If you need an easy snack that your toddler will actually eat and keeps them full, these applesauce muffins for toddlers are perfect to prep for the week!
They’re soft, naturally sweetened, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand! And as a dietitian mom, I love that they’ve got a little boost of fiber + healthy fats from the oat and almond flour, so they’re not just a quick carb snack that leaves your toddler asking for more 20 minutes later.
Why You and Your Toddler will Love These Applesauce Muffins
- naturally sweetened with applesauce (no added sugar!)
- soft texture - perfect for toddlers + babies
- made with oat + almond flour for more staying power (hello fiber + protein
- easy to customize with what you have on hand
- great for meal prep + freezer-friendly
Whether your little one is in a picky phase or you just need something easy to prep for the week, these are one of those go-to muffins that feel like a win every time You'll also love my ABC oatmeal muffins and apple oatmeal waffles!
Jump to:
- Why You and Your Toddler will Love These Applesauce Muffins
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Your Applesauce Muffins
- Helpful Hint
- Substitutions
- Easy Add-In Ideas for Applesauce Muffins
- Equipment
- Storing Your Applesauce Muffins for Toddlers
- Tiff's Dietitian Tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Pairing
- Applesauce Muffins for Toddlers
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's what you'll need to make these applesauce muffins for toddlers:
- unsweetened applesauce: adds natural sweetness + moisture
- eggs: help bind and give structure (can sub with flax egg if needed)
- butter or coconut oil: adds healthy fats for satiety
- milk: helps create a soft, tender texture
- vanilla + cinnamon: adds flavor without added sugar
- oat flour: provides fiber + helps muffins hold together
- almond flour: adds healthy fats + keeps muffins soft
- baking powder + baking soda: helps muffins rise
- salt: enhances flavor
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Your Applesauce Muffins
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, whisk together oat flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt until combined.
- Step 2: Stir in the applesauce, eggs, melted butter (or oil), milk, and vanilla.
- Step 3: Let the batter sit for 5 minutes (this helps the oat flour absorb). Fold in any add-ins, then scoop into a lined or greased muffin tin (about ¾ full).
- Step 4: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set. Let cool slightly before serving.
Helpful Hint
Letting the batter sit before baking makes a BIG difference when using oat flour. It helps the muffins hold together better and gives you that soft, fluffy texture!
Substitutions
These applesauce muffins for toddlers are super flexible, so you can easily adjust based on what you have at home:
- flour: you can use 1½ cups all-purpose flour instead of the oat + almond flour for a more traditional, fluffy texture (1:1 gluten-free flour blend if needed)
- oat flour: just blend rolled oats until fine to make your own
- almond flour: you can replace with additional oat flour if needed
- milk: any milk works here! dairy or non-dairy (almond, oat, soy, etc.).
- butter / oil: swap with coconut oil, avocado oil, or melted butter
- eggs: for an egg-free option, try flax eggs (1 tablespoon flaxseed + 2.5 tablespoon water per egg), though the texture may be slightly softer
- applesauce: you can sub with mashed banana or a mix of banana + applesauce for a slightly different flavor
Easy Add-In Ideas for Applesauce Muffins
- hemp seeds or chia seeds
- mini chocolate chips
- blueberries
- shredded carrots or zucchini for a veggie twist
Equipment
To make these applesauce muffins for toddlers, you just need a large mixing bowl and whisk (or spoon) are all you need to bring the batter together, and a muffin tin works perfectly for baking. You can use paper liners for easy cleanup or lightly grease the pan if you prefer. If you’re making your own oat flour, simply blend rolled oats in a blender until fine. That’s it, super simple and minimal cleanup!
Storing Your Applesauce Muffins for Toddlers
- store in an airtight container at room temp for 1-2 days
- refrigerate up to 5 days
- freeze for up to 3 months
To reheat: microwave for 10-15 seconds or serve at room temp
Tiff's Dietitian Tip
Instead of overthinking snacks, focus on offering foods that help keep them full and satisfied! Like pairing fiber + protein + healthy fats. These applesauce muffins already give you a great base, and you can make them even more filling by serving with something like yogurt or milk.
And if your toddler is going through a picky phase, remember: it’s not about getting them to eat everything right now - it’s about consistent, low-pressure exposure over time. Even just having these muffins on their plate counts.
FAQ
Yes! You can swap the flour for 1½ cups all-purpose flour for a more traditional muffin texture. If the batter seems too thick, then add a couple extra tablespoon of milk to loosen!
Yep! Just use your favorite dairy-free milk.
You can add 2-3 of maple syrup or brown sugar to sweeten these applesauce muffins!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these applesauce muffins for toddlers:
Applesauce Muffins for Toddlers
Equipment
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 eggs or flax eggs
- ¼ cup melted butter, coconut oil, or olive oil
- ¼ cup milk any will work!
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups oat flour or can sub all-purpose flour
- ½ cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, whisk together oat flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt until combined.
- Stir in the applesauce, eggs, melted butter (or oil), milk, and vanilla.
- Let the batter sit for 5 minutes (this helps the oat flour absorb). Fold in any add-ins, then scoop into a lined or greased muffin tin (about ¾ full).
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- These muffins are soft and slightly denser than traditional muffins due to the oat and almond flour. Letting the batter rest helps improve texture and structure.
- If batter feels too thick, add a few extra splashes of milk. If too thin, add 1-2 tablespoon oat flour.
- If using all-purpose then sub out the oat and almond flour, replace with 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour!
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