Butternut Squash Muffins – These pillowy soft and sweet Butternut Squash Muffins are made with roasted butternut squash and deliciously healthy! Gluten free, dairy free and naturally sweetened with coconut sugar (or dates). In less than 30 minutes, you can make a batch of these muffins to serve to hungry teenagers or for a quick make ahead breakfast.
Add in mini dairy free chocolate chips, raisins, chopped walnuts or hemp hearts to increase the overall nutrient profile.
Grab a Butternut Squash, Roast it and Make Butternut Squash Muffins
Butternut squash is bursting with anti-aging and anti-inflammatory nutrients. So, naturally we have lots of recipes with butternut squash. I will share a bit about the nutrition benefits, how to cut, how to bake and some of my best recipes with butternut squash.
Butternut squash is incredibly easy to roast – just turn on your oven to 400 degrees. Cut your squash in half, scoop out the seeds and season with olive oil and sea salt. Roast for about 25-35 minutes until a fork easily depresses the pulp.
Let’s talk about non-toxic muffins pans for a minute…
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A few months ago I started using the Xtrema Cookware new Muffins Pans and WOW! With just a little coconut oil, everything I bake pops out without hesitation. No scrapping or picking required!
Consider swapping your muffins tips for 100% non-toxic muffin pans. Aluminum and other metals can leach into your food and the non-stick pans and ceramic-coated pans are even worse! Ick. If you’re looking for a place to start this Xtrema 6 Standard Muffin Pan is a good go-to in my kitchen plus you can save an extra 15% off by using our exclusive code: CCX15 with your order.
How to Make Perfect Butternut Squash Muffins
The idea to mix butternut squash in a muffin was inspired by Jessica Seinfeld’s Deceptively Delicious cookbook. Jessica gives strategies for hiding nutritious food in tasty meals fit for kids. In her book, her recipe for “Applesauce Muffins” uses 1/2 a cup of butternut squash puree, which I thought was a great idea!
Unfortunately, her recipe still uses refined sugar, milk (how we feel about dairy), margarine, vegetable oil and refined flour. Yikes! Although this recipe is definitely not as healthy or anti-inflammatory as we would like it to be. That said, Jessica is a genius for forwarding this trend of hiding deliciously nutritious foods in her children’s foods.
With older kids now, we don’t do any hiding — instead we playing a guessing game. “What is in that dish you’re eating?” And then they get to guess which vegetable is enjoyed without knowing it!
Consider These Healthy Butternut Squash Muffin Ingredients:
We want to follow her lead and take it a step further by giving Jessica’s muffins a Clean Cuisine makeover by doing the following:
- Use gluten free flour and almond flour instead of refined flour (learn more about white whole wheat flour HERE)
- Naturally sweeten our muffins with coconut sugar or organic pitted dates and ripened banana
- Using organic, pastured eggs instead of conventional eggs
- Add a lot more butternut squash – use 1 1/2 cups of roasted butternut squash or 10oz of frozen squash thawed out
- Swapping nutrient-rich organic extra virgin coconut oil for the vegetable oil
Now, let’s make some deliciously healthy butternut squash muffins!
Butternut Squash Muffins for the Win!
Okay, okay… yes, this is less of a makeover and more of a complete re-do of the recipe. But, I got the idea for adding butternut squash to my muffins from Jessica’s recipe.
And, I frequently think of her book when I’m looking for ways to add more vegetables to recipes.
Like adults, kids absolutely LOVE these muffins, by the way. What is so spectacular about these Butternut Squash Muffins is how pillowy soft and super moist they turn out. Plus, they have the perfect amount of sweetness – a delicious fall fix.
They are Butternut Squash Muffins are “anytime muffins”—great for breakfast, lunch, snack, or even as a dinner muffin!
We Love Coconut Butter Slathered on these Butternut Squash Muffins
Have you ever used Coconut Manna before? If not, you’re in for a real treat. Especially if you spread this on top of recipe for Healthy Pumpkin Muffins. Better than butter and loaded with super healthy nutrients… but also delicious!
I have seen Nutiva Coconut Manna locally at our Whole Foods Market and natural foods store, but the cheapest place I have found it is online either at Thrive Market or Vitacost.com.
Make Ahead Breakfast by Doubling the Batch!
I am a big fan of making double batches around here to stretch through 1 meal plus a few days of snacks. Just this like this recipe for Butternut Squash Muffins, you don’t have to hesitate saying yes to your kids… or to yourself. Make them ahead of time and enjoy them for a few days. Try these other healthy quick bread recipes that easily double!
- Blueberry Lemon Loaf – This Blueberry Lemon Loaf offers a subtly sweet and perfectly moist breakfast, snack, or dessert option! Loaded with fresh, wild blueberries, and topped with a sweet yet tart lemon glaze, this bread is one the whole family will love! This recipe can easily be made into muffins!
- Recipe for Zucchini Muffins – If you’re looking for the perfect make ahead breakfast that is both nutrient dense and satisfying, try this recipe for Zucchini Muffins.
- Recipe for Healthy Pumpkin Muffins – Fluffy, moist and perfectly delicious, try this recipe for Healthy Pumpkin Muffins. And make a double batch, if you can. Because once your family gets a hold one, they won’t be able to stop eating them.
- Cinnamon Bun Recipe – This is the best and healthiest homemade cinnamon bun recipe ever! If you are looking for a healthy alternative to the traditional cinnamon roll recipe, then this is it.
- Vegetable Frittata – Our delicious Vegetable Frittata is made with asparagus, leeks and dill. It’s perfect for brunch but also makes a delicious meatless dinner entree.
Kitchen Favorites
Butternut Squash Muffins
Pillowy soft and sweet Butternut Squash Muffins are made with roasted butternut squash and deliciously healthy! Gluten and dairy free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 1x
- Category: Muffins
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 organic pastured eggs
- 1 1/4 cup roasted butternut squash or 10 oz frozen butternut squash, thawed
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar or 4 organic pitted dates
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup banana
- 2 tablespoons
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup
- 1/2 cup
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- OPTIONAL:
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 3/4 cup mini dairy free chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup hemp hearts
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- Serve with Coconut Butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and 10 muffin cups with coconut oil or unbleached parchment liners.
- In a high speed blender, add the eggs, butternut squash, coconut sugar or dates, water, banana, coconut oil, lemon juice and vanilla. Process until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the gluten free flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt with a stainless steel whisk.
- Next, slowly pour the wet ingredients in with the dry ingredients and use a spatula to scrape all of the wet ingredients from the blender container. Using a wooden spoon, combine ingredients until well blended. If using, stir in the raisins and/or chocolate chips.
- Using a 3 tablespoon batter scoop, divide the batter among the muffin cups and place in the oven. Bake for 22-26 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out dry.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Keywords: Butternut Squash Muffins
Madeline says
Is it possible to make ahead and freeze these?
Aimee Niedosik says
Hi Madeline, I imagine they do freeze nicely and then thaw on the counter. However, every time I make these, my family eats them within 2 days! Keep me posted.
Ellie says
Delicious muffins!!!
Thank you so much for the reduced sugar. They work perfectly for me.
I use many of your recipes and appreciate your emails and various tips for cooking. 💗🙂
★★★★★
Aimee Niedosik says
Thank you — and thank you for your kind feedback. We try our best!! xoxo, Aimee
Sarah says
Anytime I see “soft muffins” I must try them and wow, these are certainly pillowy soft as you describe them. The whole family loves them. Next time I will be making a double batch.
★★★★★
FjS says
I’m highly allergic to almonds. What other flour would be a good substitute?
Aimee Harris Niedosik says
Hi there! Are you allergic to oats, cashew or gluten free flour? If not, try one of those instead. Keep me posted so I can update the recipe card with notes for anyone else with a nut allergy. Also, be sure to check out this NUT FREE recipe category on our site: https://cleancuisine.com/category/diet/nut-free/
catherine says
Hi i live in Ireland and cannot find frozen butternut squash, if i freeze my own I should have the same result though when i use it afterwards? but do i need to cook it first before freezing? does it say on your frozen butternut squash if it is cooked or raw?
Thank you
Catherine
Ivy Larson says
Hi Catherine, Oh that is a good question! All frozen vegetables are quickly blanched, so they are semi-cooked. However, I think the best thing to do would be to try the muffins using the same amount of butternut squash called for in the muffins by substituting very tender mashed butternut squash and then add about 1/3 cup water to the recipe. I have to be honest, I have not yet tried this, BUT, I think adding the liquid and making sure that the butternut squash you use is well cooked will take care of the problem other people have had using fresh butternut squash. Please let me know how it turns out!
P.S. The other option is to maybe try substituting canned pumpkin for the butternut squash??
Frances says
These look so good! I really want to try to make these. I feel stupid asking this question, but where do I find frozen butternut squash? I have never bought it before.
Thanks so much!
Erin Lodeesen says
There are no stupid questions for Clean Cuisine! We sometimes forget that not everybody is as Clean Cuisine-minded as we are! I know for sure that Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s carry it. But, during the Thanksgiving season, it should be available in most stores. Click HERE for the exact product that I bought. Good luck, and please reply and tell us how they turn out!
Edna Axelrod says
I tried to post about this recipe before. I used fresh, cooked squash and had a bad result. My post disappeared. I am worried that only positive responses are permited.
Ivy Larson says
Oh Edna, hmmmm, not sure what happened with your comment? I see 2 here on my end (the back end?) Anyway, using fresh definitely does not make them healthier because frozen vegetables are in fact very nutritious (and sometimes even more so than fresh because they are picked at peak harvest) The only thing I can think of that went wrong is that maybe the fresh butternut squash did not have as much liquid as the frozen. Frozen butternut squash is actually pretty liquid-y (which makes it not as tasty when eating straight)–however, I bet the extra liquid in the frozen butternut squash makes it a lot lighter than using fresh. I do hope you will try them again using frozen, because I promise they really are SOOO good! Hope this helps? –ivy
Debra Yakovitz says
These look sooo good. I bet delicata would be good too. What about adding a 1/2 teaspoon or so of allspice or cinnamon to the batter? If I use fresh butternut squash, would I need to cook it first?
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Debra, Oh yes, you could definitely add the spices. BUT!! I would not use fresh butternut squash because it looks like Edna had a bad result (please see my explanation above for what I think went wrong.)
Kimberly says
Can fresh butternut squash be used, or does the frozen/thawed option provide more moisture? I imagine thawed butternut squash may be easier to blend than the fresh. Thanks!
Ivy Larson says
Hi Kimberly, Oh I would NOT use fresh butternut squash because it looks like Edna had a bad result (please see my explanation above for what I think went wrong—and yes, I definitely think the frozen has a lot more water, which makes the whole thing more moist.)