The best Healthy Carrot Muffins with applesauce, oatmeal or oat bran, whole wheat flour and honey. Your family will love when you add them to your healthy muffin recipes!

Carrot baked goods always turn out so delicious and moist! Like my healthy carrot cake, healthy carrot cake bars, or almond flour carrot cake.

Healthy Carrot Muffins served with a glass of milk and red striped linen.

Healthy carrot muffins are naturally sweetened, moist and fluffy! With no added sugar plus loaded with nuts and raisins, these carrot muffins make for a healthy breakfast recipe or afternoon snack.

Carrots are amazing in baked goods; they make muffins sweet and moist with no need to add a cup of refined sugar and oil. Try them next in carrot cake baked oatmeal!

These oatmeal carrot muffins are a nutrition power house! Not to mention even my kids can make them for healthy snacks and then enjoy with a glass of cold milk.

What Makes These Oatmeal Carrot Muffins Healthy?

  • Whole grain flour is not stripped of essential vitamins and nutrients like all purpose flour, plus the addition of oats or oat brans adds fiber!
  • Applesauce is being used in place of oil resulting in a low fat muffin!
  • Muffins are naturally sweetened without the use of white refined sugar.
  • Carrots are known for being high in vitamin A, plus because of their sweet taste, these hearty muffins are similar in taste to carrot cake!

Ingredients for Healthy Carrot Muffins

  • Carrots: You will need approximately 2-3 large carrots or 5-6 small/medium sized. I prefer to buy organic carrots. Use the small side of your grater or a vegetable peeler to shred carrots.
  • Applesauce: Adds moisture instead of using oil, I prefer to use unsweetened to keep these healthy carrot muffins lower in sugar. Instead of applesauce you can use plain regular or Greek yogurt.
  • Honey or maple syrup: This ingredient adds a bit of sweetness without refined sugar.
  • Eggs: Adds lift and binding.
  • Baking essentials and spices: Vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  • Whole wheat flour: I much prefer using whole wheat flour or spelt flour in baking. If you avoid gluten, check out these basic almond flour muffins made with almond flour.
  • Oat bran or oats: Adds healthy fiber for aiding in digestion. I love using oats in these healthy strawberry muffins, too!
  • Add-ins: I love to use raisins and walnuts for a healthy carrot cake muffin taste, but feel free to use your favorite dried fruit or nut.

How to Make Healthy Carrot Muffins

There is a full recipe card below.

1. Combine liquid and leavening agents: First, whisk eggs in a large mixing bowl. Then, add applesauce, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix well to fully combine.

How to make healthy carrot muffins step by step.

2. Add carrots: Stir in grated carrots. Please don’t squeeze shredded carrots. The wonderful juice will ensure your muffins are flavorful and moist.

3. Add dry ingredients: Now it’s time to incorporate dry ingredients one by one. First, add oat bran or oats. Then add whole wheat flour; gently mix until combined. Do not over mix!

4. Stir in raisins and nuts.

How to make healthy carrot muffins step by step and then in red muffin tin.

5. Bake for 25 minutes: Place batter evenly into a muffin tin. The muffins are done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

6. Cool and enjoy: I always let my muffins cool for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Variations

Want to customize healthy carrot muffins to your tastes and what you have on hand? Feel free to try these options!

  • Tropical muffins: Add 1/2 cup chopped (gently squeezed if from a can) pineapple chunks and 1/4 cup coconut flakes.
  • Different warming spices: Use ground cloves or ground allspice vs. the normal carrot cake warming spices called for in this recipe.
  • Sweeter muffins: Sprinkle with coarse sugar before baking!
  • Topping: After muffins have cooled, use drizzle from healthy coffee cake to make take these from healthy carrot muffins to healthy carrot cake muffins!
  • Frosting: Transform your muffins into dessert with healthy Greek yogurt frosting!

FAQs

Can I use quick cooking steel cut oats?

I have not tried but I believe so. Muffins will rise less and will have more hearty chewy texture. Please do not confuse with steel cut oats though.

Can I use almond flour?

Baking is a science and gluten free flour like almond flour or coconut flour will not bake the same, so I do not recommend this substitution. Try these healthy strawberry oatmeal bars with an almond flour crust!

Can I use liquid stevia or erythritol?

You can’t use liquid stevia because it will throw off dry and wet ingredients ratio and muffins will not turn out. The same goes for any dry sweetener.

How do I make jumbo or mini muffins?

You can bake bigger or smaller muffins but increase and decrease bake time accordingly for this healthy breakfast idea. Always do a toothpick test.

How do I make these egg free?

For a vegan egg free option learn how to make a flax egg or chia egg.

I am allergic to nuts, can I make these nut free?

Yes! Just omit the nuts or add in some sunflower seeds.

How do I store carrot muffins?

I usually keep them on the counter for a few days. At that point, if any are left (happened only once here), I pop them into the fridge to prevent dry and stale carrot muffins. You can also freeze muffins up to 3 months. In fact, you can freeze any muffins like savory broccoli cheese egg muffins or sweet banana applesauce muffins!

More Healthy Muffins Recipes

Browse through all my favorite healthy muffin recipes!

Healthy carrot muffins with a glass of milk.

Healthy Carrot Muffins

Healthy Carrot Muffins with applesauce, oatmeal or oat bran, whole wheat flour and honey. Your family will love them!
4.90 from 86 votes
Servings 12 muffins
Calories 149
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray non-stick 12 muffin tin with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add eggs and whisk for 15 seconds. Add applesauce, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, salt and whisk well to combine.
  • Add carrots and stir a few times. Add oat bran or oats and whole wheat flour; gently mix until combined. Do not over mix. Stir in raisins and nuts.
  • Distribute batter evenly between 12 openings of a tin (I used a regular ice cream scoop) and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let muffins cool for a few minutes and transfer to a cooling rack to cool off completely.

Store: Refrigerate in a glass airtight container for up to 1 week.

    Freeze: In an airtight container up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator or on counter for 3-4 hours.

      Video

      Notes

      • Can I use quick cooking steel cut oats: I have not tried but I believe so. Muffins will rise less and will have more hearty chewy texture. Please do not confuse with steel cut oats though.
      • Yogurt: Instead of applesauce you can use plain regular or Greek yogurt.
      • Jumbo or mini muffins: You can bake bigger or smaller muffins but increase and decrease bake time accordingly. Always do a toothpick test.
      • Can I use almond flour? Baking is a science and gluten free flour like almond flour or coconut flour will not bake the same, so I do not recommend this substitution.
      • Can I use liquid stevia or erythritol? You can’t use liquid stevia because it will throw off dry and wet ingredients ratio and muffins will not turn out. The same goes for any dry sweetener.
      • Egg free: Try how to make a flax egg or chia egg.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 281mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g
      Course: Snack
      Cuisine: North American
      Author: Olena Osipov
      Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

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      About Olena

      Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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      Comments

      1. 5 stars
        I used whole wheat flour and oats. Had no applesauce, so used yogurt (without realizing I’d need to compensate and add more sweetness). Chopped up dried apricots instead of raisins and also added pecans. These are very good but, without the applesauce, needed a touch of sweetness. I made a thin glaze from powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. That did the trick.

        1. So happy you made these muffins work. Yes, definitely would need more sweetener with yogurt. I make this mistake all the time haha.

      2. I am unfashionably enthusiastic about your website. I am an old woman in Arizona who rides her bicycle everywhere. (I don’t own a car and I am glad.) So I care about the fuel I use in my body. My unrealized dream was to adopt a child from the Ukraine. In retrospect I am glad for the child I was unable to do so. I am not able to speak Ukrainian
        decently and I am not a good parent.

      3. Can you leave out the raisins/dates? I’m trying to find healthier snacks for my son besides crackers but I think dates/raisins are a little too chewy for him.

      4. 4 stars
        Delicious! Family loves them!

        I used almond flour, maple syrup and oats where there are options.

        Super moist, wholesome and filling.

      5. 3 stars
        I did not find these to be very tasty, which surprised me based upon the many, many great reviews. I used yogurt instead of applesauce which this recipe mentions as a fine alternative (and because I had yogurt and did not have applesauce). I chose honey over maple syrup and dates over raisins (choices one must make according to the recipe). The texture is fine. I actually have no problem with something not being sweet, but this muffin just seems to have absolutely zero sweetness.

        1. Sounds like you needed that applesauce to add some sweetness. Yogurt is a great substitute for ‘moisture’ but will not add sweetness.

      6. 4 stars
        Love this recipe! I now use as standard for my muffins I make every few weeks so I can eat one for breakfast & feel good that I’ve already getting in vegetables & good fats. I’m on a no milk or soy diet while nursing & wanted a healthy snack I could eat quickly that wasn’t full of sugar or milk products. The first time I made exactly as is, but since I’ve added in a few things/changes for myself – chocolate chips (love life milk & soy free brand), chia seeds, flaxseed, & brewers yeast(to help with milk production). I also have switched out the carrots for zucchini a few times (1:1 ratio) & it was still great! Great recipe!

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