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

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!

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!

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. 

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). 

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

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

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

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). 

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

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. 

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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

Cook ModePrevent 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

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