In an effort to get my kids to eat more vegetables, I have started pureeing veggies and sneaking them into food my kids normally enjoy. I have added carrots and cauliflower to their beloved mac and cheese, broccoli to pesto sauce, and avocado to smoothies. I have found baked goods to be the easiest to hide veggies in because the sweetness often helps to mask the veggie flavor. My kids recently helped me make this Zucchini Bread Recipe and it was such a big hit that I decided to try this easy Spinach Muffin Recipe. Check out all of our family friendly recipes while you're here!
Spinach Muffin Recipe
Ingredients to make 15 muffins:
- ¾ cup of pureed spinach
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup of oil
- ½ cup of applesauce
- 2 cups of flour
- ¾ cup of sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon of salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a muffin tin with cooking spray. This muffin recipe will make 15 yummy spinach muffins.
You will want to start with pureed spinach. I puree mine ahead of time and then freeze it in an ice cube tray. Then when I need the spinach I just thaw it out and add it to a recipe.
To puree spinach, steam spinach for a few minutes and then transfer to a Ninja or an old school blender. We bought a Ninja blender since we made these muffins and it just makes pureeing veggies a breeze. A traditional blender will take a longer to puree the spinach. Once you have your pureed spinach, use ¾ cups of it in a blender and add the vanilla, eggs, oil and applesauce. Basically, throw all your wet ingredients into the blender and blend until mixed together.
In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients until a batter forms and pour into muffin tins so each muffin is ⅔ full. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
When I first made these muffins I was worried about how they would taste. Would they have a spinach flavor? Would my kids eat them or be freaked out by the green color? All my worries were erased when I tasted them. They are moist and delicious and you can't taste the spinach at all. My veggie averse kids loved them and request them all the time.
These are so good fresh out of the oven with a little butter. They also freeze well. The next time your child turns up their nose at the veggies you offer, try this easy spinach muffin recipe.
Spinach Muffin Recipe - Food Fun Friday
Ingredients
- ¾ cup of pureed spinach
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup oil
- ½ cup applesauce
- 2 cups flour
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.
- Puree spinach and add ¾ cups of it to a blender along with the vanilla, eggs, oil and applesauce. Blend until mixed together.
- In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add the wet ingredients from the blender and mix the wet and dry ingredients until a batter forms Pour into muffin tins so each muffin is ⅔ full.
- Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Nutrition
For more muffin recipes:
Laura
The texture is decent, but the spinach flavor comes through more than I thought it would and leaves an aftertaste. I enjoy that these are healthy, but neither sweet or savory. If I make again, I’d probably add chocolate chips and/or coconut.
Hrather
I have been making these muffins for threes years now, and my son STILL loves them! He's 5 1/2 now, so we call them "monster muffins", this way he's not adverse to the green food. Great recipe, thanks for sharing!!!
TR
These are fantastic! I only had sweetened applesauce so I used that. After I steamed and puréed all the spinach I had, it was only about ¼ cup so I threw some frozen green beans in the blender to make up the difference. I was skeptical about the substitution but they turned out delicious and my picky kids are eating them up!
Hayley
My kids will eat these but they are not one of our favorites, they will barely finish a muffin. I will not be making these again. I cooked mine for 18 minutes and they came out over cooked or maybe this is just a dry recipe.
Mary
I used kale instead of spinach and subbed a bit of stevia for sugar kiddos loved them. I also tried with chocolate chips yummm. Thanks for sharing
Mika
How many cups is 6 oz of spinach? Does the recipe say 3 or 4 cups or 3/4 of a cup ??? I don't get it 🙁
Mika
Something went wrong. I guess the measurement change if you use fresh spinach as after adding the flour to the wet ingredients i got a hard green paste.
I had to add 1/2 cup of water to get it to the right consistency..... in the oven now. How they come out good ............. i don't wanna throw them out 🙁
Vicky
Yay! I am so glad to hear that Daniela. Thank you for the feedback!
Daniela
Big success at my house!! i made them last month, and yesterday out of the blue my 3 years old daughter requested them again. When I started the recipe, my husband complained that I never bake "normal" muffins... as soon as he tried them, he ate two, he loved them so much!!
KC
These were great! However I would reduce the flour and up the apple sauce to make them less bready. Also added coconut oil !
Vicky
I have never tried that Sara. I would think you could eliminate some if not all of the oil. If you do this let me know how it goes.
sara rose
can I substitute applesauce for all the sugar? If I do that, do I need to put less oil?
Vicky
About 6 ounces of fresh spinach worked for me.
Kate
About how many cups or ounces of fresh spinach are needed to equal the 3/4 cup of puréed spinach? I have a lot of spinach but I don't want to use all of it unless I have to.
Vicky
I have never tried that so I am sure how it would affect the recipe. If you try it, let me know how it works.
Erin
Can we substitute honey for the sugar?
Vicky
Thank you for the kind words Melinda! Love the additions you've mentioned and I can't wait to try them!
MelindaMaclay
Love these muffins, and the kids can't get enough! They are called "Yoda cakes" in our house, lol! I use frozen spinach thawed in the microwave for convenience, Grate a fresh apple with a squeeze of lemon juice instead of Apple sauce, and then NutriBullet this with all the wet ingredients before adding to the dry ingredients. Have also reduced the sugar down to 1/4 cup , but I add choc chips to keep the kids happy ? I have a batch in the oven now to which I have added some fresh grated nutmeg and 1/2 tspn of turmeric (because it's so good for us and you can't taste it in small doses with other ingredients I've found!)
Vicky
Thanks so much for the kind words Beth! I am so glad he is enjoying them!