Blueberry Banana Bran BLW Mini Muffins

Muffins are a great portable snack for infants, toddlers, children, and adults. They are great at any age! Sometimes getting enough fibre into the diet can be hard, but these fibre-packed Blueberry Banana Bran BLW Mini Muffins help you meet your fibre recommendations for the day. Add this easy muffin recipe to your meal prep, keep some on hand, and store the rest in the freezer for days ahead. Enjoy!

BLUEBERRY BANANA BRAN BLW MINI MUFFINS

Author: Andrea Carpenter, RD

Recipe Type: Baby Food; Sides, Snacks, and Apps

Serving: 40 mini muffins

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 mashed ripe bananas

• 1 large eggs

• 1 TBSP ground hemp hearts

• 1 TBSP ground flaxseed

• 1/2 package store-bought plain bran-muffin mix

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 CUP frozen blueberries

• 1 1/4 CUP water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mash the ripe bananas in a bowl.

2. Add egg and blend into oil and banana mixture.

3. Mix the hemp hearts, flaxseeds, cinnamon and water into the banana mixture.

4. Add the muffin mix and gently fold until just combined. Do not over-mix or the muffins will have a tough texture.

5. Gently fold in the frozen blueberries.

6. Line a mini muffin tray with parchment muffin liners to prevent sticking. Alternatively, spray the muffin tray with coconut oil.

7. Bake at 400 degrees for 7 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before storing in airtight containers. These muffins also freeze well.

BLW and Toddler Iron & Protein Banana Muffins

If you are a parent to a baby or toddler, you understand the battle of trying to ensure they get enough protein and iron-rich foods in their diet. It’s not uncommon for babies or toddlers to become more selective with some of their foods, but in my experience, handheld mini muffins are a great way to entice your little eater into giving them a try. These are perfect for young children as their are packed with iron from the iron-fortified cereal and eggs, have a kick of protein from the eggs and hemp hearts, and balanced with sweetness from ripe bananas. These have no added sugar so you can feel good about offering these at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!

BLW and Toddler Iron & Protein banana muffins

Author: Andrea Carpenter, RD

Recipe Type: Baby Food; Sides, Snacks, and Apps

Serving: 16 mini muffins

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 mashed ripe bananas

• 40 ml coconut oil, melted

• 2 large eggs

• 3 TBSP hemp hearts

• 1/2 TBSP baking powder

• 3/4 cup iron-fortified infant cereal

• 1 tsp cinnamon

Topping (optional):

• 1 TBSP melted coconut oil

• 1 TBSP all purpose flour

• 1 TBSP brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mash the ripe bananas in a bowl.

2. Melt the coconut oil and stir into mashed bananas.

3. Add eggs and blend into oil and banana mixture.

4. Mix the hemp hearts, baking soda, iron-fortified cereal, and cinnamon together then add to the banana mixture, gently folding until just combined. Do not over-mix or the muffins will have a tough texture.

5. Line a mini muffin tray with parchment muffin liners to prevent sticking. Alternatively, spray the muffin tray with coconut oil.

6. If preparing the topping, melt the coconut oil and mix with the flour and sugar. Spoon the topping over each muffin prior to baking.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before storing in airtight containers.

Savoury Leek and Kale BLW Muffins

If you’re like me, you want easy, nutritious food for your baby that tastes great and exposes them to a wide variety of foods and flavours. When that food is portable for on-the-go meals, it’s even better. Mini muffins make great snacks and compliment any meal - breakfast, lunch, or dinner! This savoury leek and kale baby-led-weaning mini muffin is a recipe you will find yourself whipping up on the regular. There are some modifications listed in the recipe if you choose to make these mini muffins egg-free and/or dairy-free.

These muffins also freeze well which means you can store some for later, so your little one doesn’t tire of eating the same thing day in and day out. I hope you and your little one enjoys these muffins. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your little one enjoying them, too!

Savoury Leek and Kale BLW Mini Muffins

Author: Andrea Carpenter, RD

Recipe Type: Entrée, Sides, Snacks and Apps

Servings: 24 mini muffins

Ingredients

• 1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced

• 4-6 kale leaves, thinly sliced

• 1 egg or 1 flax egg (1 Tbsp ground flax + 3 Tbsp water)

• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese or 1/2 cup coconut cheese

• 1/2 cup whole milk or 1/2 cup pea milk or cashew milk

• 1/2 cup iron fortified infant cereal

• 1 cup all purpose flour

• Olive oil

Directions

1. Add a generous drizzle of olive oil to a non stick pan. Heat on medium low. Add the leek and kale and cook for several minutes until tender. If leek starts to brown reduce heat.

2. In a bowl, combine the infant cereal and flour and stir. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, beat the egg (or flax egg for egg-free variety) and add the cheese (or cheese alternative for dairy-free variety) and milk (or milk alternative for dairy-free variety). Once the leek and kale has cooked, allow it to cool then stir into the egg mixture.

4. Combine the flour mixture to the egg mixture and fold until combined. Be careful not to over-mix as this will result in tough muffins. Note: if batter is too dry, add more milk. If batter is too wet add more infant cereal.

5. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spoon the batter into mini muffin tins (no paper lining, no cooking spray or greased tins required), filling just to the top. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown.

6. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or in the freezer for 1 month.