Breakfast/Brunch

March 15, 2022

Carrot Apple Muffins

These Carrot Apple Muffins are good for you, and super easy to make! Loaded with fiber, healthy fats, and protein, these muffins meet my perfect snack trifecta. Carrot Apple Muffins make a delicious breakfast, or the perfect snack for any time of day. Or, add them to a brunch spread for a satisfying treat that’s not too sweet. They’d be great for an upcoming Easter brunch menu!

These muffins were inspired by one of my students. I’m a professional teaching assistant at my alma mater, National University of Natural Medicine. I support students and faculty, and one of my main functions is grading. One week in the foundational Culinary Skills class is dedicated to baking. As I was reviewing students’ submissions, one student’s carrot quick bread recipe submission really intrigued me. My initial reaction was - do these ingredients really work together?! There’s so many ingredients in there - and they’re all things I love - but do they really all work together?

I can assure you, they do. I played around with amounts and added just a touch of sweetness from Medjool dates, as well as adjusted the methods to make muffins, and the results are amazing - tender, fluffy, tasty muffins. Plus, they’re super easy to make - everything is done in a food processor. The apple, carrots, and dates get pulsed until very finely chopped, then you add the remaining ingredients to make the batter. These muffins come together quickly, making them great for a weekend meal prep session, or an easy weekend breakfast or snack. Give them a try - I hope you think they’re amazing, too!

Ingredients assembled for Crazy Carrot Muffins
Assemble your ingredients.

Making the muffin batter in the food processor
Add chopped apple, carrots, and dates to a food processor and pulse until very finely chopped. Add remaining ingredients, and pulse until the batter just comes together.

Using a spoon to scoop muffin batter into a muffin tin
Spoon batter into a prepared muffin tin, and bake.

Carrot Apple Muffins on a cooling rack
Enjoy these Carrot Apple Muffins for breakfast, brunch, or a snack!

Half a Carrot Apple Muffin spread with butter on a plate
I especially like them with just a little butter spread on each warm half.

Original publication date: March 22, 2021 // Post and photos updated March 10, 2022

Carrot Apple Muffins

These Carrot Apple Muffins are packed with good-for-you ingredients including a fruit, a vegetable, protein and healthy fat! They're a delicious breakfast or snack on the go.

Author:

Kira Freed - The Joyful Plateful

Prep:

10

min

cook:

18

min

total:

28

min

Ingredients

1 small-medium apple (any variety), cored, roughly chopped

16 baby carrots

6 medjool dates, pitted

3 Tbsp. natural peanut butter

1/3 cup coconut oil, melted

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 cup almond flour

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground turmeric

1/2 tsp. sea salt

Rolled oats (for topping - optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease or line each well of a 12-cup muffin pan, and set aside.
  2. In the bowl of a food processor, add chopped apple, baby carrots, and dates. Pulse food processor until ingredients are finely chopped.
  3. Add remaining ingredients to the food processor, and pulse until combined.
  4. Scoop batter from the food processor into prepared muffin cups, dividing equally among the 12 cups.
  5. Bake muffins at 350 degrees F for 16-18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
  6. Cool muffins in the pan about 10 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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