I’m working to keep mornings simple + nutritious, and these vegan muffins are the perfect on-the-go breakfast. They are easy to make and perfect for batch baking, then freezing. Because they’re also super nutritious, I can fuel my whole family.

Whether it is a marathon school day, or I’m packing for a day long adventure, you can be sure I’m taking these strawberry muffins along. This recipe can also be found in my cookbook, Simple Green Meals, along with 100+ whole food recipes.

plate with strawberry vegan muffins and fresh fruit

Tips for Making Baked Goods Vegan

When I first entered the world of healthy baking, I was bombarded with ingredients I couldn’t pronounce, and weird vegan cheeses/creams/butters/sweeteners etc., that were super expensive, plus still loaded with chemicals. While dairy products aren’t the worst for people who can tolerate them, a study by the National Library of Medicine found that 65-70% of the world’s population had some form of lactose intolerance (including me!). So I started searching for a better way to bake. Here are some tips I’ve learned to turn most recipes, including this strawberry muffin recipe, into vegan friendly options.

Breakfast table with vegan muffins and fresh strawberry jam.

Vegan Eggs

Depending on the recipe, I’ve got several different vegan, whole food substitutes for eggs. For this vegan muffin recipe, the 2 eggs are replaced with ½ cup unsweetened applesauce. 

  1. Flax egg: To replace 1 egg, mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water. Let sit for 10 minutes before adding to a recipe.
  2. Chia egg:  To replace 1 egg, mix 1 tablespoon chia seeds + 3 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes before adding to a recipe. Pro tip: chia seeds + water are used in the strawberry jam recipe below to bind the jam together, in place of pectin.
  3. Applesauce: replace 1 egg with ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce.
  4. Banana: replace one egg with ½  large banana, mashed.

Vegan Milk

Non-dairy milks are super common in grocery stores. Yet they’re also super easy to make. Using a non dairy milk in this vegan muffin recipe works just as well as a dairy milk would. Here’s my list for great milk substitutes:

  1. Almond milk: My team did an awesome review on almond milks. If you’re ready to make your own, check out my simple recipe for vegan almond milk.
  2. Oat milk: If you’re looking for store-bought, check out our latest oat milk review. If homemade is more your jam, I created a delicious recipe that I love to make. 
  3. Coconut milk: We’ve also reviewed both carton and canned coconut milk! Plus, I’ve got a great recipe for homemade, creamy coconut milk.
  4. Other non-dairy/nut free milks: I’ve got a no-fail recipe to make all kinds of vegan, nut free milks. Grocery stores are also starting to carry versions of flax milk, hemp milk, banana milk, and more. You can totally sub in a nut free milk for these strawberry muffins. Oat milk would be my preference.
homemade strawberry jam in a mason jar

Vegan Butter Substitutes

A super easy butter substitute is extra virgin olive oil. For every 1 cup of butter used, I substitute ¾ cup of oil. Avocado oil and coconut oil are also great substitutes. My general rule-of-thumb is: if the dish I’m making is savory, I’ll use olive or avocado oil. If the dish is sweet, I’ll use coconut oil. This strawberry muffin recipe uses coconut oil, yet another oil can be swapped in too.

Vegan Muffin Recipe

There are so many reasons to love this strawberry muffin recipe. It is low in sugar, even with the strawberry chia jam filling! The almond butter ups the fat content, which helps break down the carbohydrates. When a recipe has a good balance of healthy fat, carbs, and protein, you’ll get longer lasting energy.

Everyone wants to avoid that sugar high, then sugar crash feeling, right?! You can swap out the almond butter with a different nut butter, or with a seed butter like sunflower. You can also swap out the strawberry chia jam with a store-bought jam. Just make sure it is all fruit and naturally sweetened.

Replacing 4 tablespoons of the flour with 1 serving of my homemade protein powder can turn this breakfast/snack into a superfood champion. I’ve found it super easy to add this smoothie boost powder to a variety of baked goods, including pancakes and muffins.

vegan muffins coming out of the oven super hot

Nutritious Snacking

Many people have told me that they can make healthy meals, no problem. Yet, when it comes to snacking, they keep reaching for the salty, sugary, processed foods. I get it! Nutritious snacks take prep work, and aren’t always ready when you need them.

Batch baking has become my lifeline when it comes to healthy snacking, for these vegan muffins and more. Here are a couple of my go-to snacks that are easy to batch bake, taste delicious, and will keep you full because they have balanced, good ingredients meant to fill you up:

  • Vegan yogurt: The yogurt can be batch made and frozen in single servings, then thawed the day you’re ready to enjoy.
  • Healthy granola: This is such a great snack to bake in bulk then enjoy with milk, on top of yogurt, or just by the handful.
  • Chocolate chia pudding: This lovely snack is simple to make and easy to store in the fridge.
  • Nut butter: You can put nut butter on pretty much anything… including the muffin recipe below! This is a wonderfully easy recipe to have on hand for fruit/veggie dipping, sandwiches and more.
  • Homemade popsicles: One smoothie recipe can make tons of popsicles. Toss these in a lunch box, and they’ll be the perfect consistency to consume by snack time. 
  • Vegan protein bars: These are easy to freeze as well. I like to warm them up in the toaster oven for a snack, then top with almond butter for even more healthy fat + protein. 
  • Homemade granola bars: I love to take these along for road trips. They can be wrapped in beeswax paper for easy transport. 
  • Hummus: Super easy to make this vegan snack, then freeze. All you need to do is add in some fresh veggies when you’re ready to dig in. 

I’d love for you to leave a comment and share your fav muffins/breakfast to-go recipes! If you’re ready to overhaul your snack game, check out my Meal Planner. I’ve got dozens of snack recipes ready to share with you, along with weekly options to help meals, smoothies, and even desserts. It’s as easy as sign in, download, and print!

5 from 12 votes

Strawberry Vegan Muffins

My whole family adores these strawberry vegan muffins, but I definitely love them the most. These muffins bring back childhood peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in a sophisticated and more nutritious way.
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 40 mins
Author: Jen Hansard
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Plant-Based
Serves: 12 muffins

Equipment

  • oven
  • electric mixer
  • muffin tin

Ingredients  

  • cup almond butter
  • ¼ cup coconut oil at room temperature
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • ½ cup applesauce
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour unbleached
  • ¾ cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon ground
  • ½ cup almond milk unsweetened
  • 6 tbsp strawberry jam
  • ¼ cup homemade protein powder optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
  • In a large bowl, and using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the almond butter and oil until creamy. Add the maple syrup and beat until well combined. Add the applesauce and vanilla and continue beating until creamy.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon until well combined.
  • Add one-third of the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Add half of the almond milk and beat again. Add another third of the flour mixture, followed by the rest of the almond milk, and ending with the remaining flour mixture. Continue mixing just until the batter comes together. Do not over mix.
  • Using a small ice cream scoop or spoon, fill the muffin cups one-quarter full. Use the tip of a spoon to push the batter to cover the entire bottom and a little up the sides. Place 1 rounded teaspoon of jam in each muffin cup, trying to center it as much as possible. Top the jam with the remaining batter, making sure it covers the jam.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and spring back when gently pressed. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove and serve.

Video

Notes

  • Gluten free: replace flour with 1 1/2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour.
  • Fill with the jam of your choice. I love the strawberry + almond butter combo but any jam will work well.
  • These freeze well in a freezer-safe container. Just thaw when ready to enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 143mg, Potassium: 134mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 4IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 87mg, Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Show me!Mention @SimpleGreenSmoothies or tag #SimpleGreenSmoothies!

If you love a good muffin for breakfast but don’t like the guilt that comes along with it, this recipe is for you!

About the Author

Simple Green Smoothies

I went from exhausted mama to running across the Grand Canyon, riding & hiking to the top of the tallest waterfall in North America with my kids. How? I fell in love with the smoothies and plant-based meals you can find on my blog.

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Rating




Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I’m sitting here asking myself WHY haven’t I made these yet?! They look and sound amazing!!

  2. Thanks for including a way to make these gluten-free! Baking GF is really hard sometimes. But these are so yummy!!!

    1. It can def be a challenge but this recipe makes it easy! And you’d never know it’s GF!

  3. 5 stars
    These muffins are incredibly delicious! I love that you can change up the flavor just by adding a different jam. So good!

  4. The almond butter muffins are delicious!! Recipe is simple enough to bake them often.

  5. 5 stars
    This is a winner! They were so good right out of the oven, and I loved how they filled me up. I might have to try them with Nutella too….

    1. Omgosh, making them with Nutella sounds sooo amazing. I’m definitely going to try that!

  6. 5 stars
    When I tasted the raw dough, I was kind of iffy. I used homemade coconut milk, and it seemed strong. However, once they cooked and cooled a little, these are awesome. Will most definitely make these again!!!

    1. Hey Sherry,

      SO happy that you enjoyed this recipe and that you are planning to make them again.

      My kids and I love these so much!! 🙂

  7. 5 stars
    These were the first muffins I’ve made from scratch and they were melt in your mouth delicious! I had a difficult time not wanting to eat them all! I did cherry jam this time, but I can’t wait to try many more flavors.

    I was curious though, if I wanted to use all whole wheat flour next time, would that do anything bad to the taste or texture?

    1. Hey Danielle,

      I am so lad that you loved these muffins so much!! It really is hard to say no after 1, 2, or 3 of them =P

      If you decide to use the whole wheat flour the texture might be a little grainy.

    1. Its easy to add if you have Myfitnesspal. I also used homemade coconut milk:
      Almond Butter & Jam MuffinsServings 12 calories per serving
      14 Ingredients Edit Recipe
      0.75 cup (30g), Gold Medal Unbleached All-Purpose Flour – Enriched, Presifted
      0.75 cup(s), 100% Whole Grain Whole Wheat Four
      6 tbsp, Polaner All Fruit Grape Jelly
      6 tbsp, Seedless Raspberry
      0.50 cup, shredded, Nuts, coconut meat, raw
      1 tsp, Ground Cinnamon
      1.20 g (0.25 tsp), Salt Coarse Kosher
      0.40 tsp(s), Pure Baking Soda
      1.50 tsp, Clabber Girl Mk
      4 g (1 tsp), Pure Vanilla Extract
      2 large, Egg
      8 tbsp(s), 100% Pure Organic Maple Syrup
      4 Tbsp, Coconut Oil Organic Unrefined Virgin
      5.33 tablespoon, Creamy Almond Butter JC
      Nutrition Facts
      Servings 12.0
      Amount Per Serving
      calories 218
      % Daily Value *
      Total Fat 10 g 16 %
      Saturated Fat 5 g 26 %
      Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
      Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
      Trans Fat 0 g
      Cholesterol 31 mg 10 %
      Sodium 167 mg 7 %
      Potassium 62 mg 2 %
      Total Carbohydrate 28 g 9 %
      Dietary Fiber 3 g 13 %
      Sugars 17 g
      Protein 4 g 8 %
      Vitamin A 1 %
      Vitamin C 0 %
      Calcium 4 %
      Iron 4 %

  8. 5 stars
    These muffins are so delicious! I love how I don’t have to feel guilty after indulging in them either.

    Win win!!! 🙂

    1. Hey Kim,

      Yum yum!! Strawberry preserves are my favorite for this recipe.

      Enjoy!!

  9. 5 stars
    I tried these muffins with both apricot and raspberry jam. Both were great! Really enjoyed the video, too.

    1. Hey Daniel Mottayaw,

      SO glad that you enjoyed this recipe so much!! 🙂

    1. Thanks LJ,

      I think they are a winner for everyone because they are THAT good! 🙂

  10. 5 stars
    Oh my gosh! I made these when I first got your new book and LOVED them. I couldn’t believe how much my kids loved them too—and we make them almost every weekend now. ( I prefer raspberry and apricot jam inside… yet have been dreaming about trying them with Nutella too )

    1. Hey Dani Mitchell,

      That is so great that you and your family love this recipe so much! It really is crazy to think these are healthy since they are so delicious.
      Oh boy my weakness is Nutella so if I made these with that inside I would probably eat the whole batch =P

      Enjoy!