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40+ Ideas for Healthy Baby Led Weaning Muffins
- February 21, 2024
- Last Updated: November 25, 2024
- 5 Comments
- Baby Led Weaning
We’re big fans of baby led weaning muffins because you can add so many nutrient-dense options to them. Check out these healthy baby muffins for tons of ideas for your babies and toddlers.
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Now that my third kiddo is full-on eating people food and snacks, I have to be prepared with snacks ALL THE TIME. And baby muffins are the perfect snack.
I try to stay on top of my game by making healthy muffins for baby led weaning and healthy homemade toddler snacks week after week.
Baby led weaning muffins are wonderful for quick, ready-when-you-need them snacks. Like when my toddler is starting to have a tantrum after getting home from the playground.
I also rely heavily on diy yogurt pouches because they save me so much money vs. buying from the store. I don’t know what it is about two year olds, but they love pouches, and now my youngest is the same.
Now that it’s my third time around as a parent, I know what I’m doing, and what’s worth it vs. not worth it.
I thought it would be helpful to share some of the diverse and tasty baby led weaning breakfast muffins we’ve come across, especially if you need some inspiration on how to get toddlers to eat veggies.
Some of our other favorite breakfast recipes for babies and toddlers are these baby french toast sticks and baby waffles, both of which are easy and tasty options!
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Many of these healthy baby led weaning muffins have veggies hidden in them, making them a great way to get nutrition in!
When we’re dealing with busy weeks, we also heavily rely on freezer friendly toddler recipes (no shame at all).
As a Registered Dietitian, what I feed my children seems to be a popular topic over here and I try to be real with how I approach intuitive eating for kids.
This approach has helped me promote autonomy and raise confident eaters. While I use a variety of wholesome ingredients in my meals, I am also practical and provide a no-pressure feeding zone.
Why We Love Baby Led Weaning Muffins
Baby food muffins are so incredibly helpful for all of the below reasons and more!
- Easy to meal prep– You can cook many of these baby muffin recipes with simple ingredients in 20 minutes, so perfect while baby does a quick catnap on you (my daughter would ALWAYS fall asleep in her ergo). I always recommend keeping a non-stick silicone tray on hand for these recipes to make when you get a 20-minute window.
- Perfect first muffins – Don’t stress about what to put or not put in. This inclusive list has so many possibilities to meet your dietary preferences and restrictions, making them the perfect first muffins for baby! Once they have their pincer grasp and have eaten and enjoyed other solids, you can try some of these healthy muffins for baby.
- Great way to offer veggies – From sweetpotatoes to avocado to spinach, these baby muffin recipes are full of nourishing fruits and veggies. Many of them overlap with my favorite sweetpotato recipes for toddlers!
- Bulk up healthy baby muffins with other ingredients – I love to add things like chia seeds, flax seeds, peanut butter/almond butter, greek yogurt, avocado, egg, and other healthy ingredients for little babies into these blw muffins. I’ll throw chia seeds into nearly everything – we love them! Check out our other post about chia seeds for kids and how to use them.
- Flavorful – From baby led weaning banana muffins to baby led weaning blueberry muffins, there are so many options and flavors to choose from to expand their little taste buds.
- Perfect freezer snack – While you can’t forget about yourself (ahem: postpartum snacks), you can bulk make these blw muffins and pull them out of the freezer when you need them! The muffin liners make them super easy. They can be served as a baby led weaning breakfast or snack.
- Great for the whole family– Yes, I’ve already mentioned that new moms can thrive on these muffins. But, toddlers (older siblings) also love them, which is why they can also be used as easy toddler meals and snacks for daycare and healthy toddler finger food recipes.
Hopefully, you feel less overwhelmed and more inspired by all of these ideas at your fingertips.
Ingredients For Healthy Baby Muffins
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When to Introduce Muffins for Baby Led Weaning
While it’s always a good idea to check with your pediatrician before starting solid foods, here are some of the typical developmental signs of readiness for starting solids.
- Sitting: Baby can sit independently and with head control. This ensures safe angles for chewing and swallowing. And don’t forget a proper high chair with a foot rest for baby!
- Reach & Grab: Baby is able to pick up food while seated and easily bring them to the mouth. This is why we rely mostly on finger foods that are easy to grab, and muffins are the perfect finger food as babies get more proficiency.
- Shows An Interest: Baby has shown/is showing an interest in food. While watching you eat, he/she may grab at the food.
- Tongue Reflex: Some experts also recommend having the tongue thrust disappear before starting solids. However, newer research suggests that this may not be necessary.
While you don’t necessarily need to offer muffins right away to 6 month olds, it can be a great food option once baby has mastered some basic foods.
I did not offer muffins as a first food since they typically can have many different ingredients (and allergens, like dairy, cheese, eggs, nut butters) in them.
Once we tested different allergenic foods separately, I felt more comfortable about mixed foods. I started with small pieces of mini muffins, and worked our way up to serving the whole muffin to baby.
You can read more about how we approached our baby led weaning foods for 6 months and how we progressed to baby led weaning at 9 months.
Additions To Healthy Muffins for Baby
As a Registered Dietitian, here are some of my favorite additions to muffin recipes for baby led weaning.
- fruits – mashed banana is always a great sweetener without added sugars.
- veggies – sweetpotatoes are one of my favorite veggies to introduce to babies at all ages. You can read why I love sweetpotatoes for baby led weaning.
- whole grains
- seeds
- healthy fats, like coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, etc.
- chia seeds
- flax seeds
- hemp seeds
- nut flours – offering a boost of protein and fiber!
- whole wheat flour – A great way to increase fiber, iron, B-Vitamins and more
- nut butters and seed butter – Learn about the importance of introducing allergens, and here are easy peanut recipes for babies
- full fat dairy options
- herbs and spices for babies – Try to keep sodium to a minimum
Just make sure you have multiple muffin tins! I love these muffin tins for non stick, and I also keep mini muffin tins on hand as well as muffin liners.
You can also turn many of these into a blender muffin recipe by mixing the batter in a blender. Save a bowl to wash!
While some of these recipes may use maple syrup or honey, you can (and should) keep added sugars to a minimum for babies, so you can omit these sweeteners completely to avoid a super sweet taste preference from their little taste buds.
Furthermore, honey should not be offered to babies under the age of 1 due to the risk of botulism.
These muffins for baby led weaning can be great ways to ADD more variety in fruits and veggies for your new eater, translating to more nutrients.
I try to support that by offering fruits and/or veggies at each meal, even if she hasn’t shown any interest before.
We also try to offer foods in different ways. For example, sometimes I’ll bake “zucchini fries,” sometimes I’ll bread them, and sometimes I’ll spiralize zucchini (like in these salmon zucchini fritters).
The great part about these healthy muffins is that they also make for great kids road trip snacks because they are filling and nutrient-dense.
Iron Rich Muffins
These healthy muffins for kids are always an easy place to sneak in more nutrients during those more “selective” periods.
For example, many healthy muffins for baby are a good source of iron, thanks to ingredients like beans and/or legumes, oat flour or chickpea flour.
Pair them with some Vitamin-C rich fruit or veggies, like strawberries, melon, sweetpotatoes, squash, and you can increase the iron absorption as well.
Use up leftovers
We love to mix our homemade sweet potato baby food, garden veggies and leftover veggie scraps into various muffin recipes.
Add any fruits or veggies that are on their way out to these baby led weaning muffin recipes. For example, you could finely diced broccoli into any savory egg muffins for babies. There are lots of fun ideas for serving broccoli for baby led weaning.
Healthy Fats
Many muffin recipes for babies also offer an opportunity to add healthy fats for growing babies’ brains. I love grass fed butter, coconut oil, nut butters, nut flours and more.
These healthy fats are essential for growth! Plus, they add a moist texture to the muffins, which is easier than a dry texture for babies.
Baby Led Weaning Muffin Recipes
While there isn’t one “magic muffin recipe” that all kids love, there is no shortage of healthy muffins for babies and kids available.
Each child has different taste preferences and nutritional needs, depending on their age, size, appetite and food allergies or sensitivities.
While egg muffins for baby led weaning work well for many families without an egg allergy, others prefer to stick to more bland options, or just rely on fruits and veggies, like banana or carrot muffins.
I’ve gathered a variety of healthy breakfast muffins for kids (that can cater from your six-month-old to your five-year-old) that can help your little ones start their days off (and continue their days) with lots of energy and nutrients.
The best part about muffins is that they are easy to turn into baby muffin recipes, too! Just serve them in mini muffin tins.
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If you want sugar free muffins for babies, just omit the sweetener – maple syrup, honey, sugar, brown sugar, date syrup, etc.
Baby Led Weaning Muffins
Many of these baby muffin recipes are sugar free or reduced, so you can feel good about sharing with your baby, toddler and older kids. Many are filled with whole wheat flour and some also use alternatives, like oat flour and almond flour if you need gluten free options.
Fruity Toddler Muffins and Healthy Baby Muffins
Fruity muffins can be optimal healthy breakfast muffins for kids and can be great as baby led weaning muffins as well.
Most kids prefer the sweetness of fruits to the bitterness of some vegetables, and banana muffins for babies are hard to beat.
Strawberry Banana Chickpea Flour Muffins are light and fluffy, yet high in protein. These chickpea flour muffins are gluten-free and ready in 30 minutes. This is hands down my favorite muffin recipe for baby.
These gluten free sweetpotato apple muffins are a sweet snack for fall flavor, topped with a crispy oat topping.
Acorn squash muffins are a delicious, kid-friendly snack that can be served any time of day.
Butternut squash egg muffins for baby are an easy, healthy recipe that work great for breakfast, as a snack, or for on the go! Made with wholesome veggies, protein and healthy fats, baby egg muffins are great for meal prep!
For the best gluten free zucchini muffins, look no further than these zucchini almond flour muffins made with almond flour, oats, almond butter and spices. A delicious and satisfying snack for the whole family.
Almond Flour Banana Muffins are the choice for baby food muffins ! You can whip these banana almond muffins up in less than 30 minutes without any oil or added sugars!
Make these healthy gluten free blueberry muffins for a snack to keep you energized. These dairy free blueberry muffins are great for both kids and adults.
These mini, vegan toddler muffins are perfect for little hands! They contain a little bit of everything and make a great healthy snack.
These Ricotta Berry Oatmeal Cups pack in both the protein and the calcium. Don’t love blueberries? Swap in another fruit to make these great for baby muffins.
Made with garbanzo bean (chickpea) flour and unsweetened applesauce, these muffins are also gluten-free, dairy-free, and a good source of protein and fiber.
Fall Flavored Healthy Muffins for Babies
Fall flavored muffins, like apple, pumpkin or sweet potato, can be great as baby led feeding muffins. Pumpkin and sweet potato are full of antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients.
Therefore, they make an ideal ingredient for healthy muffins for kids. That's why sweet potato and pumpkin baby food are so popular and great as iron rich enhancements.
These cherry chocolate chip baked oatmeal cups are a fun new way to take oatmeal on the go, great for snacks, quick breakfasts and kid-friendly.
These Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are made with chickpea flour and naturally sweetened with bananas. Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip muffins are great as baby muffins, toddler muffins, or a high protein muffin snack!
Delicious mini muffins made with avocado and blueberries!
Pumpkin zucchini muffins are perfect for fall, and a healthy muffin recipe for babies, toddlers and adults! Who knew dairy free pumpkin muffins could taste so good!?
Mini quinoa sweet potato muffins are sweet, delicious, and loaded with nutrients for a guilt free treat the whole family will enjoy
Sugar free pumpkin muffins are perfect pumpkin muffins for toddlers and even babies! If you are looking for delicious autumn baby-led weaning muffins, this is your recipe
These apple spiced muffins are healthy and perfectly kid friendly.
This easy recipe for Sweet Potato Muffins combines whole grains and sweet potatoes for a wholesome breakfast. A
High Fiber Muffins for Toddlers
Need healthy baby muffins to help with constipation or increasing your baby's fiber intake?
It can sometimes be difficult to find high fiber muffins that taste good but these are some reliable options. I like serving them as baby breakfast muffins to start the day off with fiber.
These healthy Bran Muffins are the best bran muffin recipe around and are a delicious way to boost fiber and pack nutrients into your day. Freeze muffins for a quick grab and go snack.
These healthy lentil muffins are naturally sweetened with mashed banana and applesauce instead of refined sugar. Red lentil puree adds a boost of protein and fiber, making them a nutritious snack or breakfast.
Simple & delicious Vegan Blueberry Bran Muffins that are packed full of healthy ingredients. Perfect for breakfast, snacks & lunch boxes
Enjoy these Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins for breakfast or as a sweet afternoon snack. Made with whole wheat flour, each muffin has 4 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein!
Make it peanut butter jelly time, ALL the time! These whole grain peanut butter jelly muffins filled with chia seed jam are perfect for breakfast, snacking or a sweet treat.
These White Bean Muffins (or bars!) pack an entire can of great northern beans into a dozen muffins. They’re full of protein and fiber and perfect for breakfast or snack time!
These Lentil Banana Muffins are the perfect on-the-go breakfast. They’re kid-friendly and packed with fiber and protein. Plus you can’t even taste the lentils!
Veggie Muffins for Toddlers
Vegetable muffins may not sound that appetizing but these easy veggie muffin recipes may change your mind! Vegetable muffins can be a great way to serve veggies in new ways.
Veggie muffins also increase the nutrient content of those baby muffins your kids love.
They are also perfect as baby food muffins and baby finger food recipes because they aren't overly sweet.
Need a quick and easy savory breakfast muffin recipe? These spinach feta muffins are great for on the go, or getting more veggies into your day.
Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Zucchini Muffins are a tasty, portable snack option for your little ones. These zucchini and sweet potato muffins are full of veggies and provide a dairy-free option for those who need it
These Zucchini Carrot Oat Muffins are a veggie-loaded treat that taste absolutely delicious. Made with bananas, oat flour, and grated vegetables, they’re a healthy, gluten free option for the whole family.
These Carrot Zucchini Muffins are made with whole wheat flour and oatmeal! They are the perfect healthy breakfast recipe that’s loaded with nutrition! AKA: Baby Muffins!
Start the day off right with these delicious, fiber-fiber rich muffins your kids will love. Perfect for breakfast or snack time. Bonus: they make your home smell like heaven!
Bananas and dried fruit help to sweeten these sugar-free baby muffins.
A high protein and low sugar option, these chickpea banana muffins are the perfect mommy and me muffins.
Easy & moist Healthy Carrot Muffins made with whole wheat flour, carrots and maple syrup. These delicious muffins are great for a quick breakfast or snack!
These healthy blueberry zucchini muffins are bursting with warm freshly baked blueberries and a sweet crumb topping; you’d never guess they contain a vegetable!
These plant-forward Berry Yummy Oat Baby Muffins are made with fruit and veggie purees, and they contain no added sugar, salt, eggs, soy, nuts, dairy, or wheat, making them a healthy, plant-based, and allergen-friendly way to nourish babies six months and older.
Paleo Zucchini Banana Muffins! The perfect healthy breakfast recipe that delivers a serving of fruits AND veggies! Paleo, gluten-free & dairy-free!
Try these Apple Cinnamon Zucchini Cookies today for a delicious treat the whole family will enjoy
Veggie Muffins with Greens
It’s a little hard to hide the vegetables in these veggie muffins, but there's so nutritious and still tasty!
Healthy toddler muffins made with wholesome ingredients.
Healthy Spinach Breakfast Muffins are gluten free muffins made straight in the blender! No added sugar (minus the chocolate chips) only the sweetness from naturally occurring sugars in Florida Orange Juice. Your little ones will love this spinach muffin recipe.
A savory egg muffin for babies and toddlers that is easy and delicious.
Get some veggies in with these cauliflower broccoli muffins for baby.
Packed with the goodness of veggies and sugar-free, these savory muffins are super delicious and might become your new favorites.
These healthy beet muffins are incredibly delicious and full of nutritious ingredients, including shredded beetroot and apples, unsweetened applesauce, extra virgin olive oil, and whole wheat flour.
Sarah Schlichter is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition. As a mom of 3, she specializes in family nutrition, sports nutrition and intuitive eating. She also co-hosts the podcast, Managing Mealtime Madness. Learn More About Sarah
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Support Bucket List TummyGreat website,full of amazing recipes. Thanks for posting this baby muffins.
What a great round-up! Thanks for including my Zucchini Carrot Oat Muffins :-)!
They look delicious!
I don’t have any kids but I’m not going to pass up a baked goods post. Can’t wait to dive into the recipes a bit and find one to try out.
I can’t either – so many choices!