Lunchbox Harvest Muffins Recipe (2024)

I make these about once a week now. Very forgiving recipe -- I've messed with it all kinds of ways: Used regular flour instead of whole wheat, all carrots for the veg (and all zucchini too), accidentally doubled the amount of veggies, on-purpose doubled the amount of raisins, and skipped the coconut. It's always come out fine. And my kids vacuum them up.

I encourage the gentle writers citing calories and fat to relax just a wee li'l smidge. These are not sinful muffins. They are fine, upstanding, nutritious and ,may I say, outasite muffins.

I took the olive oil down to 1/3 cup and the brown sugar down to 1/4 cup and they were delicious and moist. Thank you!

Delicious and moist muffins! To add some warmth and spice, I also added 1/2 a teaspoon of ground ginger and 1/8 teaspoon of cloves. I also substituted the raisins for walnuts and crystallized ginger!

I made these for my husband who likes to have a home-baked muffin with his coffee at work. They freeze beautifully. He just takes one out every morning and they are perfectly thawed by mid-morning.

I decided to use up half a bag of Trader Joe's Broccoli Slaw, which is largely shredded broccoli stalk and a bit of carrot. Before adding it to the batter, I processed the slaw into smaller bits in a food processor. The slaw smelled a bit like cabbage, but the muffins came out perfectly, with no cabbage or broccoli taste. I reduced the oil to 1/3 cup and didn't pack the brown sugar. I didn't have an apple, but I had applesauce. This recipe is a gem. You rock, Melissa!

Melissa,
Ive cooked pounds of your recipes and now your name is synonymous with "it's going to work". I knew even with your humble preamble these muffins would be perfect- and they were. melted coconut oil worked for the oil Sweet potatoes were wonderful for the parsnips, and I didn't have whole wheat flour, raisins or coconut flakes. Instead i subbed 1 to 1 with white flour (ha!) and added 1/2 cup of wheat germ. You rule and so does this modular recipe.

Added 2 overripe bananas, vanilla, omitted the sugar and halved the oil, and baked in a loaf pan. Totally delicious!!!

Instead of a hand grater I used the food processor grater and was concerned that the vegetables would be too noticeable. Came out fine. Good way to get rid of some things in the vegetable drawer.

My experience is that King Arthur's Gluten Free flour is much better than Bob's Red Mill mix. Thought Bob's individual flours are great the mix is really heavy.

These were so-o-o-o delicious and moist. I made 12 large muffins since there are no kiddos in our house. The collection of ingredients are very nutritious and satisfying. This is a recipe I will make again and again.

These were pretty amazing. I didn't have whole wheat flour, so I put Bob's Red Mill 7 Grain Cereal in the blender and used that as my flour. I also added 1 tsp of baking powder. I also used a combo of raisins and dried cherries. They were delish and my 2 1/2 year old loved them. He even helped make them.

Being a lazy cook, I used Junior babyfood for the apples and veggies. Works fine. Also, chopped pecans instead of coconut. Mmmmm!

The whole fam gobbles these up. I use coconut oil instead of olive oil and no shredded coconut just b/c I never seem to have it on hand. I also never have pastry flour so I just use 70 grams of cake flour and 70 grams of whole wheat flour (although I make this recipe so often now that I should just go buy it!) I freeze a huge batch and throw 3 in to their snack bags. They defrost by lunch time.

This is something that will be a "regualr" at our house! I made a couple of adjustments. 1.) I used unsweetened applesauce in place of the oil. 2.) I only used 1/4 c. brown sugar 3.) I didn't have whole wheat pastry flour so I substituted 2/3 c. + 1 tablespoon all purpose flour and 1/3 c. + 1 tablespoon cake flour. It's 4 points on Weight Watchers with those adjustments.

Added 1 cup carrot, 1 banana, toasted pecans, chocolate chips and I c oats. Could use a bit more sugar

Half whole wheat, half white flour. Regular coconut.

These were fantastic. Other commenters are correct, I doubled the shredded veg (butternut squash, beets), kept the apple and added an overripe banana. I also added wheat bran (1/2 cup) and toasted walnuts. I reduced the sugar and cinnamon by half and added cardamom and nutmeg. I think they'd be great without any spices. I can't believe how moist and delicious these are. Total keeper of a recipe!

I used an excellent olive oil, but it was too pungent for muffins. Next time I'd use canola.

These are great but I would use coconut or vegetable oil next time as the olive oil is overpowering the other flavours (and a tiny bit too moist)

Has anyone tried using buckwheat flour?

Great muffins, i followed the recommendation to use 1/3 c olive oil and 1/4c brown sugar. Muffins were very moist and tender.

I made this with all red apples, 60g sugar, no honey, half the olive oil. squeezed some lemon juice over the apples as someone suggested. very yummy.

Folks, we’re talking about 1/3 cup brown sugar 1T honey spread across 12 full size muffins! And PLEASE don’t sub coconut oil for the olive oil. Olive oil has tremendous nutritional benefits; coconut oil, not so much. Some of those comments are six years old, so we were still in the “fat is bad for you/coconut oil is healthy” phase, I get it, but not now!

It was apple picking season we we used all apples (with juices) instead of any veggies, and half the olive oil. And we used gluten free flour instead of regular. They are getting thumbs up from two kids so will make again!

I made this exactly as written except -no cinnamon -just a few raisins and I like it but the coconut flavor is very strong. Next time I’ll add less coconut.

I subbed a small peach for the apple as I'm allergic and these came out great! Very easy recipe!

Love this recipe as a snack or lunchbox item for my kids. I enjoy them too! Reduce oil (coconut) to 1/3 cup, reduce sugar to 1/4 cup. I make vegan to suit our family’s needs by subbing 2 flax eggs and using molasses or maple syrup in place of honey. Other options to play with for egg substitutes would be applesauce or mashed banana.

Light brown sugar molassesNo honey

I have been trying to invent a recipe like this for 20 years. 5 stars.