Applesauce muffins for baby-led weaning are my go-to for using up excess applesauce pouches.

They are soft on the inside and firm on the outside which makes them ideal for babies and toddlers.

Each muffin is packed with Apple cinnamon flavors that bring you the essence of spring and fall in every bite.

Applesauce muffins for baby and toddlers made with applesauce pouches

Why I Love Making Applesauce Muffins for Baby

I love making applesauce muffins for my baby and toddler because they taste great.

Young babies just starting their baby-led weaning journey will be able to eat them easily.

They’re also a great way to use up old applesauce pouches before they expire.

I created this recipe one day because I bought too many applesauce pouches from Costco.

My baby at the time developed an aversion to them out of nowhere because of their texture.

So instead of letting the applesauce pouches just sit there until they expired, I created this muffin recipe with them.

That’s how my baby-friendly applesauce muffins were born.

Important Recipe Notes on BLW Applesauce Muffins

Use extra applesauce if you want very soft muffins

These baby-friendly applesauce muffins can be made softer by adding extra applesauce pouches.

I used 4 pouches in this recipe but you’re free to add 1 or two extra if you want them even softer.

Allergy Considerations for Baby Applesauce Muffins

These muffins use eggs

It’s important to note that these applesauce muffins use eggs.

Egg is a common allergen for babies and toddlers. If your baby is allergic to eggs, then you’ll need to use an egg substitute.

So make sure to familiarize yourself with signs of an egg allergy in babies.

You can replace eggs with peanut butter if you want. The table below also lists some other egg substitutes you can try.

Egg Substitutes	Number of “eggs” Made
3 tbsp peanut butter	1 egg
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water	1 egg (whisk until gelatinous)
1/2 mashed banana	1 egg
1 tbsp mashed sweet potato	1 egg
1/4 cup applesauce	1 egg
1 tbsp chia seed + 3 tbsp water	1 egg (stir & rest it for 15-30 min)
1 tbsp soy protein + 3 tbsp water	1 egg (mix & use immediately)

There’s NO MILK in these muffins

Because some babies are sensitive or allergic to milk, I don’t use them in my muffin recipes.

To replace milk, I use oil to keep the muffins moist and easy to eat. They come out tasting just as great.

Recipe variations for Applesauce Muffins

Applesauce Nut Muffins

You can add walnuts, almonds, peanuts, or other types of nuts to these muffins as a variation.

Nuts help to give the muffins some texture and add to the flavor.

ABC Muffins

ABC muffins (apple, banana, and carrot) are one of my favorite muffins to make for my kids. You can check out my ABC muffin recipe here.

Apple Carrot Muffins

Another variation of applesauce muffins is apple carrot muffins. They are easy to make and taste great. The carrots add an extra touch of sweetness.

Jump to Recipe

Ingredients For Baby-led Weaning Applesauce Muffins

Applesauce packets – Any flavor combination of applesauce pouch would work. You can use applesauce cups as well, but I’m not sure about how the measurements compare to the pouches. Applesauce cups have slightly more content than the pouches.

Flour – whole wheat, all-purpose, or a combination of both would work.

Maple syrup – this is my sweetener of choice because it’s more natural. Don’t confuse maple syrup with corn syrup. They are different things. You can also use brown sugar if you don’t want maple syrup.

Eggs – eggs are required to help bind the ingredients together. Feel free to use an egg substitute in the table above.

Oil – oil acts as a replacement for milk to keep the muffins moist.

Cooking Directions For Baby-friendly Applesauce Muffins

Set the oven to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
combine wet ingredients in a bowl (applesauce, oil, eggs, vanilla, maple syrup)
Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl (flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon)
Pour wet into dry ingredients. Mix with a rubber spatula. Don’t overmix.
Grease the muffin tin with cooking spray. Pour batter into each well.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

What To Serve With Applesauce Muffins For Baby & Toddlers

Serve with a sweet topping

Add any sweet topping to these applesauce muffins for your baby or toddler.

My favorite topping for muffins is cream cheese icing. It elevates the muffins to a whole new level.

I also like layering applesauce muffins with some jam or smooth peanut butter. Peanut butter helps add to the bulk and keeps my kids full for longer periods.

Serve with a side of fruits

Fruits such as blueberries and raspberries go well with applesauce muffins.

How To Cut Applesauce Muffins For Baby-led Weaning

6-9 Months old

Muffins can be cut in half for young babies between 6 and 9 months old. They will be able to pick up and feed themselves this way.

9-12 months old

By 9 and 12 months old, you can choose to continue cutting them into 2 halves or cut them into small chunks for them to pick up.

12- 24 months and older

Toddlers between 12 and 24 months can be given the whole muffin to eat themselves. They’ve developed the ability to take small bites at this point.

Storage Tips For Baby-friendly Applesauce Muffins

Can I refrigerate applesauce muffins?

You can refrigerate applesauce muffins in Pyrex containers or ziplock bags for a few days.

If your applesauce muffins are very soft then I’d suggest eating them as soon as possible. Being in the fridge too long will make them soggier.

Can I freeze applesauce muffins?

The best way to store applesauce muffins is in the freezer. They will last for as long as you need. You can store them in a Pyrex container or a ziplock bag to keep in the fridge.

Reheating BLW Applesauce Muffins

In the oven

If you’re not in a hurry, you can reheat these muffins in the oven. They will crisp back up and heat up more evenly.

I suggest cutting them open before heating them. This will ensure they heat evenly.

In the microwave

The fastest way to reheat these muffins is in the microwave.

Try reheating them uncovered so they don’t absorb too much moisture. This will prevent sogginess.

Tips for Picky Eaters

Don’t pressure

Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying.

It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.

Make it into a game

Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating.

A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.

Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.

Simple Applesauce Muffins For Baby & Toddlers

Recipe by AghoghoCourse: LunchCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time