Pinch of Wellness

  • Breakfast
  • Main Entrees
  • Side Dishes
  • Snacks
  • Desserts
  • Wellness
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Spring
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

    Published: Jun 23, 2020 · Modified: Jul 3, 2023 by Ashlee Welter · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These gluten free morning glory muffins are the perfect “healthy” muffin option! They are made with all gluten free and dairy free options. You will love these moist and flavorful muffins!

    Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

    These healthy morning glory muffins can be eaten any time of day despite the name. They make a great morning treat, however they are also an excellent side dish, snack or dessert.

    If you're looking for more delicious muffin recipes, check out these gluten free blackberry muffins or these gluten free banana chocolate chip muffins!

    Reasons to Love This Recipe

    • These are a perfect option for a healthy breakfast or nutritious snack.
    • Most of the sweetness comes from sources other than sugar. The apples, applesauce, raisins and coconut all add extra sweetness.
    • They taste very similar to a carrot cake or spice cake. (Yet less calories!)

    Ingredients Needed

    The ingredient list on these healthy breakfast muffins may look daunting, but the muffins are worth it!

    • Shredded Carrots: baby carrots are easiest if using a food processor to shred. Use whole carrots if grating the carrots using a grater.
    • Shredded Apples: any type of apple is fine. I used Fuji. Gala or Granny smith are also great options.
    • Raisins: Add texture and flavor to the muffins
    • Chopped Walnuts: chopped walnuts add a bit of a crunch to the muffin. This can also be substituted with chopped pecans.
    • Coconut: shredded coconut adds excellent flavor. I used unsweetened coconut, as the muffins already seemed plenty sweet.
    • Applesauce: this is use as a substitute for oil. The recipe uses less oil than most, because applesauce adds moistness to the muffins. Use unsweetened applesauce.
    • Honey: Adds sweetness
    • Brown Sugar: only ½ of a cup, provides plenty of sweetness.
    • Eggs: helps the muffins rise and helps hold everything together. This recipe has not been tested with alternatives to eggs.
    • Orange Juice: Use orange juice that is pulp free. The OJ adds some extra vitamin C to these muffins!
    • Flour: this recipe has been made with both gluten free flour and whole wheat flour. Both types of flours work excellent. If using gluten free flour, use the flour that is 1:1 Ratio. King Arthur’s 1:1 baking flour or Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 baking flour work great. Both of these flours have xanthan gum added to them, which is important if subbing gluten free flour.
    • Cinnamon & Ginger: add flavor, very important not to skip these!
    • Baking Soda & Salt: helps the muffins rise and adds flavor

    How to Prepare the Produce

    The carrots and apples should be grated into fine shreds, similar to the consistency of shredded cheese. This can be done using a food processor or a food grater.

    To Shred the Apple: Remove the peel, slice into small pieces. Using an apple wedger makes it easy to cut the apple into 6-8 different wedges. Cut the wedges into small pieces.

    Place in the food processor and pulse by holding down the pulse button for 2-3 seconds, releasing and then holding the button again. Scrape down the sides until texture is correct. (Do not purée!)

    shredded apples

    To Shred the Carrots: Slice the carrots into small pieces and place in the food processor. Pulse until the carrots resemble fine shreds.

    An alternative way to shred is to run the carrot along the grater in an up and down motion until entire carrot is grated. This works best with whole carrots.

    shredded carrots

    Best Gluten Free Flour To Use

    These muffins are very moist, flavorful and not one bit crumbly! I strongly believe that if I served these at a party, no one would even know they were gluten free!

    It is important to use a flour that is a 1:1 ratio baking flour. The gluten free flour must contain xanthan gum in the ingredients. Great gluten free flour options are:

    • Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour
    • King Arthur's 1:1 Baking Flour
    Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

    Variations and Add Ins

    This recipe is customizable and can be adjusted based on your preferences and dietary needs.

    • Coconut: this is completely optional, but highly recommended! It does not provide a strong coconut flavor. An alternative is to use 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds
    • Raisins: the raisins can be left out if desired. Use twice the amount of walnuts if leaving out the raisins
    • Walnuts: chopped pecans are another option to use in place of walnuts
    Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

    What to Do With Leftover Muffins

    These muffins are best when stored in the refrigerator, since they contain so many fresh ingredients. This will help them last longer! Store in an airtight container and eat within 4 days. Heat or let sit at room temperature before serving.

    These muffins can also be frozen! Place them in a ziplock bag and seal shut. Freeze for up to 2 months.

    Nutrition Information:

    • Morning glory muffins have 208 calories/serving.
    • Morning glory muffins are packed with Vitamin A from the carrots. Normal amounts of Vitamin A (within the recommended intake) helps with vision and cell growth (More on Vitamin A).
    • The muffins use less sugar than a lot of recipes. The applesauce, apples and honey all reduce the amount of table sugar used.
    • The applesauce is an excellent replacement for oil. While some recipes call for up to a cup of oil, this recipe does not require as much oil due to the applesauce.
    • These muffins have 3 g protein / serving.
    • The muffins are healthier than some of your favorite bakery alternatives such as a large chocolate chip muffin or cinnamon streusel muffin. The carrots, apples, walnuts and applesauce are all low calorie and provide good nutritional value.
    • Even though these muffins contain healthy ingredients, eating multiple muffins will increase your fat, calorie and sugar intake.
    Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

    More Favorite Recipes

    • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
    • World's Best Granola
    • Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
    Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

    Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

    Ashlee Welter
    These healthy muffins are loaded with all of the good stuff- raisins, apple, carrots, walnuts, coconut and more. Moist and delicious, don't wait to make this recipe!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time 22 minutes mins
    Total Time 47 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 17 muffins
    Calories 208 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Dry Ingredients

    • 2 cups flour use whole wheat flour or gluten free 1:1 flour
    • 2 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Wet Ingredients

    • 3 eggs large
    • ⅓ cup canola oil
    • ½ cup brown sugar packed
    • ¼ cup honey
    • ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
    • ⅓ cup orange juice
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 1 apple shredded
    • 1.75 cups shredded carrots
    • ½ cup raisins
    • ½ cup walnuts chopped
    • ⅓ cup shredded coconut unsweetened

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 425F. Prepare muffin tin by lining with muffin liners and spraying with nonstick spray. (This will make 17 total muffins).
    • In a small bowl, combine all dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, combine brown sugar and canola oil. Mix well. Add in the eggs and mix with a fork until eggs are beaten and mixture is combined.
    • Add in the honey, orange juice, applesauce and vanilla. Mix until combined.
    • Add the shredded apple, carrots, walnuts, raisins and coconuts. Mix well.
    • Mix the carrot mixture into the flour mixture. Stir until just combined and all ingredients are mixed.
    • Fill the muffin liners to the very top with batter.
    • Bake for 5 minutes at 425 and then reduce the oven to 375 and bake for a remaining 17 minutes. (Do not remove muffins from the oven when reducing temperature).
    • Muffins are done with a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the muffins.
    • Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 208kcal
    Tried this recipe?Mention @pinchofwellness or tag #pinchofwellness!

    More Recipes

    • recipes with frozen cherries
      Recipes with Frozen Cherries
    • filipino chicken pancit
      Chicken Pancit
    • roasted brussles sprouts and sparagus on a sheet pan
      Roasted Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts
    • close up of arugula leaves.
      The Best Substitute For Arugula

    Comments

    1. Lillian says

      January 26, 2025 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      These muffins are excellent! I love all of the wholesome ingredients and the fact that it makes so many. I use a gluten free 1:1 flour and my family loves them.

      Reply
    2. Joan says

      May 25, 2023 at 9:18 am

      5 stars
      Excellent!
      Did not have orange juice, subbed lemonade

      Reply
    3. Charlotte Barnard says

      November 21, 2022 at 9:37 am

      5 stars
      These muffins are really delicious! Delicately sweet, moist and flavorful. I can’t have orange juice, so substituted it with sour cream as suggested by another reviewer. Only thing I would add would be to use parchment paper muffin cups. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
    4. Rosalind Lupul says

      March 06, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      These are my go-to muffins for breakfast. I love them! I have substituted Swerve brown sugar and Swerve granular sugar for honey to cut back on calories. I've also substituted plain yogurt or sour cream for the orange juice. Thank you so much for this tasty and healthy recipe!

      Reply
    5. Pinch of Wellness says

      February 07, 2022 at 9:16 am

      So glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
    6. Jane says

      February 07, 2022 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      These are excellent healthy gluten-free muffins. I used Namaste gluten-free flour and reduced the sugar to 1/3 cup and I used agave instead of honey to make them a little less sweet. I also used avocado oil instead of canola oil. They are perfect! A super hit around my house and so nutritious!

      Reply
    7. Hailey says

      September 30, 2021 at 5:47 pm

      Great recipe! I think the step where you add the brown sugar is missing though!

      Reply
      • Pinch of Wellness says

        October 01, 2021 at 8:02 am

        Thanks for catching that-it’s fixed! ??

        Reply
    8. Maggie says

      October 12, 2020 at 7:48 pm

      5 stars
      These are the best muffins! The variety of ingredients make them very flavorful!

      Reply
    9. Jackson's Mom says

      June 23, 2020 at 12:55 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent Muffin!! These makes a terrific 'any-time-of-the-day' muffin! Thank you!

      Reply
    5 from 6 votes

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    ashlee welter pinch of wellness

    Hi, I'm Ashlee! I'm a Registered Dietitian with over 12 years of experience in nutrition, cooking, and health! I am an expert in developing gluten free and healthy recipes!

    More about me!

    as featured in

    Top Healthy Recipes

    • salmon buddha bowls with teriyaki sauce
      Teriyaki Salmon Bowl
    • low-carb-philly-cheesesteak-skillet
      Healthy Philly Cheesesteak Skillet (Low Carb)
    • air-fryer-buffalo-cauliflower wings
      Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites
    • air-fryer-buffalo-chicken-tenders
      Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
    • gluten-free-sweet-and-sour-chicken
      Healthy Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
    • Healthy Spaghetti Sauce
      Healthy Spaghetti Sauce
    • Skinny Spinach Artichoke Dip
      Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip
    • BBQ Chicken Sweet Potatoes
      BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

    Winter Favorites

    • bowl filled with chicken tortilla soup topped with tortillas, cheese and jalapenos
      Healthy Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
    • The-Best-Baked-Oranges
      The Best Oven Baked Oranges
    • healthy-buffalo-chicken-dip
      Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
    • healthy-white-chicken-chili
      Healthy White Chicken Chili (Crockpot or Stovetop)
    • bowl of air fryer butternut squash cubes with pumpkin seeds
      Air Fryer Butternut Squash
    • sautéed frozen broccoli and cauliflower
      Sautéed Frozen Broccoli and Cauliflower
    • honey chipotle wings
      Honey Chipotle Wings
    • Healthy Taco Soup
      Healthy Taco Soup
    • Chicken Burrito Skillet
      Chicken Burrito Skillet
    • Oven Baked Chicken Quarters
      Oven Baked Chicken Quarters
    • Healthy Chicken Burritos
      Healthy Chicken Burritos
    • buffalo-chicken-rice-bowls-8
      Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls

    Popular

    • Chili flakes on a blue background
      Chili Flakes vs. Red Pepper Flakes
    • grilled chicken breasts on a wood cutting board
      Chicken vs. Tofu (A Nutritional Comparison
    • closeup of yukon gold potatoes
      Substitute for Yukon Gold Potatoes
    • chipotle southwest sauce with limes, brown bread and a blue towel in the background.
      Chipotle Southwest Sauce

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Footer

    as featured in footer 360x200
    • About Me
    • Accessibility

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclosure
    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2024 Pinch of Wellness LLC

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.