These healthy morning glory muffins are soft, moist, and packed with all the good stuff—oats, carrots, apple, nuts, and just the right amount of natural sweetness.
Made with whole wheat flour, maple syrup, and orange juice (no refined sugar), these high fiber muffins taste and feel like a treat. They are full of nutritious ingredients and perfect for breakfast, meal prep, or an after-school snack.
Inspired by the original Morning Glory muffins created in 1978 on Nantucket Island, this version keeps all the flavor with a healthier twist. And if you love this flavor combo, be sure to check out my Carrot Oat Muffins for another delicious spin.
Check out more of my healthy muffin recipes, too.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love these muffins
- What are Morning Glory Muffins?
- Ingredient notes
- How to make healthy morning glory muffins
- Storage and Freezing Tips
- Variations & Substitutions
- Why These Muffins Are High In Fiber
- Tips & Tricks for the Best Texture
- More healthy muffin recipes
- Recipe
- You may also like
- Meet the Author
Why you'll love these muffins
- Naturally sweetened (no refined sugar)
- High fiber and satisfying
- Super moist (thanks to carrot, apple, and OJ)
- Made with simple, wholesome ingredients
- Great for grab and go breakfasts and freezer-friendly
What are Morning Glory Muffins?
Morning glory muffins are hearty, bakery-style muffins packed with a mix of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices. They typically include ingredients like carrots, apples, raisins, coconut, and nuts, giving them a naturally sweet, slightly spiced flavor and a dense, satisfying texture.
This healthy version keeps all the classic elements but uses whole grains and natural sweeteners for a lighter, more wholesome take.
Ingredient notes
- Rolled oats – use old-fashioned oats (not quick oats)
- Ground flaxseed – adds fiber and helps bind
- Orange juice – adds natural sweetness and moisture
- Spices - ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt
- Large eggs - I like Vital Farms
- Maple syrup - use real maple syrup for the best results
- Neutral oil - like avocado oil or vegetable oil
- Orange juice - freshly squeezed or from a carton
- Vanilla extract - or vanilla bean paste
- Baking soda - make sure it's fresh
- Grated carrots - for the classic Morning Glory flavor
- Grated apple - lightly squeeze after grating to remove excess juice
- Raisins - regular or golden
- Chopped walnuts - or pecans
- Unsweetened shredded coconut - you can also use sweetened coconut, if you prefer
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make healthy morning glory muffins
- Step 1: Place all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl: whole wheat flour, oats, baking soda and ground flaxseed.
- Step 2: Whisk the dry ingredients together.
- Step 3: Add grated carrots and grated a lightly squeezed apple (to get rid of excess moisture).
- Step 4: Stir together to incorporate.
- Step 5: In a separate bowl mix together orange juice, eggs, vanilla, oil and maple syrup.
- Step 6: Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with dry ingredients and mix together to fold. Don't overmix!
- Step 7: Now add the mix-ins: coconut, raisins and nuts.
- Step 8: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin tin.
- Step 9: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Storage and Freezing Tips
Store your muffins in an airtight container after they have completely cooled. You can store them on the counter for 2-3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
You can also store these muffins in the freezer for 3 months. Be sure to thaw completely before eating.
Variations & Substitutions
- Swap pecans for walnuts
- Skip the coconut if you don’t like it. You can also use sweetened coconut but it will make the muffins sweeter, so feel free to cut back on the maple syrup
- Swap raisins for chopped dates or figs
- Avocado oil can be swapped for melted coconut oil, light olive oil or melted butter
- Feel free to experiment with different types of apples for sweetness or slight tartness
- Use a plant-based egg substitute or more flax for a vegan version
Why These Muffins Are High In Fiber
These healthy muffins are also naturally high in fiber, thanks to the combination of whole grains, seeds, and fruit that work together to keep you full and energized. Whole wheat flour, oats, and flaxmeal create a hearty base, while fresh carrots and apples not only bring natural sweetness and moisture, but even more fiber to these moist and delicious muffins.
Tips & Tricks for the Best Texture
- Don’t overmix the batter
- Muffin batter should be thick but scoopable, If the batter looks too thick after resting, stir in a little extra orange juice or milk.
- Letting the batter rest for a few minutes helps the oats hydrate and improves texture.
- Squeeze the grated apple lightly through a cheesecloth or some paper towels to get rid of excess liquid (you want moist muffins, not soggy.)
- Bake muffins until just done and a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
More healthy muffin recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Healthy Morning Glory Muffins (High Fiber)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour regular or golden
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup orange juice from a carton or freshly squeezeed
- ¼ cup avocado oil or other neutral oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix ins
- 1 ½ cup grated carrot about 2 medium carrots
- 1 cup grated apple you can leave the skin on, see notes
- ¼ cup raisins
- ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 12-muffin tin with muffin liners.
- Grate the apple and squeeze the juice out using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. You don't need to get all the juice out - just give it one good squeeze.
- In a medium bowl whisk together all dry ingredients: whole wheat flour, rolled oats, ground flaxseed, baking soda, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon and salt.
- Add all the mix ins to the flour mixture: grated apple (without juice), grated carrot, shredded coconut, nuts and raisins. Mix together.
- Mix all wet ingredients in a separate bowl: orange juice, egg, maple syrup, oil and vanilla.
- Pour wet ingredients into the bowl with dry ingredients (and mix ins) and stir until just combined.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared muffin tin using a cookie scoop to make 12 muffins.
- Bake for 30 mins in the preheated oven or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Don't overbake!
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer muffins to a rack to cool completely.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
Patti says
Sooo much better than grapenuts in the morning!
Ken says
These are such a great way to start the day. I love anything that tastes this good and is also good for me.
Kelly says
These were heaven with some grass-fed butter and coffee. SO good.
Sandra says
These morning glory muffins with high fiber are so good, I made them for our breakfast eveybody loved it.
Stefania says
Made these and they turned out so good—soft, filling, and just sweet enough for a quick breakfast!