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January 17, 2015 50 Comments

Toddler Muffins with Banana, Cream Cheese and Oatmeal

a cooling rack filled with banana cream cheese oatmeal muffins for toddlers. the rack is black.

 My recipe for The Best Toddler Muffins is one of my most viewed recipes. Apparently making muffins for toddlers is more fun than making them for adults. So here is another one of my favorite toddler muffin recipes. Just don’t be surprised when the whole family loves them.

These tasty toddler muffins are packed with bananas, cream cheese, wheat germ, ground flaxseed, coconut oil, oatmeal, and whole wheat flour. They are delicious and so good you and your toddlers will never guess you are eating so many healthy ingredients–so many good things to cram into your kiddos (and yourself.)

The cream cheese is a fantastic addition and gives the muffins a unique and delicious texture. They’re the perfect snack or breakfast on the go.

This recipe makes two dozen normal-sized muffins or four dozen mini muffins, and they freeze really well.

More Delicious Muffins

  • Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • No-Fail Blueberry Muffins
  • Refrigerator Bran Muffins
  • Amazing Fresh Peach Muffins
  • Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
  • Pumpkin Oat Muffins with Streusel Topping

A toddler cream cheese muffin cut in half with butter smeared on it sitting on a stack of small white plates. Several muffins surround the plates along with two ripe bananas.how to make toddler muffins with banana, cream cheese and oatmeal

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease or put liners in muffin tins.
  • With a hand mixer or a stand mixer, cream softened cream cheese, coconut oil, and sugar.
  • Add eggs one at a time and continue mixing.
  • Next, add bananas and vanilla.
  • Add wheat germ, ground flaxseed, oats, whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until well combined.
  • Fill muffin tins 2/3 full, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, if desired, and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until top springs back or toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of a muffin.
  • If using mini muffin tins, bake at 350 degrees for 12-16 minutes.
  • Remove the muffins and let them cool on a cooling rack.
  • Enjoy!
A banana toddler muffin sitting on several small white plates. In the upper background are two very ripe bananas and a muffin. A muffin is in the bottom right-hand corner.Tips for making Toddler Muffins with Banana, Cream Cheese and Oatmeal
  • Make sure your bananas are really, really ripe to give the muffins optimal sweetness!
  • If you only have whole flaxseeds on hand, you can grind some up in a coffee grinder, pepper mill, or food processor. Store remaining ground flaxseeds in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • To quickly soften the cream cheese, remove the foil wrapper and set it on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave the cream cheese for 15-20 seconds. To test its softness, place your finger on the middle of the cream cheese. It should feel softer but not hot.
  • The muffins stay fresh 2-3 days covered on the countertop. If you have leftovers, freeze them in an airtight container or Ziploc freezer bag for up to two months.

Pinterest image of Toddler Muffins with Banana Cream Cheese Oatmeal Muffins there are two images, one is muffins on a cooling rack the other is a muffin split in half with butter on it.

baker’s tools:

  • Stand or Hand Mixer
  • Muffin Pan
  • Mini-Muffin Pan
  • Muffin Liners
  • Mini-Muffin Liners
  • Muffin Scoop

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5.0 from 10 reviews
Toddler Muffins with Banana, Cream Cheese and Oatmeal
 
Print
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
20 mins
Total time
35 mins
 
Lightly sweetened and packed with healthy ingredients. Even the pickiest toddlers will be begging for seconds.
Author: Maria
Recipe type: Muffin
Cuisine: Breakfast
Serves: 24
Ingredients
  • 1 (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 really ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp wheat germ
  • 3 tbsp ground flaxseeds
  • 1 cup quick oats
  • ¾ cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • cinnamon sugar, for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease or put liners in muffin tins.
  3. With a hand mixer or a stand mixer, cream softened cream cheese, coconut oil, and sugar.
  4. Add eggs one at a time and continue mixing.
  5. Next, add bananas and vanilla.
  6. Add wheat germ, ground flaxseed, oats, whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until well combined.
  7. Fill muffin tins ⅔ full, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, if desired, and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until top springs back or toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of a muffin.
  8. If using mini muffin tins, bake at 350 degrees for 12-16 minutes.
  9. Remove the muffins and let them cool on a cooling rack.
  10. Enjoy!
3.5.3251

More Great Toddler Snacks

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Snack Cake with Oatmeal and Whole Wheat FlourPumpkin Chocolate Chip Snack CakeGranola Bar Bites RecipeGranola Bar BitesZucchini-Chocolate-Chip-Snack-Cake-kids-LOVE-this-stuffZucchini Chocolate Chip Snack Cake

pinterest image for toddler muffins. the muffins in the picture are on a cooling rack

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50 Comments

  1. Julie Sanders

    August 30, 2015 at 2:29 pm

    I did not have any wheat flour on hand, nor wheat germ, nor flax seeds. I simply left all of that out and just used regular flour and added chia seeds. My 19 month old loves them and so do I. I love the fact that they aren’t too sweet and really enjoyed the light crunch from the chia seed. I froze them and just pull them out and heat as needed. Thank you for a delicious recipe! Oh….my toddler had her first experience in the kitchen watching the mixer. She poured in the sugar, wiped the counter down, and even dried a few dishes. We had a great time in the kitchen together!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      August 30, 2015 at 6:54 pm

      Yay! I am so glad you liked them and had a fun time cooking with your toddler. And seriously, is there anything cuter than a toddler wiping of the counter? Adorable! 🙂

      reply to this comment
    • Cheryl

      October 10, 2016 at 3:21 pm

      Just made these and they are delicious, cannot wait for family breakfast time in the morning mmmmm! Thank you X

      reply to this comment
      • Maria

        October 10, 2016 at 8:42 pm

        Oh good! You are welcome, glad you like them!

        reply to this comment
  2. Karen

    September 10, 2015 at 10:56 pm

    I’m just wondering it says 8oz cream cheese on one page but in recipe it say 18 oz or I’m reading it wrong it’s one 8 oz just written 18oz? Thanks!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 10, 2015 at 11:38 pm

      Hi Karen,

      It is 1 (8 oz) …sorry about the confusion. I will hurry and fix it. 🙂

      Maria

      reply to this comment
      • Karen

        September 11, 2015 at 11:44 pm

        Thank you! I figured I was probably reading into to too much! 🙂

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          September 12, 2015 at 3:46 pm

          No problem!

          reply to this comment
  3. Karen

    September 12, 2015 at 9:48 am

    I made these and I didn’t have quick oats so I ground rolled oats, and used a mixture of whole wheat with a touch of spelt (I didn’t have white flour) instead of white sugar half a cup honey half cup brown. (Apparently I need to grocery shop was missing a lot lol). Even and didn’t have wheat germ of flax but the are DELICIOUS!! The cream cheese just makes them so tasty! Even my husband (harder than the toddler to please) loves them. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 12, 2015 at 3:43 pm

      Hi Karen,
      Sounds like you made some great substitutions. I am glad they turned out delicious. I am so glad your husband and toddler love them too. I love the flavor and texture the cream cheese gives them and it’s nice to know there is a little extra protein in there. 🙂
      Maria

      reply to this comment
  4. Nicole Wilson-Storey

    January 13, 2016 at 11:50 am

    How many calories are in one regular muffin? With the exact ingredients required?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 25, 2016 at 11:13 pm

      I am sorry, Nicole, but I have no idea.

      reply to this comment
  5. Christina

    January 19, 2016 at 1:02 pm

    This recipe is great! My 18 month old is loving them as we speak! How would you store these for a few days besides freezing them?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 25, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      If I know I won’t be using them for a day or two I still put them in the freezer, it keeps them the most fresh and they thaw rather quickly so its usually never a problem.

      reply to this comment
  6. Amanda

    February 20, 2016 at 8:11 am

    I used whole flax seeds instead of ground, and added 1-1/2 cups of frozen blueberries, and they came out awesome!!!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 22, 2016 at 1:24 pm

      I’ll have to give adding blueberries a shot, my 4 year old would love that! Thanks Amanda!

      reply to this comment
    • Tori

      September 18, 2018 at 7:24 am

      One of my cooking magazines said our bodies have a very hard time breaking down whole flax seed, men especially. This was annoying to find out since I had just bought an entire bag of whole flax seed and had to grind them. 🤪

      reply to this comment
  7. Anna

    March 11, 2016 at 11:30 am

    They turned out delicious! Only had 1 banana but added a cup of applesauce. Best toddler muffins I’ve had!

    reply to this comment
  8. Terry Brandau

    June 9, 2016 at 7:08 am

    Maria, can’t wait to make these muffins for my grandchildren (and me!) I am a first time visitor to your site and will be back to check you out and share some additional recipes
    soon!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      June 11, 2016 at 9:02 pm

      Welcome Terry! I am glad you found me. Your grandkids (and you) will loves these!

      reply to this comment
  9. Leanne

    June 23, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    My 4 year old and 22 month old just devoured their muffins! Not only are these muffins tasty, the house smells glorious! The smell of cinnamon is one of my favorites. The only ingredients I didn’t have on hand were the wheat germ (I substituted oat bran) and whole wheat flour. I just used regular flour and they turned out great! I like how these muffins hold together nicely and your little ones won’t make a big crumbly mess out of them (for the most part, ha!)

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      June 23, 2016 at 10:38 pm

      Yay! They’re the best, right! 🙂

      reply to this comment
  10. JoAnna

    August 21, 2016 at 4:35 pm

    I was looking for a nutritious muffin recipe that I could make for my 14-month-old daughter to send with her to daycare, and I stumbled across your recipe… They are phenomenal! I made mini muffins that can fit in her little lunch box, and I know she is going to love them just as much as me. Thanks so much for sharing!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      November 30, 2016 at 3:26 pm

      You are so welcome! I love hearing this. My 2 year old loves it when I make these as mini muffins. Perfect for their little hands. 🙂

      reply to this comment
    • Carrie

      July 25, 2019 at 4:03 pm

      Does the coconut oil have to be melted? Thanks.

      reply to this comment
      • Maria

        May 14, 2020 at 6:36 am

        it can be melted or softened. It needs to be able to mix into the rest of the mixture which is difficult if it is in solid form.

        reply to this comment
  11. Shauna Kelley

    August 31, 2016 at 3:06 pm

    My kiddo devours these! I have my second batch in the oven now. They have made day care snacks so much easier than me trying to cut up and transport fruit and other things. I freeze them and then pull 3-4 out at a time. They thaw in a few hours and he seriously cannot get enough of them. I am happy knowing that he is getting something nutritious, and he is happy getting to eat these. Thanks so much for sharing!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 1, 2016 at 9:56 pm

      Yay! I love hearing things like this. This is exactly why I blog. Glad he loves them and glad they make your life easier!

      reply to this comment
  12. Cindy G

    November 19, 2016 at 11:34 am

    I absolutely love this recipe! I have made it several times and it comes out so moist and I love that it has alot of healthy ingredients…alot of other toddler muffin recipes are more like regular muffins but this is so nutrient dense..and tastes great too. I never have wheat germ so I just put some extra flax seeds. Thank you for sharing.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      November 30, 2016 at 3:04 pm

      Hi Cindy! I am so glad you love this recipe and have made it many times. That makes me so happy! Flax seeds are a great substitution. That’s one of the best things about this recipe. You can play around with what you have on hand and it still comes out great!

      reply to this comment
  13. Desiree

    March 14, 2017 at 1:17 am

    I usually make your other “best toddler muffin” recipe with pumpkin purée/sweet potato with veggies and those are my kids favorite. I decided to try this recipe and after they came out of the oven, they were good. I made them at night and stored them in the freezer (as you suggested) and a few in the fridge for the morning, but this made them hard and dense as opposed to how soft they were coming out of the oven. I let them thaw and my toddler is not too picky of an eater and he took one bite and left it on the counter 🙁 Are they supposed to be so hard/dense? Do you have to store these in the fridge/freezer? I’m tempted to microwave them for a few seconds when ready to eat in hopes to make them more appealing.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 14, 2017 at 4:16 pm

      Hi Desiree, No you do not have to freeze or refrigerate them. That was meant as advice if you are not going to be eating them in a day or two. The muffins should not be hard and dense once they are thawed. You can put them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds if you are pulling them out of the freezer. Hope that answers your questions.

      reply to this comment
  14. Nancy

    April 22, 2017 at 8:53 pm

    Thank you so much for this recipe!!!
    My little one loved them ? And even my husband (who never cares for any healthier recipes) loved these as well!
    These muffins are a very good choice to add to any lunch box.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 2, 2017 at 5:52 pm

      Yay! this makes me so happy Nancy!

      reply to this comment
  15. Lynn Armstrong

    October 21, 2018 at 7:11 pm

    I found you randomly on Pinterest ; ) I am no cook but here I go!!!!! So nice to “meet” you!!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 6, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      Nice to meet you too! You’ll find plenty of awesome, easy recipes on this site!

      reply to this comment
  16. Carla SOMERVILLE

    January 26, 2019 at 10:22 pm

    Made these for my college-aged kids. Used old-fashioned oats, doubled the vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and added 1/4 cup ground walnuts and a small chopped apple. Yum!

    reply to this comment
  17. Kimberly Lynne

    February 6, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    Hi Maria, I know this post is older but I just found these via Pinterest. I added chocolate chips hoping to entice my kiddos to try them. Neither of them like bananas. Success! They gobbled them up. Thank you for a great recipe!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 26, 2019 at 9:46 pm

      Yay Kimberly! This makes me so happy!

      reply to this comment
  18. Alisa

    March 3, 2019 at 12:30 pm

    Wish I found this recipie sooner! Made them exactly as written and they are fabulous! My picky 5 yr old and my husband and I love them. Thank you!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 9, 2019 at 10:18 pm

      Hi Alisa, I am so happy to hear this! I am so glad your family loves them! Thank you for your feedback!

      reply to this comment
  19. Suzanne

    April 26, 2019 at 1:17 pm

    This looks so good! What a great breakfast meal prep to have ready for the little one!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 30, 2019 at 10:00 pm

      Thanks Suzanne.

      reply to this comment
  20. Vanessa

    April 26, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 30, 2019 at 10:00 pm

      2-3 days or you can freeze them in a Ziploc for up to a month or two.

      reply to this comment
  21. D Morris

    March 30, 2021 at 1:10 am

    Yum!! My boys and I both loved these! I did not feel guilty letting them eat them with all the helpful good stuff inside. Thanks for another yummy recipe! #marchgiveaway

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 5, 2021 at 12:35 pm

      Yay! This makes me so happy Danelle!

      reply to this comment
  22. Kathrine

    April 30, 2021 at 1:54 am

    I just made these. They are delicious! My whole family loved them.
    #aprilgiveaway

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 30, 2021 at 9:10 am

      Yay! I love hearing that Kathrine!

      reply to this comment
  23. Callie

    September 3, 2021 at 12:17 am

    #septembergiveawsy

    reply to this comment

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Welcome friends!

Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


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