21 Healthy Muffin Recipes That Are Perfect for Back-to-School

a recipe photo of the High-Protein Peach Muffins
Photo:

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

 Muffins make a great grab-and-go breakfast for busy mornings, thanks to their portable size. As the kiddos head back to school, make sure to whip up a batch of these healthy muffins for a quick bite. Try options like our High-Protein Peach Muffins or Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins for a tasty way to kick off your morning. 

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High-Protein Peach Muffins

a recipe photo of the High-Protein Peach Muffins

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

These peach muffins feature one of summer's finest fruits. A sprinkle of sugar adds a delightful crunch on top, while strained yogurt keeps the muffins moist inside. Combined with almond butter, the yogurt also adds protein, making these muffins the perfect choice for a satisfying breakfast.

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Banana-Oatmeal Muffins

a recipe photo of Banana-Oatmeal Muffins

Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

These oatmeal-banana muffins strike the perfect balance of spice and sweetness. The oats soften while baking, making these muffins moist, tender and filling enough for breakfast. The riper the bananas, the sweeter the muffins will be.

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Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Photographer: Sara Baurley, Food Stylist: Jasmine Smith, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Lightly sweetened cream cheese fills the center of these copycat Starbucks pumpkin muffins, while pepitas add a great crunch factor. Whole-wheat flour amps up the fiber in these healthy breakfast muffins. Be sure not to overfill the muffin with the cream cheese filling or else it will overflow when baking.

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High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry Muffins

cooked blueberry muffins on a serving board and a muffin tin in the background

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Julia Levy

These lemon-blueberry muffins are so good, you'll think they came straight from a bakery. A sprinkle of sugar creates a nice crunch on the outside, while strained yogurt ensures the muffins stay moist on the inside. The yogurt also provides a boost of satisfying protein, making these muffins perfect for breakfast or snack time.

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Apple-Cinnamon Muffins

Apple-Cinnamon Muffin

These healthy apple-cinnamon muffins will put you in an autumnal state of mind no matter the time of year. Sprinkling the muffins with sugar before baking gives them a crispy top, just like a coffee-shop muffin—but these are a whole lot more nutritious than your average coffee-shop muffin, thanks to wholesome ingredients like white whole-wheat flour. Serve them for breakfast or a grab-and-go snack.

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Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

Tin full of Carrot Cake Muffins

Carrot cake meets muffins in this healthy breakfast recipe. Whole-wheat pastry flour along with plenty of carrots and toasted walnuts add fiber, while applesauce keeps the muffins moist and helps cut back on sugar.

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Pumpkin-Oatmeal Muffins

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These healthy pumpkin-oatmeal muffins will get you in the mood for fall. Sprinkling the muffins with pecans adds a nutty crunch to every bite. Serve them for breakfast or as a grab-and-go snack.

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Banana-Blueberry Protein Muffins

Overhead view of a blue plate of Banana-Blueberry Protein Muffins recipe with butter added

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss

These super-moist and tender muffins get a protein boost with the addition of cottage cheese and peanut butter. The banana, which adds natural sweetness, doesn't overpower the flavor of the blueberries. Frozen blueberries work just as well as fresh. For a different twist, try raspberries or chopped apple.

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Morning Glory Muffins

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These Morning Glory muffins are full of everything you'd expect in the bakery favorite—carrots, apple and raisins, topped with nuts and toasted wheat germ. If raisins aren't your favorite, substitute an equal amount of the dried fruit of your choice.

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Whole-Wheat Strawberry Muffins

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This healthy muffin recipe features strawberries, but you can use your favorite berry in their place. Recipe adapted from the Massachusetts Farm to School program.

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Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

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This sweet little treat is made with good-for-you whole-wheat flour, but even the pickiest of eaters won't notice. These mini pumpkin and chocolate chip muffins are also incredibly easy to make—just stir all of the ingredients together, no mixer required. For a more filling and indulgent snack, smear your bite-size piece with almond butter or Nutella.

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Raspberry-Lemon Crumb Muffins

Raspberry Lemon Crumb Muffins*
Photographer / Brie Passano Styling / Annie Probst / Holly Raibikis

Whole-wheat flour makes these muffins, well, more wholesome. To get the full effect of the crumb topping combining with the tart fruit, eat one while the muffins are still warm.

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Cinnamon-Ginger Spiced Pear Muffins

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These perfectly spiced muffins combine cinnamon and ginger with the delicate sweetness of pears for a delicious and flavorful bite.

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Lemon-Cranberry Muffins

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These lemony cranberry-studded muffins crunch lightly with cornmeal and are topped with a kiss of sugared lemon zest. They're great warm from the oven, but also keep well for a few days and freeze beautifully.

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Flourless Blender Zucchini Muffins

How to Make Flourless Blender Zucchini Muffins

The batter for these healthy gluten-free zucchini muffins comes together in a flash in your blender. And these tasty treats are baked in a mini muffin tin, so they're the perfect snack or quick breakfast. The chocolate chips are an optional but excellent addition.

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Berry Morning Muffin

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These easy muffins are full of antioxidant-packed raspberries and strawberries. Walnuts provide a welcome crunch and are a great source of monounsaturated fat, which research shows lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol.

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Blueberry-Oat Muffins

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These blueberry-oat muffins, sweetened with brown sugar and honey, are best when served still warm from the oven.

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Banana Protein Muffins

Banana Protein Muffins

These healthy banana muffins are packed with protein thanks to ingredients like peanut butter and Greek yogurt, while white whole-wheat flour gives them a fiber boost. Serve them for breakfast or for a grab-and-go snack.

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Blackberry Muffins

Blackberry Muffins
Jennifer Causey

These blackberry muffins are perfect for an on-the-go breakfast. The batter is lightly flavored with cloves, while almonds on top give them a savory, nutty crunch. Fresh blackberries add a burst of sweetness in every bite.

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Banana Muffins

Side view of Banana Muffins recipe on a cooling rack

Jason Donnelly

This banana muffin recipe pairs nutty whole-wheat flour with sweet, ripe banana and dark chocolate chips for an irresistibly moist and tender grab-and go breakfast or snack.

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Vegan Pumpkin Muffins with Chocolate Chips

Vegan Pumpkin Muffins with Chocolate Chips
Jason Donnelly

These vegan pumpkin muffins are studded with chocolate chips and can be enjoyed for breakfast, dessert or snack time. Be sure to buy unseasoned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, to make these vegan muffins.

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