Zucchini and Carrot Breakfast Muffins
These moist and fluffy Zucchini and Carrot Breakfast Muffins are naturally sweetened, veggie-packed, and perfect for clean eating. Great for meal prep, kid-friendly, and easy to customize for any diet — they’re your new go-to healthy muffin recipe! 🧁🥕
Equipment
- Muffin tin (12-cup standard): Used to bake the muffins evenly in individual portions.
- Muffin liners or silicone cups: Prevent sticking and make cleanup super easy.
- Box grater or food processor: For grating zucchini and carrots finely.
- Mixing bowls (large and medium): To separate and combine dry and wet ingredients.
- Whisk: For blending wet ingredients smoothly and incorporating air.
- Wooden spoon or spatula: Ideal for gently folding in the dry ingredients and mix-ins.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Essential for accurate ingredient portions.
- Fine mesh strainer or clean towel: To squeeze out excess moisture from the grated zucchini.
- Cooling rack: Helps muffins cool properly without getting soggy on the bottom.
- Oven mitts: To safely remove hot pans from the oven.
- Ice cream scoop or spoon: For evenly portioning the batter into each muffin cup.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup maple syrup or honey
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil or avocado oil
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Veggies:
- 1 cup grated zucchini moisture squeezed out
- 1 cup grated carrot
Optional Add-ins:
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed or chia seeds
- ¼ cup raisins or chopped dates
Instructions
- 🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat & Prep
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Grate & Squeeze
- Grate the zucchini and carrots using a box grater. Place grated zucchini in a clean dish towel or paper towels and squeeze out excess moisture.
- Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Mix Wet Ingredients
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, applesauce, and vanilla until smooth and well combined.
- Combine
- Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and stir gently until just combined (don’t overmix!). Fold in the grated zucchini, carrot, and any optional add-ins.
- Scoop & Bake
- Scoop the batter evenly into muffin cups (fill ¾ full). Bake for 18–22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool & Enjoy
- Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Enjoy warm or store for later!
Notes
These Zucchini and Carrot Breakfast Muffins are not only healthy and delicious — they’re also make-ahead friendly and perfect for batch baking. Whether you’re prepping for a busy week, building a freezer stash, or planning ahead for brunch, here’s exactly how to store and reheat them like a pro 🔄
🧁 Can I Make These Muffins Ahead of Time?
Absolutely — and you should! These muffins stay moist for days and freeze beautifully, making them the ultimate grab-and-go breakfast or healthy snack.- Bake the night before for stress-free mornings
- Double the batch and freeze half for later
- Make mini muffins and store them in lunchbox portions for the week
🧊 How to Store Muffins
At Room Temperature:- Store cooled muffins in an airtight container
- Line the container with paper towels to absorb moisture
- Keeps fresh for up to 2 days on the counter
- Store in an airtight container
- Keeps well for up to 5 days
- Reheat before serving for best texture
❄️ How to Freeze Muffins
Freezing is the BEST way to always have a healthy muffin ready!- Let muffins cool completely
- Wrap each one individually in parchment or plastic wrap
- Place them in a freezer-safe bag or container
- Label and date the bag
- Freeze for up to 3 months
🔥 Reheating Tips
Microwave Method:- Unwrap the muffin
- Heat for 25–30 seconds
- Optional: Cover with a damp paper towel to keep it moist
- Preheat to 300°F (150°C)
- Heat muffin for 8–10 minutes until warmed through and slightly crispy on the outside