ABCD Muffins… so healthy and so easy! These muffins are packed with apple, banana, coconut and dates which makes them super moist and extra tasty!
This recipe is a couple of years old now, but given that it’s still as popular as ever, I thought it needed a freshen up. New photos, new blog post AND a video. Why not! These ABCD Muffins are so good they deserve all that… and more!
So what does the ABCD in the title stand for? Apple. Banana. Coconut. Dates. Easy-peasy, right! Oh and did I mention that these are also kid-friendly, lunchbox-friendly AND freezer-friendly. Yep, they pretty much tick every single box.
And if you don’t think that’s awesome enough… then these are also award-winning muffins! Yep, Super Food Ideas voted this wee little muffin recipe of mine to be the most popular lunch box recipe. Whoop whoop! See, nothing beats a super simple recipe, right!?
Speaking of lunch box snacks, make sure you check out my whole collection of 101 school-friendly recipes. It’s going to save you a whole lot of time and energy (I promise). Ooh and with that newfound time and energy, you can totally do ALL the important things… like binge-watch Netflix. Obviously.
Well that’s it from me today! I hope you and your gorgeous kiddies enjoy my new ABCD Muffins!
ABCD Muffins - Conventional Method
Ingredients
- 1 apple, grated
- 2 small bananas, mashed
- 50 g pitted dates, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup (125g) vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup (190g) milk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup (15g) desiccated coconut
- 220 g self-raising flour
- 1/2 cup (125g) raw sugar plus extra for sprinkling
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
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Place apple, bananas, dates, vegetable oil, milk and egg into a bowl and mix until very well combined.
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Add desiccated coconut, self-raising flour and raw sugar and mix very gently until just combined (be careful not to over mix!!).
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Spoon mixture into prepared muffins tins and sprinkle with extra raw sugar.
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Bake for approximately 20 minutes (turn tray after 10 minutes and then check at 15 minutes).
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Leave in tray for a couple of minutes and then place onto a wire rack (so the muffins don't sweat).
ABCD Muffins - Thermomix Method
Thermomix ABCD Muffins... super healthy! Made with Apple, Banana, Coconut and Dates. These muffins are totally delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 apple
- 50 g pitted dates
- 2 small bananas
- 125 g vegetable oil
- 190 g milk
- 1 egg
- 15 g desiccated coconut
- 220 g self-raising flour
- 125 g raw sugar plus extra for sprinkling
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
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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.
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Add the banana and mix on Speed 5, 5 seconds.
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Add the oil, milk and egg and mix on Reverse Speed 5, 15 seconds or until really well combined.
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Add the self raising flour, coconut and sugar and gently mix with the spatula or wooden spoon until just combined - be careful not to over mix.
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Spoon mixture into prepared muffins tins and sprinkle with extra raw sugar.
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Bake for approximately 20 minutes (turn tray after 10 minutes and then check at 15 minutes).
Leave muffins in the tray for a couple of minutes and then place onto a wire rack (so the muffins don't sweat).
When I first opened your post, Lucy, I thought you’d made ACDC muffins!!! (Wonder what those would taste like??)
As a big muffin fan, I’ll add these to my list. I’m cooking the mini cottage pies this week, combining potato with sweet potato (my family are huge potato fans!)
🙂
Haha they would taste like hard rock I think!!! 🙂 Oooh let me know how you go with the cottage pies too! xx
Hey, I have added Coco or cacao to this recipe for my miss fussy. Making them ACDC muffins that rock.
Fantastic idea!!!! xx
These muffins are so gorgeous and packed with healthy foods! Must.Make!!
Thanks Ami!! 🙂
Yeah, I despise dry muffins! Love the moist look of your goodies on photo :). Once again, good luck on the competition!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Thank you! xx
Congratulations on your nomination. Those muffins look delicious! I’m off to vote for you now 😉
Thank you so much Tat! xx
Hi Lucy, Im visiting from Brons linkup. These look and sound great! Thanks for the recipe, I will def give them a try. Fingers crossed for the holy grail of muffin recipes. 😀 All the best for the comp, how exciting to be nominated!
Hi Alisa, Thanks for popping over! Thank you – feeling a bit nervous!! xx
Oh I love these, the sound and look so delicious. I brought an extra bunch of bananas this week to make your banana choc chip bread but now I am torn which to make!!
Perfect!!!! Either of Lauren’s creations are amazing!
Yum, these are great. Even though I always try to be healthy at breakfast, I really just crave sweet things like pancakes or crepes or croissants. So I have a sneaking suspicion that these will be a great healthy alternative!
Absolutely! Oh don’t even put me near a croissant and nutella or you’ll never see me again! xx
These look delicious and a perfect addition to the lunchboxes. Will definitely be making these this week 🙂
Thanks so much Marianne – I really appreciate your comment.
I made these and were a huge hit with adults and kids alike… so yummy!
Thank you so much Deanna. I’m so glad you liked them! 🙂
To make them healthy I subsituted the vegetable oil for coconut oil and the raw sugar for coconut sugar.
Perfect!
Hi Luciana,
It’s my first time baking with coconut oil and sugar. How much did you add of each and did you melt the oil first?
Thanks,
Kristy
P.s. Can’t wait to try these Lucy, thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
Hi Kristy-Lee, I actually used vegetable oil in this recipe, but you could definitely try to swap for coconut oil (and yes I’d melt it first). Hope that helps!
Hi Lucy,
Thanks for that. I have no idea what I did wrong but they haven’t turned out as well as I thought they would. They sank after coming out of the oven and in the centre it’s as though they are undercooked, but I had left them in there for an extra 3-5 mins as it was?? The only thing I can think of is that perhaps using coconut oil changes the baking time? But from what I read on using it as a substitute it shouldn’t have.
Not sure…. But I was trying to be extra good so will give these another go and follow your recipe to the T.
Fingers crossed x
Hi Kristy-Lee, it could have possibly been the substitution to coconut oil that caused it, otherwise a difference in oven temperature perhaps?
Oh that’s a shame! Hopefully with the vegetable oil, they’ll turn out yummy for you! I’ll have to have a play around with substituting coconut oil in. Did you change anything else, or just the oil? xx
Just made these muffins but I forgot to put the sugar in and they’re still yummy! I did use 2 large very ripe bananas so that probably helped with the sweetness.
Oh I love when you forget something and it still turns out ok! Thats the best! So glad you liked them 🙂
We finished off the Easter long weekend with not much food in the house and no desire to go to the supermarket. I needed a snack to put in the daycare lunchboxes for tomorrow so I searched your site for recipes using bananas (I had some sad looking ones in the fruit bowl). My twins helped me make these and they were so easy! I’ve just taste tested one (or 3 haha) and they are lovely! We didn’t add the sugar topping because they were sweet enough, but I sprinkled a little bit of cinnamon over the tops. Another lovely recipe x
I’m so glad you guys enjoyed these! They’re definitely one of my favourite muffins! Hehe I like to taste test too!
Hi, can the recipe be doubled in the Thermomix? Is there anything I need to do differently? Thanks!
Hi Sue, sorry for the late reply – I’ve been in Brisbane visiting family and didnt have my computer! You can definitely double the recipe. I would say that you would just need to increase the mixing times slightly.
Brilliant recipe! All twelve gone in less than an hour. Family adored them. Will be keeping this! Thanks for sharing and hope you did well in the competition!
Oh yay! Thank you so much for your feedback Tfer. 🙂
I don’t have any vegetable oil at home can i use olive oil instead?
I personally wouldnt use olive oil because it has a strong flavour. You could use coconut oil or even butter if you prefer. 🙂
I just made a batch of these muffins. They were nice and moist, but they did have a very distinctive taste of vegetable oil. I put in the half cup as stated in your recipe. I might try a little less oil next time & maybe add another egg or a little extra milk instead. I made mine in the Thermomix.
That sounds like a great idea Denise! I’d love to know how the changes go!
My two little boys are running around the park eating these abcd muffins!
They love them!
Thanks
Also great muffin tips. I wizzed everything in thermi then folded in flour!! Perfect 🙂
That’s SO wonderful to hear. Thank you so much for your feedback. Yay!!
Just made these using wholemeal flour, olive oil & added some frozen raspberries and choc chips…they worked perfectly! Delicious recipe:)
Fantastic!! I’m so thrilled to hear that Rhiannon!
I just made my first batch. So yummy & delicious. Any chance you could list the ingredients in grams for us thermomixers?
Oooh yes I do need to do that! I made this recipe before I had my Thermie so I’ll have to redo it in that!
Would it be possible to substitute the coconut for something else (oats maybe?)
Yes definitely – or you could increase the flour slightly.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
Will be making these again
Might add some carrot
Thanks for recipe 🙂
That’s a great idea!!
I just whipped these up for my 17 month old. Delicious. I used olive oil and didn’t bother adding sugar. They didn’t need it. Thanks for the recipe!
FANTASTIC! So glad you enjoyed them xx
Thank you for such a great muffin recipe. I followed the recipe exactly except I added 1/2 small carrot in the first step and a handful of sultanas at the end. Delish
Oh thats such a wonderful idea! It really is such a versatile recipe!
Just made this with my 3 year old daughter and they are AMAZING! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
So glad you enjoyed them!! xx
Hi Lucy. Why have I not found your blog sooner? Oh my goodness there is so much goodness! These muffins look so delicious. Have pinned the recipe and will definitely give them a go as my whole family would love these I’m sure. Also now following on Bloglovin! Love your work x
Oh thank you so much!! xx
Yum, yum, yum! Only had 1 banana, so used 2 apples instead, and just reduced the milk a little! Delicious, and SO moist. I need to freeze them quickly, or I’ll eat them all!!
Oh perfect!!! They really are so versatile! Glad you enjoyed them xx
Hi Lucy. I love these muffins and have made them several times. I usually halve the sugar as I find them sweet enough with very ripe bananas. Today I put a thin slice of 85% cocoa chocolate into the centre of each one. Peeerfect!
Oh yum!!!! That’s a brilliant idea! I’m going to have to try that!
Made these today and so, so delicious! I omitted the sugar and they are sweet enough, my 6 year old wants them in her lunch box everyday.
I was lazy and just added all the dry ingredients and put my bellini on speed 1 until combined.
Thank you!
Fantastic!!!
I absolutely LOVE this recipe! I try to make them every week and my kids devour them! I also think they are best on the day and reheated the next but I was wondering if they freeze well? I want to make them in advance for my daughter’s bday as am sure they will be a hit!
I would like to make these, but one grandchild doesn’t like banana, If I just add more apple and dates would that work, and roughly how much. ?
Hi Monica, I haven’t made these without the banana so wouldn’t like to say! Good luck!
Hi Lucy, just come across ur ABCD muffins, they sound great. I haven’t got acess to a shop atm (just out of hospital & can’t drive, but NOTHING can hold me back from my NEW thermomix lol)
I have some bananas, plums, apricots & carrots plus all other ingredients needed, EXCEPT APPLE, Do u think i can subsitute any of the fruits (stones out of course) for the apple.
I thank you for your great blog
Hi Chelle, enjoy your new Thermomix! This is quite a versatile (and forgiving!) recipe, so I think you should be able to substitute the apple! xx
These were a big hit with my kids. I substituted half wholemeal self raising flour, reduced the sugar a bit and added a handful of sunflower seeds blitzed up with the apple. They were great, moist and plenty sweet enough (although my bananas were very ripe).
Thanks for a great recipe
FANTASTIC!!!! xx
I used an egg replacer (No Egg) and almond milk to make these egg and dairy-free. They were delicious and a big hit with the kids! So moist and sweet. As is typical, they didn’t brown in the same way as those containing egg, but just as tasty! Only needed to cook them for 18 minutes.
Perfect!!!! Love that you were able to successfully make them egg and dairy-free! Yay!
Oh yum!!! these just came out of my oven and I had to taste test while still warm. 5 STARS. Now to freeze the rest for my son’s lunchbox.
Yay!!! So glad you liked them! I need to make another batch for the freezer too xx
Would these still taste okay if I took the coconut out?
Hi Sarah, I would think so! You might just need to add a tiny bit extra flour xx
I made these today with an extra apple and an extra banana but no egg because my boys can’t have egg in their kindy lunchboxes. They were delicious! Just needed a few extra minutes in the oven. I also used coconut oil rather than vegetable oil. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Hi Lucy, that’s so good to hear that you could make some substitutions!! Thanks for the lovely feedback!! xx
There’s a reason these are award winning muffins! Holy moly these are delicious! I just made a batch and have fallen in love. Also, my house smells amazing. So quick, so easy and oh so yummy. Thank you for bringing these into my life!
Oh yay!!! Thank you for your lovely feedback – I’m so happy you enjoyed them!! xx
These are so delicious! The only changes i made were using wholemeal self-raising flour and toasting the coconut lightly before adding.. Next time i will halve the sugar as they were just a tad sweet for me (though fine for hubby). Yum yum yum, thank you!!
Sounds fantastic!!! Thanks Dee!! xx
I am obsessed with healthy desserts! Your muffins definitely looks yummi! I love your recipe cuz it contains healthy ingredients! Thanks a lot for sharing!
I made these a while back and loved them, but one of my boys is not keen on coconut. When I made them just a few days ago, i took out the coconut and put in half a grated courgette instead (it had to be something beginning with C you see!!), and they are AMAZING!!! Used leftover coconut milk instead of cows milk, purely as it needed used! Coconut oil in place of veg oil, and coconut sugar. LOVE THEM!! Just as well I froze half or I would have devoured the lot! Also find it hard to share with the boys!!
That is FANTASTIC!!!! Nice one!!
Can I swap the vegetable oil for a different type?
Hi Alecia, try coconut oil 🙂
Really this would be special and great muffins, Gail! Love healthy food! Thanks for sharing Lucy!
I have one in my mouth right now! I got rid of the sugar and replaced half the oil with apple puree. They are super moist and just sweet enough, but if you like sweeter muffin (more like a cake) you might want to add a bit of sugar. For a treat, I to cut it one half, heat it up in the microwave, and pop some butter on.
I love them a little bit warm with butter too!