Kids Can Help! Carrot, Zucchini & Apple Mini Muffins

Submitted by Deb Lowther, an IronKids mom who enlists little helpers when baking.

Healthy school lunches are important at our house so every couple of weeks I make a batch of Whole Wheat, Flax, Carrot, Zucchini & Apple mini muffins that I freeze and pull out each day to include for their school snack.  

Kids love helping in the kitchen and there are so many steps they can do !!! My daughter is almost 4 in this photo and loves helping Mom make healthy snacks.  She would never eat zucchini, but once it goes in these muffins and she puts a couple chocolate chips on top, the zucchini transforms into a yummy muffin once out of the oven!

Cracking eggs  . . . .                Mixing ingredients . . .             Filling muffin tins!

Whole Wheat, Flax, Carrot, Zucchini & Apple mini muffins

3/4c all purpose flour
3/4c whole wheat flour
1/2c oat bran cereal
1/4c flaxseed meal
1/2c brown sugar
2tsp baking soda
1tps baking powder
1/2tsp salt
2tsp cinnamon

3/4c milk
2 eggs beaten
3 tbsp agave syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1c shredded carrots
1/2c shredded zucchini
2 peeled & shredded apples
 

Have kids mix together flours, flax, oat bran, sugar, soda, powder, salt & cinnamon in large bowl.  Shred and add in zucchini, apples and carrots.  Have kids crack eggs into a separate dish (pull out egg shell bits if you need to!) then add milk, vanilla and syrup.  Have kids add the wet to the dry ingredients and they can also fill mini muffin tins. . . might be messy, but use a small spoon and they will improve!  We then top ours with 3 (yes 3!) chocolate chips.  Bake 350 for 15-20 mins.
 

For more healthy baked snack ideas try: 
Apple Cheddar Bars
Apple Oatmeal Flax Cookies
Spinach Brownies