liners before filling with batter to keep the liners from sticking to the muffins. Simply place all of the ingredients in a blender in the order listed (see full recipe), except for the 3/4 cup of add-ins. Blend until combined, then stir in the add-ins. Divide evenly between muffin liners, top with a few oats—just for looks, and bake. I like to make a batch of these on the weekends to have on hand throughout the week—mixing up what add-ins I use based on what we have around.
I made 2 batches before we left for vacation and keep them in the freezer. Heat up/thaw 1 or 2 whenever you need them!
Possible Ingredient Substitutions
This blender muffin recipe can be easily customized to incorporate ingredients your baby/toddler loves. Here are some ingredient substitutions I’ve tried with great success:
- Applesauce: Instead of applesauce, use plain yogurt or your baby’s favorite fruit or veggie puree.
- Banana: Instead of a banana, use 1/3 cup of pumpkin puree.
- Coconut Sugar: Instead of coconut sugar, use maple syrup or any other desired sweetener.
- Add Ins: Use a combination of your baby’s favorite fruits like finely diced apples or pears, blueberries, or strawberries. I made the pictured muffins with finely diced apple and blueberries. Apples get nice and soft, but the blueberries can be a bit messy with little self-feeding hands.
Let me know if your babe enjoys the muffins too. And steal a taste—they’re good! Or give these healthy apple muffins a try. They’re made with wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour and apple for a healthier muffin that’s still big on taste. You can’t go wrong with either!
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Baby (Mini) Apple Banana Oat Muffins
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 mini muffins or 9-10 standard muffins
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Easy, quick, and healthy baby-friendly mini muffins made from banana, applesauce, and oats. Mixed in the blender and poured into muffin liners, this make-ahead recipe couldn’t be easier.
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/4 cups (106g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats or quick oats, plus extra for topping
- 1 large ripe banana
- 1/3 cup (80g) unsweetened applesauce or fruit/veggie puree (see note)
- 1 large egg
- 2 or 3 Tablespoons coconut sugar, maple syrup, or other desired sugar*
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup add-ins such as peeled diced apple, pear, or berries*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray a 24-count mini muffin pan with nonstick spray or use mini muffin liners. If using liners, grease the liners.
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor, in the order listed, except for the 3/4 cup of add-ins. Blend or process until combined. Stir in the add-ins. Divide evenly between muffin liners. Top with a few oats, if desired.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove and cool completely before serving.
- Muffins stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: For longer storage, freeze muffins for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw on the counter or defrost in the microwave.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 24-count Mini Muffin Pan | Blender
- Important: Consult with pediatrician about any possible allergies your baby may have before trying. The only substitutions I’ve tried are listed in the ingredients, but feel free to play around with the recipe using your best judgement.
- Sugar: I usually prepare the muffins with 2 and 1/2 Tablespoons of coconut sugar.
- Applesauce or Puree: I usually make these with unsweetened applesauce or a baby/toddler food fruit puree. You can use yogurt instead, but the muffins won’t be as flavorful.
- Add Ins: I made the pictured muffins with finely diced apple and blueberries. Apples get nice and soft, but the blueberries can be a little messy with little self-feeding hands. Our daughter also enjoys them with diced strawberries.
- Muffin Liners: If using muffin liners, grease the liners or spray with nonstick spray. Warm muffins will stick otherwise. With the first batch I made, I didn’t grease the liners and they stuck. However, the muffins peeled out easily after refrigerating.
- Standard Size Muffins: Add 1/3 cup oats to the recipe, adding them to the blender with everything else. Spoon the batter into liners, filling them all the way to the top. Top with a few oats, if desired. Bake for 5 minutes at 425°F (218°C) then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Bake for an additional 16-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The total time the standard size muffins take in the oven is about 22-23 minutes, give or take.
Reader Comments and Reviews
Can I use baby oatmeal since it’s fine already and fortified with iron?
Hi Marina, You can use that dry oatmeal in its place– shouldn’t be a problem.
My baby LOVES these but I find they mold incredibly quickly (at least in my un-air-conditioned house in June!). I tried freezing/refrigerating them but it seemed to dampen his enthusiasm, maybe because they weren’t quite as moist as when they were kept at room temp. Any tips for freezing? I was just tossing them in a big ziplock but maybe there’s a better way. Thanks!
Hi Madeline! We usually store in a zip lock bag or air tight container in the fridge. Popping them in the microwave for a few seconds will warm them up beautifully!
My baby has been eating these for a couple months and he LOVES them – he shovels them in as fast as he can! Love the convenience of these freezer-friendly muffins. Do you have any other recipes for kiddos? Thanks!
We’re so glad these muffins are a hit, Sarah! Here are all of our healthier recipes – this baked oatmeal is a favorite.
Can I use honey as a substitute for the sugar options? Would it be the same amount 2-3 tablespoons?
Hi Tina, if you’re making these muffins for a baby to eat, we don’t recommend honey. Consult your doctor or pediatrician for details, but it is important not to feed honey to infants under 1 year old. If you’re making these muffins for others to enjoy, honey will be a great substitute- same amount.
Hi there!! Do you think chopped dates would work as a sweetener instead of coconut sugar or maple syrup? Thanks!
Hi Shola, We haven’t tested it, but let us know if you do!
What an easy recipe. I used applesauce, maple syrup and didn’t use any add ins and they turned out great. I left them to cool on the counter and when I came back the teenagers in the house had eaten half of them, never realizing they were “healthy toddler muffins.” I’ll have to make more soon.
The first line of the instructions says mini muffin cups and the recipe is aimed at toddlers. So many variables can affect baking, nothing wrong with adding a few more minutes in the oven until they come out done!
You have no idea how many times in the last 7 years (since the birth of my first child ) I’ve prepared healthy meals following your recipes. This one, along with the apple oatmeal muffins are my kid’s favorites. Your salmon with ginger is to die for and I cook it often too. Thank you so very much for being willing to share your delicious and nutritious recipes with us.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback, Jackie. We’re thrilled our recipes have been such a great resource for you!
Dear Sally, thank you for the recipe. The muffins are very tasty, however they did not “grow” at all. Does the amount of baking powder influence that? Or the fact that we are baking with oats instead of flour? It’s true that I did use less baking powder because my baby is new to some of these ingredients. Also, I only had 6 muffin shapes available and I did not want to overdo it with the quantities. Thank you
Hi EM! Yes, using less baking powder will keep the muffins from rising. Hope they were still a hit!
My 18 month old has never liked muffins even when she was a baby.. until I tried this recipe! I love the muffins myself. Thanks so much.
I LOVE these muffins! I use puréed prunes instead of apple sauce and now my son doesn’t have any problems! And he loves them! I give him 2-3 of these every day for breakfast!!!
I just made these for my 15 month old grandson they are delicious! Such a quick and easy recipe. The baby loves them he took one bite and said “mmm”
Love these! So fast and easy. I only used one tablespoon of sugar, but then I dropped a few chocolate chips on top of each one before baking and love the little extra sweetness. I hope mommy doesn’t eat them all before my girl gets a chance to snack one, haha 🙂
I’ve made this recipe many times for my kids and it’s always a hit! Today I used pumpkin, Greek yogurt, maple syrup for the sweetener and finely chopped pecans for the mix in. They turned out fantastic!
So easy to make!! Threw it in our smoothie cup blender for easy clean up. I added a 1/4 cup of peanut butter and a 1/4 of whole milk (to help with the sticky PB and add a smidge more protein). I decided to eliminate the sugar and salt and they are tasty! I ended up eating the muffin I was trying to just taste! Haha great easy recipe for toddlers. Thank you!
Delish! And my 2 year old loves them Only question I have is regarding the nutritional value. Calories? Carbs? Sugar? We used maple syrup and added blueberries and strawberries. Thanks!
Hi Kelsi, we’re unsure of the nutritional info of this recipe, but there are many great online calculators like this one: https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
I just made these as a healthier option for school lunches, but unfortunately…they didn’t turn out well. I followed the recipe to a T, but the end result wasn’t good at all; the texture was dense and a bit squidgy, and they tasted bland. I used yogurt, not applesauce, so I’m not sure if that affected it…but the recipe said that was an OK substitution 🙁 I’m disappointed, since I doubt any of us will be eating them, and I made a double batch so it’s a big waste of ingredients. But maybe there was a mistake? Do you think the lack of applesauce could at least have affected the taste?
Hi Erin, thank you for trying this recipe. It’s a healthier muffin recipe, perfect for babies and toddlers. They aren’t too sweet, either. Depending on the add-ins/ingredients used, the end result could taste a bit bland. Yogurt isn’t quite as flavorful as applesauce. If you ever try them again, see if a baby puree or applesauce works better for you.
Thanks for another great recipe Sally! My little man loved these. Wish I could share a picture of his blueberry face. Hoping I can use this recipe to maybe even sneak some veggies in there like carrots.
Can I use baby oat cereal instead of the oats?
Hi Stef, We haven’t tested it but it should work. Let us know if you try!
It worked! I used only one cup of the “baby gourmet tasty smooth oatmeal” and used the yogurt substitution. It turned out a bit more gooey than I expected – but it’s actual easier for my baby to pick up because it’s not crumbly! Next time I’m going to add some oats as well for texture. I will definitely make them again (I’m thinking a pumpkin variation may be up next)
Hi, I recently made this recipe and they turned out to be delicious. I made the standard size muffins for the baby me, haha! I made the 1/3rd cup addition of oats as you said in the notes but I could only make 7 standard size muffins with them ( I filled till the top of the muffin pan) . I used yogurt instead of applesauce, cane sugar instead of coconut sugar and they were absolutely delicious and SO EASY to make!!! I had fresh muffins on my counter in half an hour!! Could you tell me what additions should I be doing to make at least 12 of these muffins?
Hi Ridhi, We are so glad you enjoyed this recipe! We usually get 9 or 10 standard size muffins. Did you add the 3/4 cup of fruit or other add-ins? The difference could simply be due to using a different brand of pan. If they turned out well and you enjoyed them you didn’t do anything wrong!
Yessssss this recipe changed my mornings!!! I wanted to like oatmeal for the health benefits but just couldn’t because I struggle with mushy textures. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this baked oatmeal, it’s the perfect texture for me and keeps me full for hours. Thank you Sally, you have done it again. I always go to your site first for recipes. <3
Hi Sally,
I am going to try this for my nine month old baby. Can I use unsweetened applesauce instead of coconut sugar in this recipe?
I am trying to avoid sugar in his diet until he is one.
Hi Ayesha, you can just skip that sugar or add a little more unsweetened applesauce in its place.
Made the mini ones a while back and they were so delicious, my 17 month old loved them! Currently have the bigger ones in the oven. Thanks for the recipe! Will be keeping this one in my recipe box 🙂
Made these today for my 8 month old for the first time – she devoured them! Used baby yogurt instead of the applesauce and eliminated the added sugar since the yogurt had a bit. Thanks so much for another awesome recipe. Every recipe we’ve made of yours turns out perfectly!
LOVE! I have to double the recipe because everyone loves these in my house. I made them with my homemade applesauce and used bits of peaches & pears, and holy cow!! I also grind up the oats to an oat flour because my little is still a baby. I’m wondering what the consistency is like using whole oats. Can anyone fill me in before I try? Thank you in advance, & thank you for this DELICIOUS recipe!
Hi Ro, We are so happy these are such a hit in your house! The whole oats will break down when mixing the batter in a blender, so they aren’t any large oat chunks!
I cannot thank you enough for this recipe. I started making them a few months ago, and it has become my 17 month old’s daily breakfast. I make a big batch and keep them all in the freezer ready to go. So easy! I’ve changed up the yogurt/applesauce/puree ingredients each time I’ve made it, and she’s loved them each time. I’ve started using more veggie purees-which she won’t touch on her own- and she still gobbles ’em up! I even sent the recipe to my sister in law for my 1 yo nephew, and she said he loves them, too! Thanks!
My 2 kids love these and they are perfect for camping as I freeze them and take them out as needed. Also FYI this entire recipe fits in a nutribullet (had to test it today as my food processor broke!).
These are amazing! My 14 month old loves them, so does my husband who’s a picky eater. Going to make a second batch as a guild free sweet treat for myself and hubby
I just made these as standard size muffins. I added the extra 1/3 C oats and used 3/4 cup chopped apples. It only made 6 muffins (the size tins as one would use for cupcakes). Somehow I thought this would yield a full tray. Should I be doubling the recipe? Tastes great, but 6 muffins ;(
Hi Ruthie, This recipe should yield 24 mini muffins or 9-10 standard muffins.
Hi Sally!
I’m excited to try this for my baby. He’s also turning 11months this month! Still having a hard time transitioning him to non-mashed food, he keeps gagging! But he can take little bit of bread so hopefully this hits the spot!
However he’s a bit sensitive to eggs, any alternatives to it that you can suggest? Hope to hear from you soon!
Hi! 1/4 cup of applesauce or mashed banana would do fine here or try a “flax egg.” They’re common in vegan baking.