Kid-Friendly Vegan Spinach Muffins

These kid-friendly vegan spinach muffins are as yummy as they are healthy! Made from whole grains, naturally sweetened and veggie-loaded, they are mixed entirely in your blender and are dairy-free and egg free! The perfect healthy breakfast or snack for your family.

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“Here lies Taesha. She was a loving wife, mother, friend, daughter, and sister. She taught many children, loved hiking, feared snakes, couldn’t sing to save her life and brought the world Green Smoothie Muffins.”

This is what I imagine my tombstone will one day read. All of the great things that have defined me in life, and yes, green smoothie muffins makes the list.

If you are new around these parts, you probably have no idea what the heck I am talking about. But for you longtime TNNers, you know how popular and magical my Oatmeal Green Smoothie muffins are. Not a day goes by that I don’t get a handful of pictures in my email or DMs on Instagram of adorable kiddos shoving green smoothie muffins into their cute little faces. Or notes from parents and caregivers sharing how the Oatmeal Green Smoothie Muffins have changed how their children feel about green veggies, or that it is the only veggie-packed recipe they can get their selective eater to enjoy, or that it is their go-to easy breakfast that is both healthy and beloved by the family. Yep, Green Smoothie muffins are awesome and loved by many.

However, I also get a handful of emails from parents that are working with children with food allergies who can’t do eggs or dairy. Or their family is vegan by choice for various reasons. Or that they have a texture sensitive kiddo that finds the oat flour in the Green Smoothie muffins a bit too dense. So, I have created a twin sister to the Green Smoothie muffins with those particular people in mind. TNNers, say hello to Kid-Friendly Vegan Spinach Muffins.

All the flavor and easy you all love in my Green Smoothie muffins, but made from white whole wheat flour (for a lighter texture) and free of eggs and dairy! And just because it’s fun, I threw some mini chocolate chips into the mix! Because chocolate makes everything more exciting…but especially new green foods!

Suggested Adapations

• Make them gluten free. Sub the whole wheat flour with your favorite 1:1 gluten free flour blend! I like Bob’s Red Mills blend.
• Egg-free not important? If you don’t need these muffins to be vegan, replace the water and flax meal in this recipe with 2 large eggs.
• Dairy-free not important? Again, this these muffins look like something you need in your life but them being vegan isn’t important to your crew, use whatever milk your family enjoys or has on hand!
• Skip the chocolate chips. And enjoy these as is!
• Replace chocolate chips with raisins, blueberries or chopped nuts. Or whatever else you can dream up!
• Bake it as a loaf! Bake it at the same temperature for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Tips for making kid-friendly vegan spinach muffins

• If you don’t have a high-speed blender that can handle a heavy load, consider blending JUST the wet ingredients + spinach in the blender (everything mentioned in Step 3 of the directions). Once blended, combine the blended wet ingredients + the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until the batter has an even consistency. Fold in chocolate chips and bake as normal.
• If you are making it for extra littles ones, skip the maple syrup/date syrup, salt and chocolate chips! The banana sweetens these nicely on their own.
• Start slow with the spinach for veggie-iffy kiddos. If your child (or partner) hasn’t hopped on the green food train yet, try adding just one very small handful of spinach for the first batch. The muffins will be lighter in their green color and less intimidating. When you make another batch, add a little bit more if your family seems open to it.

How to make these vegan spinach muffins with kids

Involve children in the baking! This recipe is simple and a great one to bake with kiddos….especially since it involves add vegetables. And lots of research shows that children who are involved in the cooking process are drastically more likely to be open to trying new foods! Since there is no eggs, you can relax about the kiddos licking their fingers during the cooking process.

• Have your child add the spinach to the blender. Let them decide how much too! Even if it is just one leaf of spinach, your child will know that there is a veggie in the muffins.
• Let them mash the bananas.
• Have him/her sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the muffins before popping them into the oven.

Other veggie-packed muffin recipes kiddos love!

• Egg-free Carrot Apple Muffins
• Vegan Carrot Muffins (with lentils)
• Dairy-free Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Muffins
• Dairy-free Chocolate Butternut Squash Muffins

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