Meal Prep Cherry Oatmeal Muffins
- May 8, 2019
- Last Updated: May 19, 2025
- 7 Comments
- Recipes
These cherry chocolate chip oatmeal muffin cups are a fun new way to take oatmeal on the go, great for snacks, quick breakfasts and super for baby muffins and toddler muffins. Meal prep cherry oatmeal muffins are ready in 30 minutes!
This post is sponsored by Egglands Best. All opinions are my own and I only partner with brands I 100% use on my own.
I’m so excited to share these chocolate cherry muffins because they have received rave reviews in our house.
I obviously love anything oatmeal (from baked oatmeal to applesauce oat bars and so on), so oatmeal cups are a practical meal prep oatmeal snack option for me.
I typically tend to snack on the same things – hard boiled eggs, yogurt, nuts, fruit and dried fruit, bars and muffins. Dried cherries are slowly becoming a huge pantry staple for me.
Like raisins, they are so darn easy to add into everything, or just eat as a snack. And nutritionally speaking, they are a great add-in! Dried fruit can be a great source of nutrients like iron, potassium, Vitamin C and fiber.
Plus, tart dried cherries are even known for their ability to enhance recovery after exercise. All great reasons to have them on hand.
So, in creating these dried cherry muffins, I knew I’d have a winner when I took my first bite. It’s a flourless muffin recipe and can easily be made gluten-free.
This is one of many of our favorite healthy kid snack ideas! For 15+ other healthy recipes for toddlers and kids, check out our ebook!
Why You’ll Love Cherry Oatmeal Muffins
- Ready in under 40 minutes – Chocolate chip cherry muffins are ready in under 40 minutes! Just mix everything and throw it in the oven. Doesn’t get any easier! No chopping ingredients or thawing is necessary. Again, we’re all about delicious efficiency over here!
- Delicious flavor – Cherry + chocolate is an amazing flavor combo! If you need more proof, check out this chocolate cherry chia pudding made with fresh cherries. If you’re like me and a sucker for chocolate covered cherries or fruit, these chocolate dried cherry muffins are for YOU.
- Easy for on the go – Oatmeal to go can be tricky territory if you don’t prep in advance. And sometimes, we forget to make overnight oats and we don’t have time for steel-cut oatmeal. But, having some portable cherry oat muffins on hand can make for convenient kid friendly breakfast muffins! Just pair with fruit and a hard-boiled egg (for extra protein) or yogurt to reach the recommended 25 grams of protein at breakfast.
- Healthy toddler snack – Perhaps the reason I make these over and over again! These healthy cherry muffins with chocolate chips make the best snacks on their own. Whether it’s an after-school snack they can look forward to or a healthy dessert, oatmeal cherry muffins are great for busy parents and families on the go. Additionally, these healthy oatmeal cups are great sources of fiber, Vitamin C, potassium and B-vitamins.
- Great bedtime snack – Did you know tart dried cherries are anti-inflammatory and may help promote sleep? They have melatonin and tryptophan in them, so researchers think that combination can help promote sleep. So, have one of these with a glass of milk before you start your bedtime routine.
Ingredients
Cherry chocolate chip muffins are made with all wholesome ingredients. In the testing process, I tried to leave out any unnecessary ingredients.
- Rolled oats or old fashioned oats – Make sure to use certified gluten-free oats to keep these gluten free!
- Eggs – Important for binding and holding these together! I didn’t test these without the eggs, but they should work with flax eggs as well.
- Honey or maple syrup – I do recommend having a little sweetener – even brown sugar or coconut sugar work. If serving to babies under one, don’t use honey as it can increase the risk for botulism.
- Milk of choice – If serving to babies and toddlers, I recommend whole milk or soy milk if dairy-free, but almond milk/cashew milk/coconut milk also work).
- Butter or coconut oil – Either works!
- Dried cherries – I tested these using dry cherries specifically. If you want to use fresh cherries, you can probably use between 1/2 cup to 1 cup, but make sure to half or quarter the cherries.
- Flax Seeds – You can omit the flax seeds, but they add SO much nutrition (fiber and healthy fats) but don’t alter the flavor. You could also substitute for hemp seeds.
- Chocolate Chips– leave these out if you want to serve to little ones
Other Variations
If you’re just not into the dried cherries and/or cherry chocolate combination, some other variations for these baked oatmeal cups include:
- raisins or other dried fruit
- chopped almonds, walnuts, or other nut
- shredded coconut
- sunflower butter, almond butter or peanut butter
- banana slices, blueberries or strawberries
- hemp seeds or chia seeds
How to Make Dried Cherry Chocolate Chip Muffins
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is preheating, combine your dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix your eggs, milk, honey and butter.
I’ll usually melt the butter in the bowl first, and then add the other ingredients and whisk together.
Then, you’ll mix your wet and dry ingredients into one bowl, and add in your dried cherries and chocolate chips. Make sure to stir them gently!
Then, divide the cherry oatmeal mixture among the 12 muffin tins using silicone or paper liners. You can sprinkle more chocolate chips on top if you’d like.
Bake for 25-27 minutes or until the tops are slightly brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
How To Store Healthy Oatmeal Cherry Muffins
I think you’ll agree – chocolate chip cherry muffins may not last long enough to need storage! If they do, you can store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag on the counter for a few days.
If longer than that, move to the fridge or freezer. You freeze in a ziploc or stasher bag or glass tupperware container.
When ready to eat, you can let them thaw in the fridge overnight, or toss them in the microwave or toaster oven to warm up. I recommend slathering with melted butter or your favorite nut butter.
Cherry Oatmeal Muffins with Chocolate Chips
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups rolled oats or old fashioned oats
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp flax seeds
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 Egglands Best large eggs
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 cup milk I used almond milk
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, cinnamon, flax seeds, vanilla, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, crack 2 eggs. Slowly add in honey, milk and butter, whisking until combined.
- Add wet to dry ingredients, stirring until oats are covered in liquid. Let sit for 5-10 minutes to absorb. Add dried cherries and chocolate chips in last.
- Spray a muffin tin pan with cooking spray and pour oatmeal mixture among the 12 muffins tins, dividing evenly.
- Bake for 25-27 minutes or until the tops are slightly brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
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Support Bucket List TummyGreat quick snack
When I have time to bake oatmeal, I think it might be one of my favorite ways to have oatmeal! 🙂 I’m saving this and hoping to make it sometime either this weekend or next weekend.
I hope you enjoy them Emily!
Fabulous! And omega-3s too!
Yes, they’re great!
Yummm!! I hope I still have some dried cherries in my pantry. I did not know they had tryptophan and melatonin in them – very cool!
Yeah! Such little powerhouses 🙂