These Parsnip Muffins are moist, tender, made with whole wheat flour, rolled oats, warm spices, and are perfectly sweet! Mixed in one bowl and done baking in under 20 minutes, these hearty muffins are perfect for a healthy breakfast or quick snack.

Baked parsnip muffins on a white marbles table. There is a linen lined basket holding some of the muffins and some ingredients scattered about on the table around the muffins.

 Veggie muffin recipes are kinda what I’m known for. You love them. I love them. And muffins are just a magical way to not only get more veggies into your life, but also to try vegetables that you might be trying to warm up to.

Like parsnips. Do you love them or do they make you feel all kinds of iffy? If you are in the parsnip-iffy group like I have been for years, you simply MUST try them in muffins. Really. Parsnips grated into muffin batter is a total GAME CHANGER in all the best ways.

These Parsnip Muffins are perfectly sweet and full of incredible warm spices. Rocking 1 cup of grated parsnips and sweetened with applesauce and a little brown sugar, these muffins are fluffy, tender, moist, and mixed all in one bowl. Made with a combination of whole wheat flour and rolled oats, these muffins are as hearty as they are delicious. This recipe makes a dozen and only takes 20 minutes to bake, so make a quick batch today and enjoy the leftovers for the most magical of breakfasts and snacks for days to come.

Bonus: these Parsnip Muffins are dairy-free for those who need it and can easily be make gluten free and egg-free with a few changes.

The ingredients for parsnip muffins on a marble table.
Ingredients: unsweetened applesauce, oil, eggs, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, raisins (optional), rolled oats, vanilla, parsnips, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

How to grate the parsnips for these muffins

Simply peel the parsnips and then use the large holes of a hand or box grater to break them down. Or the grating attachment on a food processor works beautifully, too. No need to squeeze out any of the excess moisture before adding them to the muffin batter, since parsnips tend to be pretty starchy.

A hand peeling a parsnip over a cutting board.
Peel parsnips.
A person grating a peeled parsnip over a cutting board.
Grate them with hand grater, box grater, or grating attachment of food processor.

Do I need to peel parsnips for this recipe?

If you give the parsnips a good scrubbing, peeling is optional.

But here is why you might want to peel them. The peels of root veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, and parsnips are totally edible. However, some people find the tender skin bitter. So, if you are trying to love parsnips, taking the extra step to peel them before cooking might help you enjoy them more!

Suggested Adaptations

  • Make them gluten free: Use a cup-for-cup style gluten free flour mix instead of the whole wheat flour and make sure to use gluten free oats.
  • Need egg-free? I haven’t tested it, but I think using a common egg-replacer such a flax “egg” would work in this recipe.
  • Skip the raisins or dried cranberries if they aren’t your thing.
  • Switch up the add-ins: these muffins would be great with 1/3 cup chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans or even a few chocolate chips
The wet ingredients for parsnip muffins in a bowl before being mixed.
Combine brown sugar, applesauce, eggs, grated parsnips, oil, and vanilla in a bowl.
The wet ingredients for parsnip muffins whisked together in a bowl. The spices, salt, and rising agents are on top of the mixture and there is a whisk in the bowl.
Whisk together and then add spices, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
A bowl of wet ingredients for parsnip in a bowl with a whisk. The rolled oats and whole wheat flour are on top of the wet ingredients.
Stir in flour and rolled oats.
The final batter for parsnip muffins after the raisins and parsnips have been mixed in.
Finally, mix in the optional raisins into your batter.
Portion the batter out between the prepared muffin tin compartments.
Bake for about 20 minutes.

How to store these muffins

Once your Parsnip Muffins have cooled completely, transfer them to an air-tight container and pop them into the fridge to enjoy within 4-5 days. While it is okay to store these muffins in an air-tight container at room temperature for a day or so, I find that their high moisture level can result in them molding faster than other traditional muffin recipes. Keeping them in the fridge helps to keep them fresher considerably longer.

Or, your can freeze these parsnip muffins in an air-tight freezer-safe container and enjoy them for up to a month!

A basket of parsnip muffins. There is a light gray napkin lining the basket.

Other veggie muffin recipes…

Did you try these parsnip muffins and now you’re hungry for more? 

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A parsnip muffin with a bite taken out of it, sitting on a table. The liner of the muffin is laying under it and there are more muffins blurred in the background.
5 from 5 votes

Hearty One-Bowl Parsnip Muffins

Yield: 12 muffins
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Cuisine: American
Course: Breakfast
Author: Taesha Butler
These Parsnip Muffins are moist, tender, made with whole wheat flour, rolled oats, warm spices, and are perfectly sweet! Mixed in one bowl and done baking in under 20 minutes, these hearty muffins are perfect for a healthy breakfast or quick snack.
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup peeled and grated parsnips
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup olive oil, or vegetable oil or avocado oil
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1¼ cups whole wheat flour
  • ¾ cup rolled oats
  • ⅓ cup raisins, or dried cranberries

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375℉. Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners or grease with oil.
  • Add grated parsnips to a large bowl, along with applesauce, eggs, oil, vanilla and brown sugar. Whisk together well.
    Wet ingredients for parsnip muffins in a bowl before being mixed together.
  • Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the bowl with the parsnip mixture. Whisk together again to incorporate everything.
    Wet ingredients for parsnip muffins whisked together in a bowl with a whisk. There are spices, salt, and rising agents on top of the mixture.
  • Add the flour and rolled oats to the bowl. Stir until just combined. Do not overmix, as this can result in dense muffins.
    Whole wheat flour and rolled oats in a bowl with the mixed wet ingredients for parsnip muffins.
  • Finally, add in the raisins. Fold them into the batter.
    Final batter for parsnip muffins in a bowl.
  • Spoon the batter into the 12 prepared muffin cups, filling about ¾ of the way.
    A hand scooping the batter for parsnip muffins into a lined muffin tin.
  • Bake until the tops of the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20-22 minutes. If you have a kitchen thermometer, cook until the muffins have an internal temperature of 200℉. This will ensure they are cooked through, but not overcooked.
  • Allow them to cool in pan for 15 minutes before enjoying. Once cooled completely, store in an air-tight container in the fridge for 4-5 days or in your freezer for up to a month.
Serving: 1muffin, Calories: 168kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.003g, Cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 195mg, Potassium: 175mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 53IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 44mg, Iron: 1mg