Spinach Muffins
on Dec 29, 2023, Updated Feb 05, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These mini muffins are the perfect size for toddlers and babies! Packed with spinach, they make the muffins a fun green color.
Why Spinach Mini Muffins Are Perfect for Your Little Ones:
1. Toddler and Baby-Friendly Portions: Feeding toddlers and babies is a beautiful dance of finding the right-sized portions. These mini muffins are like little gifts designed especially for those tiny hands. The size is just perfect for little ones who are still discovering the world of food. They can hold these muffins on their own and explore the textures and flavors at their own pace.
2. The Magical Spinach Twist: Spinach – the green superhero that every parent wishes their kids would embrace. In these muffins, spinach takes center stage, turning them into a vibrant green delight. The spinach not only adds a fun hue but also packs in a range of nutrients that little growing bodies need. Iron, calcium, vitamins – these muffins bring a nutritional boost that supports healthy growth.
3. Blender or Food Processor Ease: Parenting is a juggling act, and mealtime shouldn’t add to the chaos. These muffins are the epitome of convenience. Just throw all the ingredients into a blender or food processor, and let the magic happen. It’s a recipe that honors the time you have and ensures a delicious outcome. The ease of preparation means you can whip up a batch in no time, even when life gets hectic.
4. The Delight of Colors and Flavors: Kids are drawn to vibrant colors, and these muffins deliver a beautiful hue that’s sure to capture their attention. The addition of chocolate chips adds a delightful touch of sweetness that pairs perfectly with the earthy flavors of spinach. These muffins are a wonderful opportunity to introduce your little ones to the concept that healthy food can be fun and delicious.
5. Versatility for Growing Appetites: As your children grow, their tastes and appetites evolve. These muffins can evolve with them. You can add extra layers of nutrition by incorporating grated carrots, zucchini, or even a sprinkle of chia seeds. With each adaptation, you’re offering them a variety of nutrients in a form they love.
What You Will Need:
- Eggs: For that perfect muffin texture. Eggs bring binding properties that create the perfect muffin!
- Banana: Adds natural sweetness and a hint of flavor. Plus, bananas are a great source of potassium.
- Oats: Nutrient-packed oats provide sustenance and a hearty texture. They’re a wonderful source of complex carbohydrates for sustained energy.
- Spinach: The superhero ingredient that brings nutrition and a fun green color. Spinach is rich in iron, vitamins A and C, and other essential nutrients.
- Chocolate chips: An optional addition that introduces a burst of yumminess! If your kids love a touch of sweetness, these chocolate chips are a delightful surprise.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients Gather your ingredients: eggs, a ripe banana, oats, spinach, and chocolate chips if you’re using them. Make sure your spinach is cleaned and your banana is peeled.
Step 2: Blend the Base In your blender or food processor, blend the oats and the spinach together. Blend until the mixture is smooth and everything is well incorporated. Add the eggs and banana. Blend until just combined. The spinach will give the batter a beautiful green color that’s sure to captivate your little one’s attention.
Step 3: Add Chocolate Chips (Optional) If you’re opting for a touch of sweetness, gently stir in a handful of chocolate chips into the batter. These little bursts of chocolate will add a delightful contrast to the earthy spinach flavor.
Step 4: Preheat and Prep Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease the tin.
Step 5: Fill the Muffin Tin Using a spoon or a small scoop, fill each mini muffin cup with the batter. Fill them about three-quarters of the way to allow room for the muffins to rise.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 15 minutes. They’re ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, with perhaps a chocolate chip or two clinging to it if you’ve added them.
Step 7: Cool and Enjoy Once baked, remove the mini muffins from the oven and let them cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. The cooling process allows them to firm up a bit and develop their flavors.
Step 8: Store and Share After they’ve cooled completely, you can store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a couple of days. If you’re planning for longer storage, freeze them in a zip lock bag for up to two months. To enjoy, simply reheat them in the microwave for 30-second increments.
Substitutions:
- Eggs: You can swap in a flax egg for the egg. The muffins will still hold their deliciousness and provide a source of healthy fats.
Storage:
- After these delightful muffins have cooled completely, you can store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. If you’re planning for longer storage, pop them into a zip lock bag and freeze them for up to two months. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, a quick zap in the microwave for 30-second increments will bring back their warm, comforting goodness.
5 Ingredient Spinach Muffins
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 2 bananas
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/2 cup spinach
- optional chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Add spinach and oats to the blender and blend as much as you can until it's almost a powder.
- Add in the banana and egg and blend until just combined. Do not over blend or the mixture will be too airy and won't turn out.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Spray mini muffin tin with cooking spray. Spoon mixture into muffin tins.
- Cook in oven for about 15 minutes.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you ever use frozen spinach for this or only fresh? Thanks!
You can use frozen spinach but it needs to be defrosted and the liquid drained.
Can you take this save recipe and make large muffins?
How long can I keep these for? Do I need to refridgerate? Thanks
Can you take this same recipe and make large muffins?
I haven’t tried that! I think mini would be best, but if you do try they probably need a few more minutes to cook.
Yes you can. I make these for my toddler but love them so much I make large muffins with chocolate chips for my husband and I!
LOVE this recipe for my daughter! She’s eaten these well and I love how easy they were. New favorite!
I’m so glad it was a hit!!
Can sub sweet potato for the banana? Would it be 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup?
Yum
These lil muffins are so yummy! I had to cut my toddler off after he ate 4/5 of them in a row bc dinner time was approaching. He loved them, my husband and I also dove into to them and they are delish!!
I am so happy to hear that you loved the muffins!
This is the perfect quick healthy muffin recipe that is 100% kid approved! My kids LOVED them! Not too sweet even with the mini chocolate chips.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
Can you replace the oats with almond flour?
I’ve never tried, but that should be fine!
Can you freeze these?
These taste delicious! Are they supposed to be slightly mushy inside? Is that from the banana? I’m wondering if they are undercooked even though the toothpick test passed.
Yes that is normal! The banana is a little bit mushy even when cooked.
Delicious!!! They come out so fluffy!!
I’m so glad you loved them!
So delicious! Just out of curiosity my husband and I tried some that we made for our baby and even we liked them!:) Because of what we had on hand, we ended up subbing one of the bananas for a baby puree container of banana and it turned out great!
I’m so glad you liked them!
How many does this make?
Can I replace chocolate chips with frozen blueberries? How much to add? Also, if I add chia seeds, how many tablespoons? I’m new to cooking lol so I’m clueless about measurements.
Can these be frozen?
Yes!
Just made these and my kids (and me) LOVE them! Adding to our family cookbook!
Yay! I am so happy to hear this!
So easy, had all the ingredients on hand! I didn’t have a mini muffin tin, just regular size, so I did 3 regular spoonful scoops of the batter for each muffin and cooked 15 minutes and they turned out perfect! My toddler had 3 1/2 for breakfast and loved them!
Love the taste, texture and easiness of this recipe!! Only issue I have is removing them from the pan!…have tried avocado oil, butter and using liners but they still stick. Any suggestions??
You don’t understand… I have the WORLD’s pickiest eater and she just ate EIGHT of these and is asking for more. What a win for something nutritious that she will touch! Thank you!
I love trying all of Ashley’s toddler meals! They are easy and most of all, HEALTHY!
Do you use instant or old fashioned oats?
Old fashioned rolled oats!
What kind of oats do you use?
They taste just like banana oatmeal. They are wonderful!
great recipe, thanks so much!
may I ask what kind of food processor you use?
I have the cuisinart 4 cup!
Is there a replacement for banana in this recipe?? Possibly applesauce?
Is this recipe for 24 mini muffins?
Yes!
Love this recipe!! Now making for the second time!! Was wondering would this be a good option for a snack on the go or does it need to be kept cool and reheated? Looking for good snack options for a zoo trip or any trip really! Thanks!