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    Home » Recipes » Sweet Breads & Muffins

    Healthy ABCD Muffins (Apple, Banana, Coconut & Date)

    Modified: Mar 10, 2020 · Published: Oct 21, 2019 by Lucy · This post may contain affiliate links · 167 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    A plate of ABCD Muffins

    Our award-winning ABCD Muffins are great for kids and are packed with apple, banana, coconut and dates making them a perfect lunch box option!

    A plate of ABCD Muffins

    We all know that muffins are a favourite with kids and make a great lunch box treat.  Whether it's a batch of banana muffins, blueberry muffins, apple crumble muffins, white chocolate and raspberry muffins or these ABCD muffins, they're sure to disappear quickly!

    ABCD muffins on a blue plate.

    Apple, Banana, Coconut & Date Muffins (ABCD)

    The name ABCD muffins stands for apple, banana, coconut and date muffins - the 4 main ingredients in these freezer-friendly muffins. 

    The ingredients needed for apple, banana, coconut and date muffins.

    A One Bowl Muffin Recipe

    To make these muffins, simply mix the wet ingredients together in a bowl (apple, banana, dates, vegetable oil, egg and milk). 

    A mixing bowl with egg, apple, dates, milk and oil.

    Muffin mixture in a bowl.

    Then gently fold through the dry ingredients - don't over-mix (self-raising flour, raw sugar and coconut). 

    Flour and sugar being added to a mixing bowl.

    Muffin batter made with apple, banana, coconut and dates in a bowl.

    Divide the mixture between the muffin tray holes, sprinkle with extra sugar (optional) and bake. 

    A muffin tray filled with sweet muffin mixture.

    Variations

    This is such a versatile recipe and you can mix and match with so many different ingredients. I recommend checking out the reader comments at the end of the post (there's so many great suggestions there!). 

    Some great suggestions are:

    • adding grated carrot
    • adding nuts
    • using gluten-free flour
    • reducing the amount of sugar

    A pile of apple, banana, coconut and date muffins on a blue plate.

    Lower Sugar ABCD Muffins

    This recipe contains ½ cup of raw sugar. However, it does also get a lot of sweetness from the apple, banana and dates, so you can absolutely cut down this amount for a low sugar option. Many of our readers suggest ¼ cup of raw sugar instead. 

    I like to sprinkle a little extra raw sugar over the top of the muffins to give a beautiful crunch, but again, if you're after a low sugar muffin, then skip this step (they'll still be absolutely delicious). 

    ABCD Muffins on a blue plate.

    How To Store ABCD Muffins

    These muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature and consumed within 3-4 days. Alternatively, you can freeze the muffins for up to 3 months.

     

    Popular Lunch Box Recipes For Kids

    Here's 5 more of our most popular lunch box recipes: 

    • Milo Biscuits
    • Chocolate Banana Fudge Loaf
    • Healthy Homemade Muesli Bars
    • Apple & Cinnamon Scrolls
    • Oat & Milo Slice

    A half-eaten lunchbox muffin.

    ABCD Muffin Recipe Tips & FAQ

    Can I make these muffins in my Thermomix?

    Absolutely! There's conventional and Thermomix instructions in the printable recipe card below. 

    Can you taste the dates in this muffin recipe?

    No, as they are chopped finely they just give a beautiful sweetness to the muffins. 

    I don't like coconut - can I leave it out?

    Yes you can. There's no need to replace it with anything. 

    Can I make these into mini muffins?

    Yes, of course! Simply decrease the cooking time in the oven. 

    Do you have any more lunch box recipes?

    Absolutely! Check out my entire lunch box recipes collection here or my FREE printable of 101 Lunch Box Ideas here. 

    How will I know if the ABCD muffins are cooked?

    The muffins are ready when they spring back when touched lightly in the middle or a skewer inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs on it. 

     

    WANT EVEN MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Facebook or Instagram. And if you love baking, then please come and join my Facebook cooking club group or subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

    ABCD Muffins

    ABCD Muffins

    Our award-winning ABCD Muffins are great for kids and are packed with apple, banana, coconut and dates making them a perfect lunch box option!
    5 from 51 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Snacks
    Cuisine: Healthy Snacks
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 muffins
    Calories: 274kcal
    Author: Lucy - Bake Play Smile

    Ingredients

    • 1 apple grated
    • 2 bananas small, mashed
    • 50 g dried pitted dates finely chopped
    • ½ cup (125g) vegetable oil
    • ¾ cup (185g) milk
    • 1 egg
    • ¼ cup (20g) desiccated coconut
    • 225 g (1 ½ cups) self-raising flour
    • ½ cup (125g) raw sugar plus extra for sprinkling
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Conventional Method

    • Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced). Grease a 12-hole muffin tin and set aside.
    • Place apple, bananas, dates, vegetable oil, milk and egg into a bowl and mix until very well combined.
    • Add desiccated coconut, self-raising flour and raw sugar and mix very gently until just combined (be careful not to over-mix).
    • Spoon mixture into prepared muffins tin and sprinkle with extra raw sugar (optional).
    • Bake for approximately 20 minutes (turn tray after 10 minutes and then check at 15 minutes).
    • Leave to cool in the tray for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Thermomix Method

    • Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced). Grease a 12-hole muffin tin and set aside.
    • Place quartered apple and whole pitted dates into the Thermomix bowl. Chop on Turbo for 10 seconds (or until apple is grated and dates are finely chopped). You may need to scrape down the sides a couple of times.
    • Add the banana and mix on Speed 5, 5 seconds.
    • Add the vegetable oil, milk and egg and mix on Reverse Speed 5, 15 seconds or until well combined.
    • Add the self-raising flour, coconut and sugar and gently mix with the spatula until just combined - be careful not to over-mix.
    • Spoon mixture into prepared muffins tins and sprinkle with extra raw sugar (optional).
    • Bake for approximately 20 minutes (turn tray after 10 minutes and then check at 15 minutes).
    • Leave to cool in the tray for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Notes

    RECIPE NOTES & TIPS
    Low sugar option - reduce the amount of sugar to ¼ cup and omit the optional step of sprinkling sugar over the top before baking. 
    Testing the muffins - the muffins are ready when they spring back when touched lightly in the middle or a skewer inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs on it. 
    Storing the muffins - store in an airtight container at room temperature and consume within 3-4 days. Alternatively, freeze the muffins for up to 3 months.
    Freezer-friendly - these muffins can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer for grab and go snacks. They can be placed into lunch boxes frozen as they will defrost by morning tea. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 184mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 2.5mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @BakePlaySmileBlog or tag #BakePlaySmile!

     

     

     

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    Comments

    1. Es says

      August 18, 2024 at 12:49 pm

      5 stars
      Just made a batch, substituted veg for coconut oil and rice syrup in place of sugar. Lovely texture and love the one-bowl ease. I did add a good sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on top before baking and am glad I did, as I think they might have been a bit bland. That said, I suppose toddlers might pick up more subtle tastes.

      Reply
    2. Hannah Roberts says

      October 10, 2023 at 8:56 am

      Can you use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil?

      Reply
      • Lucy says

        October 10, 2023 at 6:39 pm

        I haven't tried it but I dont see why not!

        Reply
      • Jen says

        December 10, 2023 at 4:11 pm

        I just swapped it out, I found that I needed to work quickly to combine the ingredients because the coconut oil can go lumpy as it cools. Have everything ready to add to go straight into the bowl then into the muffin tin, then oven.

        Reply
    3. Mel says

      September 28, 2023 at 12:33 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! These muffins are so simple, but delicious. Didn’t have apple so grated up a zucchini and a carrot, also only used 1/4 cup of sugar.. Toddler loves them.

      Reply
      • Lucy says

        October 03, 2023 at 8:28 pm

        Fantastic!

        Reply
        • Alana says

          February 27, 2024 at 1:15 pm

          5 stars
          I made these muffins today can't wait until the kids try them! Turned out awesome and of course I've already had one! I added vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon too

          Reply
          • Lucy says

            February 28, 2024 at 8:05 am

            YUM!!!

            Reply
      • Rae says

        July 01, 2024 at 1:28 pm

        5 stars
        I replaced the vegetable oil with 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup Greek yoghurt and they turned out great. Thanks for the recipe

        Reply
    4. Joanne says

      January 28, 2023 at 12:15 pm

      5 stars
      I make these muffins on repeat! Love them so much!!

      Reply
    5. Cassandra says

      August 06, 2022 at 11:48 am

      5 stars
      Kids love these muffins - great one for the school lunchbox!

      Reply
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    5 from 51 votes (25 ratings without comment)

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    I’m Lucy! A mum, a wife, a food blogger and a lover of all things to do with food! I love creating delicious, no-fuss Thermomix and conventional recipes the whole family will love. Classic baking favourites, lunch box snacks, quick and easy family dinners and more!

    More about me →

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