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If you’re swimming in summer zucchini and need a fun, easy way to use it up, these Morning Glory Zucchini Muffins are exactly what you need. Packed with fruits, veggies, nuts, and warm spices, they’re like a cozy carrot cake and a hearty bran muffin had a love child.

Perfect for breakfast, school lunches, or afternoon snacks, this is one zucchini muffin recipe you’ll be making on repeat.

Morning Glory Zucchini Muffin on a paper liner

Why I Love This Zucchini Muffin Recipe

There’s so much to adore about these muffins, stock the freezer by making a double batch and busy mornings will be a breeze.

They’re loaded with good-for-you ingredients (zucchini, apples, pineapple, nuts).

They freeze beautifully, so you can stash a batch for busy mornings.

They’re sweet without being too sugary.

You can easily swap ingredients depending on what you have on hand.

Honestly, this Morning Glory Zucchini Muffin recipe is one of my favorite ways to sneak a little extra produce into my family’s day.

Ingredients for morning glory zucchini muffins

Ingredients for Morning Glory Zucchini Muffins

Here’s what you’ll need (measurements are in the recipe card below).

  • Flour – All-purpose flour keeps things light, but you can swap half with whole wheat flour for extra nuttiness. A 1:1 gluten-free blend works too.
  • Baking soda & baking powder – Our leavening agents for fluffy muffins.
  • Spices – Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg give that warm, cozy bakery vibe.
  • Eggs – Large eggs hold everything together. A flax egg works as a vegan swap.
  • Sugar – A mix of brown and white sugar for depth and sweetness. You can cut the sugar slightly if you prefer.
  • Oil – Neutral oil works best (vegetable, olive oil, coconut oil). Melted butter adds richness but will change the texture a bit.
  • Greek yogurt or applesauce – Both add moisture without heaviness.
  • Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract rounds out all the flavors.
  • Zucchini – The star of the show! Make sure to squeeze out the excess liquid before adding to the batter. If using larger zucchini, scoop out and discard the seeds before grating.
  • Apple – Adds sweetness and moisture, I like to use honey crisp apples or fuji apples. Pears also work in a pinch.
  • Coconut – Optional, but unsweetened shredded coconut adds great texture.
  • Raisins or chopped dates – For chewy sweetness, raisins or dates also add a unique texture. Dried cranberries would be fun too.
  • Pineapple – Crushed pineapple keeps the muffins extra moist while adding great flavor.
  • Nuts – Walnuts or pecans give crunch, but you can leave them out if you prefer.
Morning Glory Zucchini Muffins in a muffin tin after baking

How to Make Morning Glory Zucchini Muffins

  1. Prep ahead. Preheat your oven and line a muffin tin.
  2. Make the muffin batter. Whisk together the dry ingredients. Mix the wet ingredients until smooth. Combine the wet and dry mixtures, don’t overmix!
  3. Add the good stuff. Fold in zucchini, apple, coconut, pineapple, raisins, nuts, and flaxseed.
  4. Make the muffins. Divide into muffin cups and bake until golden and set.
  5. Serve. Cool slightly before digging in (the aroma will test your willpower!).
zucchini muffin batter in a muffin tin before baking.

How to Store Leftovers

  • Counter: Store leftover zucchini muffins in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • Fridge: Zucchini muffins keep up to a week in an airtight container.
  • Freezer: Wrap zucchini muffins individually and freeze in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Just thaw overnight or microwave for 30 seconds before eating.

Kellie’s Tips for the Best Zucchini Muffins

  • Bake once, snack all week, these muffins taste even better the next day.
  • Don’t skip squeezing the moisture from the zucchini, too much liquid will make soggy muffins.
  • For tall muffin tops, fill the muffin cups almost to the brim.
  • Sprinkle turbinado sugar on top before baking for a crunchy finish.
Morning Glory Zucchini Muffins on a cooling rack.

What to Serve with Morning Glory Zucchini Muffins

These muffins are hearty on their own, but they also pair beautifully with:

More Easy Zucchini Recipes

If your garden (or neighbor’s garden!) is still overflowing with zucchini, try these next:

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Morning Glory Zucchini Muffin Recipe

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Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 11 minutes
Total: 41 minutes
Servings: 12
Moist, hearty, and packed with zucchini, pineapple, apple, nuts, and warm spices, these Morning Glory Zucchini Muffins are the ultimate breakfast treat.

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • ¼ cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt, or applesauce
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix-ins:

  • 1 cup finely grated zucchini, loosely packed, moisture lightly squeezed
  • ½ cup grated apple
  • cup shredded unsweetened coconut, optional
  • cup golden raisins or chopped dates
  • cup crushed pineapple, drained
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed or wheat germ, optional boost

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Line a muffin tin with paper liners or coat with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Set aside
  • In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, sugars, butter, yogurt, and vanilla until well combined.
  • Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients stirring just until combined, do not over stir.
  • Gently fold in zucchini, apple, coconut, raisins, pineapple, nuts, and flaxseed, if using, with a rubber spatula. Do not overmix.
  • Divide the batter evenly among muffin cups filling almost to the top.
  • Bake for 10 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 325˚F. Continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
  • Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • For best results, squeeze zucchini and apple to remove excess liquid.
  • Muffins freeze well, cool completely before storing.
  • Add-ins are flexible: try cranberries, pumpkin seeds, or chocolate chips for a twist.

Nutrition

Calories: 266kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 266mg, Potassium: 168mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 18g, Vitamin A: 306IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 40mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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