I am too excited about this muffin recipe to wait until St. Patrick’s Day! I’ve had great luck in the past using pureed spinach to turn pancakes green, so I knew I could make a green muffin. Not only do I think these turned out fantastic, even Mr. Picky loved them, too. Although I did tell him a little lie and said I used green food coloring and he just lit up, eyes wide, “Really?! You did?! Really, Mom?! Like the unhealthy kind?!” Honestly, I’m a little disappointed that my son actually thinks I would use food coloring in a muffin. And just as disappointed that he would be excited to eat that same muffin. I had to lie again. Actually, buddy, it’s a natural green food coloring which gets its color from spinach. Bummed out face. I know for a minute there he thought I suddenly turned into an exciting mom, one who would take risks and dare to use carcinogens! “Oh. They’re still good, I guess.”
And they are good! These muffins are lightly sweet, moist, simple and BRIGHT GREEN because they are loaded with spinach! St. Patrick’s Day is a HUGE opportunity to get green foods into your kids because they are expecting them. You’re showing your spirit. On any other day, green muffins are you just trying to sneak leafy greens into your kids who are not fooled. But the closer we get to March 17th, green muffins are part of the fun!
This is a very basic muffin recipe. The spinach is undetectable and the banana is very subtle. But if you hate banana, you might be able to sub 1/2 cup of applesauce. I think adding walnuts or chocolate chips would be great, too. One of my daughters suggested cream cheese frosting, although then these become cupcakes which is fine, too. These tasted best the day they were made and the next day, too. They lasted just fine a few days on the countertop in a sealed container, but I would freeze what you don’t think you’ll eat within a couple days. Let me know if you make these and if you get lucky!
Green Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour, white whole wheat flour or spelt flour (or use 2 cups of King Arthur Multi-purpose Gluten-free Flour + 1 teaspoon xanthan gum)
- 2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fine ground sea salt
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup pure maple syrup, Grade A or Grade B
- ¾ cup dairy or non-dairy milk, such as almond milk
- ¼ cup unrefined coconut oil, melted
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 5- or 6-ounce bag of fresh baby spinach leaves
- 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with unbleached parchment liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a blender add egg, maple syrup, milk, oil, vanilla and spinach. Process until pureed.
- Add spinach mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in the mashed banana.
- Scoop batter into prepared muffin tin, filling cups about ¾ full. I like to do this with a large ice cream scooper. Bake about 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Store at room temperature up to 3 days. These freeze nicely!
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
Hi Pamela,
Is there a good substitute for the xanthan gum when using gf flour?
Thanks!
I haven’t tested these subs in this recipe, but guar gum and psyllium husk powder are often suggested as substitutes for xanthan gum.
Can I use oat flour?
Probably! I would measure 2 cups and take out 2 Tablespoons since oat flour is more water soluble
It’s worth a try! I think it should work fine.
Is there any reason not to purée the bananas in the blender with all the other wet ingredients? Thanks!
You could! It will make the texture very smooth. Go for it!
Can you add blueberries inside or put a streusel on top of the muffin? I’m trying to make a muffin that looks a bit more “icky.”
You mean less icky?? LOL You can put chocolate chips on top or sprinkle the tops with plain blanched almond flour which will look streusel-like?
Just made these with my 5 year old daughter and they were a hit with the whole family! Perfect snack filled with goodness.
Yay! Feel free to make them NOT on St. Patrick’s Day now that they passed the test! 🙂
Is there a good substitute for coconut oil? Olive oil? Applesauce? We can’t use coconut anything due to an allergy. Thank you!
Try olive oil! I’m sure they will turn out amazing!
Just tried for the first time Wow, delicious!! Any idea on a calorie count? (For Mom, not child ) thanks!
Glad you like them! Sorry, I haven’t calculated calorie count. My blogger friends all refer their readers to My Fitness Pal for calculating calories and macros. I hope that helps!
So, I wanted to make these for my son’s class as a treat for St. Patrick’s Day. I made a batch first to test them out to see if 3rd graders would eat them. I thought they were excellent and decided they would be perfect. (We really aren’t allowed to bring in homemade treats because of allergies but I can’t stand bringing in anything processed so I just make sure I make things that everyone can eat). My own kids loved them and my son’s class, with a few exceptions, loved them too. Camden could not wait to tell everyone that the muffins had spinach in them. I also made a little skewer of grapes and honeydew. These muffins were simple, tasty and so easy to make. The color was amazing. We have some new St. Patrick Day traditions thanks to you.
You’re a good mama. Just say no to processed food! I don’t think these muffins are all that difficult to make and I’m sure you would agree. Thank you for spreading the health!
Just a little note here….I made these for my mom to take on the airplane with her this week and the daughter of the person she was visiting loved them. I passed on the recipe and she can’t wait to make them for her family.
Thank you for sharing my recipes with so many people. I wish I could hire you as my agent!
Can you let me know the nutritional Value for these? Thank you!
Hi. How many cups spinach? I have a big box..
If you have a 1 pound box, you can eyeball 1/3 of the box, or measure out 6 cups lightly packed.
Hello from Australia. We made these for St Patricks Day last year and sent them to my daughter’s primary school. The mothers all asked for the recipe, as the kids had talked about the bright green muffins when they went home! Some kids had NEVER eaten spinach before!!!!! This year my 3 year old is making them together with his classmates at Preschool as an activity for St Patricks Day, they are so easy as you just put everything in a blender, and have low sugar so the Preschool liked the idea! Great recipe and photos!
Thank you for the lovely email. I so enjoyed reading it and what a gift you are to your son’s school!