Morning Glory Muffins (& Energy Snack)

Power start your day with delicious, hearty, nutrient-packed Morning Glory Muffins. A satisfying energy snack muffin with veggies, fruits, and nuts. Freeze for a grab & go the whole family will love!

Looking for other delicious snack and breakfast muffin recipes? Try light, moist, Easy Cinnamon Roll Muffins, tasty, tangy Cranberry Pecan Muffins, and moist, cake-like Glazed Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins (not just for Fall anymore!).

Why Morning Glory Muffins Make Glorious Mornings

Don’t let the “morning” in the morning glory muffin recipe fool you. This scrumptious energy snack muffin offers a crunchy, chewy, appetite-crushing nosh that will hold you over for hours!

• Good & Plenty: Packed with carrots, coconut, apples, raisins, and your favorite nut in a moist, pleasing texture.
• Tasty & Healthy: Delicious healthy alternative to pre-packaged, snooze-inducing toaster pastries or other sugar-laden “snacks.”
• Bake & Take: A sturdy hold-together breakfast muffin or after-school snack that won’t trash your car! 
• Time-Saving: These snack muffins are marvelous for making a double batch and freezing for later.
• Grab & Go: Morning glory muffins are ideal for grabbing on a busy day when a nutrient-packed afternoon energy boost is required!
• Easy & Adaptable: No fuss sub-ins for healthy flavor variations or a pesky ingredient shortage.

Morning Glory Muffin Recipe Ingredients

For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Dry Muffin Batter Ingredients:

• All-Purpose Flour – you can use white, wheat, or half of each. Use the fluff, spoon, and level method to measure or weigh the flour on a food scale for the best results. 
• Brown Sugar – packed 
• Baking Soda – fresh baking soda is a MUST for a beautiful, fully domed muffin.
• Ground Cinnamon & Ginger – fresh ground spices emit a pungent aroma when you open the bottle.
• Salt

To test baking soda, place a few tablespoons of vinegar in a small dish and stir in about a teaspoon of baking soda. The mixture should immediately begin to fizz if the baking soda is still active; if there’s little to no reaction, it’s time to replace it.

Veggie, Fruits & Nut Elements

• Grated Carrots – wash, pat dry, and grate four large carrots.
• Raisins – golden or dark raisins or a mixture. 
• Pecans Or Walnuts – chopped (and lightly toasted). You can use any of your favorite nuts: almonds, pistachios, or pepitas. Even Macadamians are yummy.
• Coconut – sweetened or unsweetened, shredded. 
• Apple – preferably large and tart, peeled or not, and grated.

Wet Muffin Batter Ingredients

• Eggs – room temperature will help the batter ingredients come together
• Vegetable Oil – any neutral flavored or coconut oil lends a sweet, tropical aroma.
• Orange Juice – you’ll only need one decent-sized orange for freshly squeezed juice.  
• Vanilla Extract – use pure vanilla extract.
• Optional Garnish: sunflower seeds. You can also use extra chopped nuts or coconut flakes.

DYK? The top two muffin mistakes (and quick bread) are caused by improperly measuring the flour and older (impotent) baking soda/powder.

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How To Make Morning Glory Muffins

Homemade morning glory muffins are a healthy, guilt-free way to start your day with a bunch of good stuff rolled into one high-energy food that will sustain you to lunch. So gather up your ingredients and tools: muffin tin, liners, bowls, grater or food processor, and wire rack.

When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. Combine the sifted, dry muffin batter ingredients with the prepared veggie, fruit, and nut ingredients. 
2. Beat the wet muffin ingredients together, then stir into the flour mixture just until moistened. (No over-mixing!!)
3. Spoon morning glory batter into prepared muffin tins; fill to the top* and sprinkle with sunflower seeds.
4. Bake 20 minutes until tops are nicely domed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Cool muffins for 5-10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack.

Morning Glory Muffins Recipe Notes and Tips

• Too much flour will dry and densify morning glory muffins. BE SURE to correctly measure your flour. Weighing is the most accurate method or use the fluff, spoon, and level method.
• A tried and true box grater for shredding the apple and carrots will give you great results, but a food processor will save elbow grease.
• If you don’t mind the peel, you can skip peeling the apples for morning glory muffins.
• A quick prep tip, purchase pre-packaged shredded carrots to save time in the kitchen.
• Increase the moistness of morning glory muffins by plumping your raisins. Just pour boiling water over the raisins for a few minutes.
• When time permits, I prefer to lightly toast the nuts. This brings out the flavor more and helps them stay crunchier after freezing.
• Pre-wrap several of these healthy morning muffins for hassle-free grab & go.

Healthy Morning Glory Muffin Variations

Morning glory muffins are easily customizable with flavor variations, upping this high-energy food’s healthy factor!

• Up the veggie content with zucchini for apples.
• Lower the fat and calories with applesauce for oil.
• Decrease wheat sensitivity with gluten-free flour. 
• Increase fiber content with whole wheat flour.
• Add an extra protein bump with 2 tbsp of chia seeds.
• Improve digestion and add Omega 3s with 2 tbsp of flax seed.
• Add a touch of tropical with Dried Fruit Snacks.
• For chocolate lovers, throw in dark chocolate chips!
• To make morning glory muffins with pineapple, add an 8-ounce can of crushed pineapple, drained and pressed with paper towels to remove excess juice.