Baby Banana Oat Muffins (Nut Free + Iron-Rich!)

Super moist and healthy Baby Banana Muffins with no added sugar! Perfect for baby led weaning and a good source of iron. Toddler and parent approved! Gluten, dairy, egg, and nut free.

Baby muffins! Muffins for tiny baby hands! Itty bitty mini muffins that actually taste splendid enough for grown up taste buds, too. Hip hip hooray!

It's been quite a journey trying to pinpoint what in my son Max's diet worsened his eczema. While we're still not quite sure what triggers, I've been having a ball creating egg-free baby and toddler recipes (like these sweet potato pancakes) because pancakes and muffins are 100% his favorite food. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! He gobbles up these banana oatmeal muffins every time and they come together in literally 5 minutes. Praise be.

These are also easily nut free, which is super helpful for daycare.

How to make baby muffins

When it comes to baby or toddler food, we're really just making sure that they're safe for swallowing and of course delish. As a Dietitian, making healthy baby recipes is extra fun!

These muffins...

• are nice and moist for easy and safe swallowing. And small! The texture is more dense versus fluffy.
• are low in sugar (American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting added sugar until age 2)
• are low in salt since babies' kidneys can;'t process salt like adults can
• contain no honey since babies under 1 cannot have honey due to potential botulism spores

Recipe ingredients and substitutions

Made with just 6 simple ingredients, these healthy muffins for baby with no added sugar come together in no time!

• Banana: You can use a less ripe banana for less sweet muffins or an overripe banana for sweeter muffins. It should be large enough to make half a cup of mashed banana.
• Tahini: I use sesame seed butter for an easy nut free option. You could use whatever drippy natural nut butter you like. Sunflower seed butter will also work but it will turn the muffins green.
• Baby oatmeal cereal: I always had this on hand when Max was under 1 since it's a great source of iron and iron needs skyrocket at 6 months of age. You can easily use oat flour instead if you don't have this on hand.
• Old fashioned oats: A great source of whole grains. Quick cooking oats would also work. Use certified gluten free oats if needed.
• Chia seeds: A great source of healthy omega-3 fats, chia seeds are super nutrient-rich! They also help bind these muffins. You could also add an egg for extra protein if your child tolerates egg.
• Cinnamon: Fort lovely sweetness and flavor. Exposure to different spices is great for baby!

How to serve

Your little one can enjoy these muffins at 6 months of age or after. (My son took longer to sit up and didn't really start eating until closer to 7 months.)

Baby led weaning takes practice and patience. For 6-9 month olds, you can serve mini muffins whole so baby can pick it up with the palmer grasp.

Once baby develops the pincer grasp around 9 months, you can break the muffin up into smaller pieces.

Storage tips

Store these cute little muffins in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate them for up to a week.

Can you freeze muffins?

You know it! I freeze these all the time for meal prep. Simply freeze cooled muffins in an even layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer baggie and squeeze all the air out. They'll keep for 3 months.

More healthy baby and toddler recipes

• Healthy Sweet Potato Muffins
• Banana Zucchini Oatmeal Cups (omit maple syrup)
• Sweet Potato Pancakes
• Banana Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Chocolate Banana Muffins (1 year and up due to cocoa)

Pretty please let me know how this  recipe turns out for you by leaving a star rating and/or comment! I hope you adore it as much as I do.

Enjoy, little ones!

Print