Zucchini Applesauce Muffins

Healthy zucchini applesauce muffins with whole wheat flour are a great breakfast or a snack, but still sweet and delicious for kids. Baked with shredded veggies inside, they are just another version of our moist zucchini bread but smaller.

Looking to make a healthier muffins with whole wheat flour but still want it to taste delicious? It must right? These zucchini applesauce muffins will turn you into a believer that breakfast and vegetables go together. Just one of the best muffin recipes on our site.

Why would you add shredded vegetables into muffins?

I mean you could really swap out this veggie for carrots instead like our zucchini carrot muffins if you wanted to, or use half and half! There’s nothing better than “hiding” a bit in a recipe that your kids say YUM to right?? It not only adds nutrition, but a bit of texture too and a lot of added moisture so they are super tender.

How Long to Bake Mini Zucchini Muffins

This size my kids love because they can grab one and go in the mornings on the way to school or practice. You can make them large, regular size like seen here or they love how long to bake mini muffins as well.

Ingredient Notes

To make it on the healthier spectrum, the binder was swapped out this time for whole wheat flour instead. I have this flour substitute chart if you’d rather use a different type. This is the only one I have used though so I cannot vouch for how another one might do with the other ingredients listed.

If you haven’t used this darker alternative it does add a lot of healthy aspects to your sweet baked goods. The texture is a bit heavier so you’ll notice that it’s a bit more dense when done. Make sure you still measure flour properly so you don’t add too much and make it dense.

Wheat germ will add nutrients, folate, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc into the mix.

Shredded zucchini is easiest to do on a wad of folded paper towels. Then fold it over and gently press down to soak up the excess water, you don’t want that added into your batter.

Milk or dairy free substitute works too

White sugar adds sweetness, could use sugar-free substitute

Applesauce can be jarred or make Instant Pot applesauce the day before. Use some with this and save the rest for a healthy snack. Your large Egg should be room temperature ideally.

Can you bake this in a loaf pan?

Yes you could very well bake this in a loaf pan but it would take much longer. Typically when I make something larger like our zucchini pineapple bread it will take closer to 50 minutes until a toothpick will come out clean. I personally prefer bite sizes like this so we can grab and go in the morning, and freeze them easier as well.

Tips for Baking with Zucchini

Always add veggies at the end and gently fold in so they don’t get too broken down. It is really important to take the extra minute or two to reduce the liquid too. With just a few paper towels you can gently press down and it will absorb that excess water on the outsides of your grated pieces.

Can you substitute sour cream for applesauce?

You can but the texture will be different, heavier, but more moist because of the added fat. Another option that will yield the same result would be to use pumpkin puree instead but that will give you more of a Fall flavor to your dish of course.

What else can I add?

You could add 1/4 cup of chocolate chips too if you wanted. I like mini semi sweet if I am doing that. I am not a crushed nuts in my baked goods gal but that would be fine too. If making a double batch follow the same instructions. You could package half of them in freezer bags to save for later too.

Tips for baking the perfect muffin

I will say that I am very particular when it comes to this snack. I grew up eating them a lot as a child and the worst was patiently waiting for them to bake after spending the afternoon making the batter and they cooked too long. The worst!! The last few minutes are critical and you need to pay attention.

Baking is now something I do a lot with my girls and I have taught them these same kitchen hacks. We do this A LOT so I do have a few tips you should follow.

Follow these tips so they turn out great every time you make them, no matter what type you make. Using your finger to test the tenderness is probably #1 on the importance scale of things. It is better than using a knife or toothpick because it can dry them out quicker than really feeling where they are at.

After this try another one of our favorites like these pumpkin zucchini muffins! A normally favorite Fall flavor you can buy cans of puree year round now which I love. I could eat these every week because they are just that good. The duo of shredded zucchini with the second veggie flavor is something that may sound odd but will surprise you non the less. Even chocolate is fun like our zucchini brownies recipe..

Need something quicker for guests that arrived unexpectedly?? You could make spice cake mix as directed with applesauce instead of oil and fold in shredded veggies. Or rhrow together these 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins instead.

Have brown nanners? Don’t throw those babies out, instead make a batch of our zucchini banana muffins for breakfast. You can kinda’ transform any of these into more of a dessert with a dollop of cream cheese frosting so yay!

Can you freeze muffins?

Yes. When ready to enjoy just take a few out of the bag out and let them come to room temperature. Then enjoy or you could warm each in the microwave too in 20 seconds or so. A great thing to do if you have a vegetable garden and don’t want food wasted. Batch cook a few dozen and freeze them for later in the year.