With four kinds of produce, including two fruits and two veggies, these healthy Zucchini Carrot Muffins are a perfect kids breakfast or snack. They store well in the fridge and freezer so you can make a batch and have it on hand for easy meals!
My kids aren’t super into zucchini…unless it’s tucked into a baked good. So each year when we have too much zucchini (or we get bags of it left by our front door…) I bake it up into muffins.
I love this easy toddler muffin recipe since it has zucchini and carrot, plus simple pantry staples. They’re moist, tender, and easy to make and store.
These are sweetened with ripe banana and maple syrup and taste like classic zucchini bread…only they’re in a really fun-to-eat mini muffin size!
(You may also like Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins, Carrot Cake Muffins, and Healthy Zucchini Muffins.)
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients that you’ll need to make this Zucchini Carrot Muffin recipe so you know what to pick up at the store:
- Carrot: We’ll grate this so it blends right into the muffin batter.
- Zucchini: This veggie gets grated, then squeezed really dry before adding it to the batter.
- Eggs or an egg substitute.
- Very ripe banana (about 1 large banana): This adds nice flavor and sweetness.
- Melted and slightly cooled butter (or neutral oil like canola)
- Maple syrup (or honey): To add a little more sweetness.
- Whole wheat flour: I use this flour here since it helps absorb moisture from the produce in the recipe so the muffins bake through nicely.
- Raisins or chocolate chips: You can pick one or other, or do a mix of both.
- Cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda to round things out.
TIP: I prefer to grate a whole carrot, rather than buying it already grated, since it tends to have a finer texture that blends more easily into a muffin when you do it at home.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This is a quick look at the steps in this Zucchini Carrot Muffin recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.
- Grate the carrot and zucchini. Mash the banana until very smooth.
- Squeeze the zucchini really well and dry in a towel.
- Add all of the wet ingredients to a medium-size bowl. Stir.
- Stir the ingredients rest of the ingredients to make an even batter.
- Portion into a mini muffin pan.
- Bake and serve or store.
TIP: Be sure to squeeze your zucchini very dry to ensure the best final texture in these muffins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are very easy to make without eggs if there’s an allergy in your house by omitting the eggs and adding a little milk and additional baking soda. See the Notes below the recipe for the specifics.
TIP: You can also make them dairy-free and gluten-free. They are naturally nut-free.
You can trade in applesauce if that works better for your family.
We usually have these healthy muffins with a side of fruit. They’d also pair well with soup, scrambled eggs, or diced cheese. I like them as a quick snack or lunch for myself with coffee or a smoothie.
Other Muffins for Kids You May Like
I love making muffins and I have so many that are chock full of goodness. Here are a few favorites.
- Applesauce Muffins
- Spinach Banana Muffins
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins
- Savory Veggie Muffins
- Vegan Zucchini Muffins
TIP: You can find all of my muffin recipes here.
How to Store
Store Zucchini Carrot Muffins in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature, up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. Warm slightly to serve if desired.
Best Tips for Success
- Egg-Free: Omit the eggs. Add ¼ cup milk and increase the baking soda to 1 teaspoon. Continue with the recipe.
- Dairy-Free: Use oil instead of butter.
- Gluten-Free: Use a GF cup for cup flour instead of the whole wheat.
- You can use all purpose flour instead of whole wheat if desired.
- I prefer to grate my own carrots to ensure that the texture is finer and isn’t very noticeable in the baked muffins.
Related Recipes
If you make these muffins, I’d love to hear your feedback. Please comment and rate the recipe below!
Easy Zucchini Carrot Muffins
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup grated carrot
- 1/2 cup grated zucchini squeezed very, very dry
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup mashed very ripe banana about 1 large banana
- 1/4 cup melted and slightly cooled butter or neutral oil like canola
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup raisins or chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a mini muffin pan with nonstick spray. (I use regular Pam as I find it’s very reliable.)
- Add the carrot, zucchini, eggs, banana, butter, and maple syrup to a medium bowl.
- Gently stir in the flour, raisins (or chocolate chips) cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Divide the batter among the prepared pan, using about 1 ½ tablespoons batter in each cup.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 2 minutes. Use a paring knife, if needed, to help remove the muffins to a wire rack. Let cool and serve or store.
Video
Notes
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature, up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. Warm slightly to serve if desired.
- Egg-Free: Omit the eggs. Add ¼ cup milk and increase the baking soda to 1 teaspoon. Continue with the recipe.
- Dairy-Free: Use oil instead of butter.
- Gluten-Free: Use a GF cup for cup flour instead of the whole wheat.
- Banana-Free: Use applesauce instead.
- You can use all purpose flour instead of whole wheat if desired.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published July 2020.
My daughter loves these. I love that you provided an egg substitute too!
My 2 yo loves these! He eats a ton of them a day though which worries me. I did leave the butter/oil out and they turned out just fine and he still loves them.
I’m glad he’s enjoying them!
Made these this morning for my DF EF one year old. They are absolutely delicious.
I used oil and oat milk to replace the egg and dairy. They’ve turned out really nice and fluffy.
I left the chocolate chips out and used diced dates instead of sultanas because I didn’t have any.
These are also super easy, I whipped these up at 5am half asleep!
You’re amazing!
Will these still taste as good if I omit the raisins/chocolate chips? I don’t have raisins and would rather not give chocolate to my one year old.
We are gluten free and egg free – thank you for the substitution options, trying to find good recipes with our needs can be tough.
I don’t have any raisins or chocolate chips on hand, do you think chopped dates or dried berries would work?
Sure, that’s probably just fine!
Really great healthy yummy muffins!
I substituted 1/4 cup + 1 TBS applesauce for butter and 2 TBS honey. baked it for 9 min at 350F for mini muffins. It was just a hint of sweet and it was moist! Thank you for the recipe!
Awesome!
Another win for my son who doesn’t eat veggies! And I don’t feel bad serving a muffin for breakfast! Love these. Tossed in a few chocolate chips and used apple sauce instead of banana.
These were so good for everyone! They barely lasted past day two. Yummy for breakfast, and, made a yummy dinner with these and some scrambled tofu. Thanks for this great recipe!
Mom, Dad and 3 year old love these muffins. Made them into full size muffins, we baked for 15 minutes and they came out perfect. Thank you! Love your recipes!
My toddler absolutely devoured these!
..and so did we 😉
We try our best to minimize sugars, so reduced the honey/maple syrup by 50%.
Great recipe, thank you ?
sorry, I did not reduce the sweetness.. did that for a different recipe.. this ones’s perfect..
After searching for healthy carrot, apple and zucchini muffins that my 16 month could eat I came across your recipe which ticked most of the boxes so I used 1/2 cup homemade unsweetened applesauce instead of the mashed banana. Then realised I wouldn’t have enough sweetness I added 1/2 cup coconut sugar instead of the raisins. The muffins turned out so soft and tasty. The family really liked them! Great adaptable base recipe which I’m sure I’ll bake again. Thank you!
Started making this recipe before I realized I was out of carrots! Whoops! Substituted grated sweet potato in its place and it worked great!
I’m glad that worked!
Made these today for my toddler and she can’t get enough of them! Thank you!
Another fav in our house… Sunday healthy snack baking for lunchboxes – these are for our 18 month old darling (super fussy) but our 11 yr. old and I love them too