Start the day off with a fresh and fragrant batch of morning glory muffins, filled with fruit and nuts!
These muffins are fully loaded with shredded apples, carrots, pineapple, nuts and more. Packed with goodness, they’re both healthy and delicious.
Make a big batch and freeze them for easy grab-and-go breakfasts!
What are Morning Glory Muffins?
This recipe adaptation comes from Gourmet magazine’s famous muffin of the same name. It’s one of their top recipes spanning over 50 years!
They are the perfect healthy breakfast, mid-morning snack, or post-workout treat!
Healthy & Hearty Muffins
- Light and moist morning glory muffins are packed with flavor, everyone loves them. They remind me of my favorite carrot cake recipe in muffin form!
- Full of fiber and healthy fruits, veggies, and nuts they will keep everyone full, happy, and energized for hours!
- They’re versatile so add in your favorite nuts, seeds, or dried fruits.
- Just like quick bread, morning glory muffins freeze beautifully! Double up the recipe and freeze some for later!
Ingredients in Morning Glory Muffins
Batter – Flour, eggs, oil, and a bit of baking soda create the base for these muffins. I replace some of the oil with unsweetened applesauce to make them a little bit healthier. You can use half all-purpose flour and half whole wheat flour if you’d like
Fruit – Pineapple and applesauce lock in the moisture of these muffins. Grated apples and carrots add moisture and flavor. Try adding dried fruit and raisins to this morning glory muffin recipe!
Nuts – Chopped toasted pecans, walnuts, almonds, or pistachios (or even pumpkin seeds) are great in these. Any combination will work.
Variations – Any of the following substitutions or additions work well in this recipe:
- swap out the coconut for a cup of raisins or dried cranberries
- add in some orange zest
- stir in a tablespoon or two of flax seed
How to Make Morning Glory Muffins
These muffins will come out moist and delicious when you follow these simple steps!
- Combine the eggs with pineapple, sugar, applesauce, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl (per the recipe below).
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Add the wet ingredients and stir.
- Gently fold in the remaining ingredients. Divide batter evenly into muffin tins and bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
Best Way to Store Muffins
- Morning glory muffins are extra moist and will stay fresh for about two days at room temperature or up to a week in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- Freeze them for up to 4 months in a large zippered bag and thaw them at room temperature overnight or in the fridge.
- Looking for other delicious, hearty and healthy muffin recipes? Try soft, moist carrot muffins, zucchini muffins, or easy pumpkin muffins.
More Delicious Muffin Recipes
Did you make these Morning Glory Muffins? Leave us a rating and a comment below!
Morning Glory Muffins
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 8 ounces crushed pineapple drained and squeezed very dry, 1 can
- 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup applesauce
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups shredded carrot about 4-6 carrots
- 1 apple peeled and grated
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 2 tablespoons unsalted sunflower seeds optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a muffin pan (or line with paper liners).
- Combine eggs, pineapple, sugar, apple sauce, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and combine just until moistened. Fold in remaining ingredients.
- Divide mixture over 16 muffin cups. Bake at 400°F for 5 minutes. Turn the temperature down to 350°F and bake for an additional 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Muffins
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
It says 16 muffin cups. Is that full size cups, or the mini that has 12 in a tray? Thank you!
Hi Danaca, This recipe makes 16 regular sized muffins.
Awesome taste and texture!
Just made these this morning. The house smelled so good! I doubled the recipe and added raisins and flaxseed. Turned out great! Thanks for the recipe! I hope to try others from your site. I see so many that look so good!
I used only one cup of brown sugar otherwise, the recipe remained the same and they were amazing
Can this be made in a loaf pan? If so same temperature for how long?
I haven’t tried this in a loaf pan so I can’t say for sure. Generally a quick bread will take 50-65 minutes so I would suggest checking it at about 45 minutes.
OMGOSH. made this yesterday morning and it was delicious. I Made it with Bob’s Gluten Free Flour and it came out amazing. thank you for your recipe. This is a keeper.
Can the morning glory muffins be made as a loaf?
If you would like to make these muffins into a loaf instead, you can bake at 350°F for 40-50 minutes. Check often and do the toothpick test to make sure it doesn’t overcook. Let us know how it turns out, Cindy!
I don’t see the quantity for flour.
You’ll need 2 cups all purpose flour.
I consider myself a good cook. I made these muffins and they are fantastic!!!! I’ve made morning glory muffins before but none were as good as these. I’ve already eaten 3 of them. My son doesn’t eat sweets and he even likes them. Thanks for the GREAT RECIPE!!!
Hi Holly, I was wondering what kind of coconut should I use for the glory muffins.
I prefer unsweetened flaked coconut.
I don’t want to be a nuisance but may I just ask if it’s possible to substitute almond flour or anything else in this recipe?
Hi Kathy! I have never tried substituting almond flour so I can’t say for sure, I’m sorry! Maybe another reader can help.
The BEST!!!!!! I left the coconut out and added raisins. DELICIOUS!!!! Thanks.
Thank you Jane C for your suggestion
THE MUFFINS ARE SO SO DELICIOUS…THANKS FOR THE RECIPE…
So glad you loved them!
Turned out perfect! Made a double recipe – reduced the sugar to 2c, added 1/4 c ground flax and made half without raisins then added 1/2cup raisins to the second half. Great way to use a glut of carrots.
These are my favorite muffins in the world! I omit the sugar completely (cause I can’t have it) and use coconut oil instead of veggie oil, then I follow the recipe to a T and they always turn out amazing! My kids love helping me make them and love to eat them even more. Thanks for the best recipe ever!
I was looking for something a little more healthy for breakfast and came across this recipe. Oh my goodness they are SO delicious! They’re very flavorful and very moist. You can just tell they’re packed with lots of good stuff! I left out the sunflower seeds, but I did add 1/2 cup of raisins. Seriously, these muffins taste like something you’d find in an expensive bakery. They. Are. Wonderful!
Sounds delicious, Lynn! So happy you enjoyed them.
Excellent muffins, definitely will make these on a weekly basis! Super flavorful and moist. Perfect treat with cup of tea, or with my morning coffee.
These muffins are delicious! We added 1/2 cup raisins. Everyone loves them. I froze half of them to have next week. Yum!
I’ve made these twice in the past week! Excellent flavour and substance- I added some orange zest and a tablespoon of dark molasses
Fabulous!!
I’ve made other morning glory recipes but this is by far the best! I reduced the sugar, omitted the apple sauce and increased the pineapple. I used raisins, chia and flax seeds. It came out incredibly moist! Delicious!
These muffins are amazing. I only put in 1c sugar. 1scoop of protein powder. 1/4 c flax seed. And raisins. So delicious. Very moist. I’m gabbing these in the morning instead of my expensive protein bars. Yummy.