Heavenly Morning Glory Muffins

These wholesome Morning Glory Muffins are my absolute favorite variety, and once you try them, you'll understand why. Packed with nutritious ingredients like whole wheat flour, flaxseed, apples, carrots, raisins, applesauce, and honey, these cinnamon-spiced muffins taste like a delightful combination of apple cake, spice cake, and moist carrot cake—all in one delicious breakfast treat! Plus, they offer plenty of substitution options, so you can truly make them your own.

Do you remember when I first shared this recipe? It was back in 2015, and we're revisiting it now because it remains a beloved breakfast favorite. I've simplified the instructions and included many substitutions to give you more flexibility. These are my best Morning Glory Muffins, and here's why you'll love them:

Why You'll Love These Morning Glory Muffins

• Deliciously Moist and Spiced: They taste just like pumpkin muffins but with a unique twist.
• Mega Flavorful: Hints of orange enhance the taste.
• 100% Whole Wheat: A healthier option without compromising on flavor.
• Wholesome Ingredients: Packed with nutritious fruits, vegetables, and grains.
• Satisfying and Hearty: Perfect for a filling breakfast or snack.
• On-the-Go Snack: Easy to pack for busy mornings.
• Toddler-Approved: Even picky eaters love them!
• Easy to Make: No mixer required—just a whisk!
• Freezes Beautifully: Make a batch and enjoy them later.

Are These Muffins Healthy?

Healthy is a relative term, but I would consider these muffins to be on the healthier side. They contain whole wheat flour, fresh fruits and vegetables, applesauce, flaxseed, honey, and a touch of oil and refined sugar. I like to use applesauce to replace some of the oil, just as I do in my baked oatmeal and applesauce muffins. This swap helps keep the muffins moist and flavorful without adding too much fat. Think of these as a muffin version of my reader-loved harvest spice bread!

How to Make Morning Glory Muffins

Making these muffins is as simple as mixing the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another, then combining everything by hand. The batter is thick and chunky due to all the flavorful add-ins, which makes spooning it into muffin liners quite easy. You'll need a shredder or grater for the carrots and apple. I always use my box grater, which doubles as a cheese grater. It's also handy for making zucchini bread, healthy apple muffins, zucchini muffins, carrot cake, and grating frozen butter for scones.

Ingredients and Substitutions

I know the list of ingredients looks long, but most are common kitchen staples like flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Here are some substitutions you can make:

• Whole Wheat Flour: Use all-purpose flour instead if desired. (Or a mix of both.)
• Pecans: Substitute with dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, pistachios, shredded coconut, sunflower seeds, or more raisins.
• Brown Sugar: Coconut sugar is a great unrefined alternative.
• Honey: Substitute with brown sugar, coconut sugar, or pure maple syrup.
• Oil: Use melted butter instead.
• Applesauce: Replace with melted butter, more oil, apple butter, mashed banana, crushed pineapple, or pumpkin puree.
• Orange Zest: Optional, but adds extra flavor.
• Orange Juice: Pineapple juice or milk (dairy or nondairy) can be used instead.
• Raisins: Substitute with dried cranberries, other dried fruits, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, sunflower seeds, or more pecans.
• Carrots: Replace with more shredded apple or zucchini.
• Apples: Substitute with shredded zucchini or more carrots. Crushed pineapple also works well.

Baking Tips

Always line your muffin pans with paper liners and spray them lightly with nonstick spray. This ensures the muffins release easily from the pan. The batter is thick, so use a spoon or ice cream scoop to fill the muffin cups about three-quarters full. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

These Morning Glory Muffins are a delightful and wholesome way to start your day. With their rich, spiced flavor and moist, hearty texture, they are sure to become a staple in your breakfast rotation. Whether you stick to the original recipe or try some of the suggested variations, you'll love the versatility and deliciousness of these muffins. Have fun baking and enjoy every bite!

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The above recipe draws inspiration from the renowned culinary experts, Sally and Lindsay.