Healthy Oatmeal Zucchini Muffins made with whole grain oats and sweetened with maple syrup. A great way to sneak in those veggies for kids, and adults love them, too! Gluten free, dairy free recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- A tasty little snack that will become a family favorite!
- Easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.
- Use up all that extra zucchini during zucchini season!
- Gets your kids to eat more veggies!
- Stores for days and freezer friendly.
Love zucchini?! Be sure to check out even more Healthy Zucchini Recipes everyone will love!
Interested in another mini muffin recipe? Try Mini Banana Muffins, too!
Recipe Ingredients
These oatmeal zucchini muffins are without a doubt a favorite snack. I’ve made them so many times – I’m obsessed! All we need is some ingredients from our healthy baking pantry and fresh zucchini, of course:
- quick oats + oat flour – If you already have oat flour on hand, you can use that. Otherwise simply pulse some quick oats into flour (more on this below). You’ll need both quick oats AND oat flour for this recipe. Use certified gluten free oats, if needed. Note: If you want to sub the oat flour, you can likely use wheat flour or white whole wheat flour, but I did not test it this way.
- baking soda – the leavening agent to make the muffins rise.
- cinnamon – taste testers preferred one full teaspoon here. If you don’t love cinnamon, use 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- fine sea salt – to help balance the flavors.
- pure maple syrup – naturally sweetened without refined sugar. You can also use honey if you’d like.
- light olive oil – or avocado oil, or melted coconut oil (room temperature). Basically any mild oil will work.
- egg + egg white – I found using one large egg plus an additional egg white is best to get these muffins to hold together.
- vanilla extract – always a good idea to add vanilla extract to muffins!
- shredded zucchini – you’ll need about 2 small-medium zucchini. Use the small side of the box grater and be sure to squeeze out the water with these bags or a paper towel.
Optional Add-In’s
- Chocolate Chips – toss in a handful of regular or mini chocolate chips.
- Coconut Sugar – give each muffin a final sprinkle of coconut sugar before baking in the oven.
Find the full recipe with measurements in the recipe card below, at the end of this post.
Star Ingredient: Quick Oats!
The main dry ingredient we’re using for these healthy zucchini oatmeal muffins is Bob’s Red Mill Quick Cooking Rolled Oats. Soft, tender quick oats add texture and chew to these mini muffins. But the best part? You can also use the quick oats to make your own oat flour!
To do so, simply measure out 1 1/4 cups + 2 Tablespoons quick oats into a food processor bowl or high powered blender. Pulse a few times until flour texture forms.
TIP: I like to keep a few cups of oat flour on hand. Just label the jar you’re storing the oat flour in so you remember what it is. Find my full tutorial on oat flour, here.
How to Make These Muffins
Making mini muffin recipes is just like making regular sized muffins, you’re just using a mini muffin pan. This particular recipe will make 24 mini muffins – it sounds like a lot but trust me these mini zucchini muffins go fast! Here’s how I like to do it:
Prep Muffin Tin
Preheat oven to 350ºF and spray mini muffin pan with oil, or use mini muffin liners.
Combine Dry Ingredients
If you need to make homemade oat flour, measure out 1 1/4 cups + 2 tablespoons quick oats and pulse into flour consistency. Then combine the flour with the 3/4 cup quick oats (not pulsed), baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Whisk Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together maple syrup, olive oil, egg, egg white and vanilla extract.
Fold in Grated Zucchini
Add dry ingredients to large bowl of wet ingredients. Stir a few times, then fold in grated zucchini and continue to gently stir until just combined.
Fill Muffin Pan
Evenly distribute batter into 24 mini muffin pan, filling just about to the top.
Bake
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and the top of the muffins are a slight golden brown. Allow muffins to cool in pan for 5-10 minutes before carefully removing.
TIP: If not using liners, gently go around the edges of the muffin with a toothpick before lifting out. They’re fairly delicate when they’re fresh.
How to Store & Freeze
Leftover zucchini muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature with a strip of parchment paper for up to 3 days.
Freeze: Place in a zip top freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw to room temperature before enjoying!
Serving Suggestions
These delicious muffins are great to have around for all the things! Since these are a bite-size treat, I love to make them for:
- Breakfast: I’ve been popping these zucchini mini muffins one handed like it’s my job. They go particularly well with a cup of coffee, too.
- Afternoon Snack: Whether you pack a few into a parchment paper bag for a grab-and-go snack, or enjoy one or two for an afternoon pick-me-up, they are a delicious little treat.
More Delicious Zucchini Recipes You’ll Love:
- Banana Zucchini Bread
- Zucchini Baked Oatmeal
- Blueberry Zucchini Muffins
- Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread
If you make these Oatmeal Zucchini Muffins recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating on the blog! I love hearing from you, and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Xx Ashley
PrintOatmeal Zucchini Muffins
Healthy Oatmeal Zucchini Muffins made with whole grain oats and sweetened with maple syrup. A great way to sneak in those veggies for kids, and adults love them, too! Gluten free, dairy free recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 mintues
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 59 minute
- Yield: 24 mini muffins 1x
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Amercian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups oat flour (see notes)
- 3/4 cup quick oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup light olive oil (or avocado, melted/cooled coconut oil)
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup finely shredded zucchini, water squeezed out and lightly packed
Instructions
- Prep muffin tin: Preheat oven to 350ºF and spray mini muffin pan with oil, or use liners; set aside.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, add oat flour, quick oats, baking soda, ground cinnamon and salt; set aside
- Whisk wet ingredients: In a large bowl whisk together maple syrup, olive oil, egg, egg white and vanilla extract.
- Make muffin batter: Add dry ingredients to large bowl of wet ingredients; stir a few times then fold in zucchini and continue to stir until combined.
- Bake: Evenly distribute batter into 24 mini muffin pan, filling just about to the top. Bake for 12-15 minutes – or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow muffins to cool in pan for 5-10 minutes before carefully removing. If using oil and no liners, try gently lifting edges with toothpick.
Notes
HOW TO MAKE OAT FLOUR: Measure out 1 1/4 cups + 2 tablespoons quick oats and pulse in a food processor into flour consistency. Check out the full tutorial here.
VEGAN – These have not been vegan tested, but would love to hear if you try. I’d recommend using 1.5 tablespoons flaxseed meal + 1/4 cup water; let sit for 5-10 minutes before incorporating.
STORAGE – Leftover muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature with a strip of parchment paper for up to 3 days.
FREEZE – Place in a zip top freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw to room temperature before enjoying!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini muffin
- Calories: 78
- Sugar: 5g
- Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 7mg
Keywords: oatmeal zucchini muffins, oat zucchini muffins, healthy zucchini oatmeal muffins
This post was originally sponsored in partnership with Bob’s Red Mill in 2020. Post has been updated with more notes in 2023.
Hayley Edwards says
Not great sorry – tasted like baking soda, very hard to get out, and hard pieces inside?
★★
Ashley says
Hi Hayley, sorry these didn’t work out for you. Without providing more feedback/info, it’s hard for me to troubleshoot. You can always lightly spray mini muffin liners if you’d like. Not sure what the hard pieces inside would be unless it’s coming from the oats or the zucchini. Let me know if I can help in any way.
Nichole says
I followed the recipe exactly, but the muffins came out so crumbly and powdery. What did I do wrong? They did not seem dry when I put them in the pan, and they aren’t dry now, just super duper crumbly 🙁
Ashley says
Hi Nichole, thanks for your feedback! It could be that you accidentally added too much oat flour, which would easily dry out. Or that you baked a touch too long. It’s hard to say without being there! When checking baking times, I always start with the lower end of the time, then check after 2 minutes if not done. Hope that helps!
Peggy says
I used 1/2 cup applesauce instead of the oil. Also added some dried currants. Came out of the pan easily and taste delicious. Very moist but hold together well.
★★★★★
Ashley says
Thank you for sharing Peggy!
Mary says
Delicious! I added 1/2 cup chocolate chips because, well, chocolate! Other than that, I followed the recipe. I will be making these again!
★★★★★
Ashley says
Thanks for your review, Mary!
Shatia says
Our go-to muffin recipe. These never disappoint. By far the best zucchini muffin recipe we’ve ever had. People can’t believe it when we tell them they are gluten-free and lactose-free. Thanks for sharing this great recipe.
Ashley says
Thank you for sharing your feedback! Glad they are enjoyed 😀
Lee says
Yummy
★★★★★
Ashley says
Thank you for sharing!