Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

These Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins are made with Greek yogurt and oats for protein and fiber and even sneak in some zucchini!

Hi friend!

I recently shared these Banana Cottage Cheese Muffins that were a big hit and today I’ve got another great muffin option for you! These mini muffins full of nutritious ingredients but still taste great! They’re nut-free and the perfect size for school lunchboxes and snacks!

I make these in the food processor because it does such a good job chopping up the oats, zucchini etc to make them barely noticeable in the muffins. If you don’t have a food processor, you can blend the wet ingredients in a blender and then transfer to a bowl to continue mixing.

Why Greek Yogurt Makes These Muffins Better

I absolutely love using Greek yogurt in my muffin recipes. It’s an easy way to add protein and also makes the muffins super soft and fluffy. I also use it in my son’s favorite Healthy Chocolate Muffins, as well as in these Healthy Blueberry Muffins.

Another added bonus of using Greek yogurt in muffins is that it helps keep the muffins super moist. It can be used to replace some of the fat that typically comes from oil or butter.

Protein-Packed Snacks for Kids and Adults

If you’re looking for even more protein-packed snacks, here are a few ideas:

• Healthy High Protein Snacks
• Healthy No-Bake Protein Bars
• Best Low-Sugar Yogurt
• 30+ Easy Protein Snacks
• Cottage Cheese Protein Snacks

Tips For Soft Tender Muffins

A few tips for keeping your muffins soft and tender:

• Using oil instead of butter leads to more tender muffins.
• Don’t overmix your muffins- when you add in the dry ingredients, mix until the wet and dry ingredients are just combined. Don’t go crazy with the stirring!
• Adding yogurt also helps keep the muffins tender.
• Don’t overbake! This will dry out your muffins and make them less soft.
• Let the batter rest for 10-15 minutes to help the oats and flour hydrate.

Health Benefits of Oats + Yogurt Together

These muffins combine oats and yogurt to make a healthy, filling breakfast or snack option. These two ingredients together add both protein and fiber to the muffins to help make them more filling. While the yogurt adds protein, the oats add soluble fiber, which helps you stay full longer.

I also add hemp hearts for additional boost of protein and heart-healthy omegas.

Best Greek Yogurt To Use

I personally like to use whole milk plain Greek yogurt in this recipe. If you prefer, you can use low-fat but I would not recommend fat-free. You can also use plain regular yogurt if you don’t have Greek. The protein content will just be slightly lower.

Can You Use Flavored Yogurt?

Yes, I’ve made these muffins with vanilla yogurt and it works just fine. Just keep in mind that the flavored yogurt will have some added sugar.

Higher Protein Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

For an additional boost of protein, you can add a scoop of protein powder. I don’t recommend more than one scoop in baking recipes, however, because I find it dries out the baked goods.

No Added Sugar Oatmeal Muffins

To make this a no-added-sugar recipe, you can replace the sugar with mashed banana or applesauce. Note that this will change the flavor of the muffins, as well as the texture, likely making them a bit more dense. You could also leave out the chocolate chips or replace them with raisins, dried blueberries or frozen wild blueberries. Wil blueberries are smaller than regular blueberries so they work well in mini muffins.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins for Toddlers

These mini muffins are perfect for toddlers and young kids. They’re soft and moist, easy to eat and the perfect size for toddler hands! Need more toddler snack ideas? Try these:

• Healthy Snacks for Toddlers
• 150+ Toddler Meal Ideas
• Nut-Free Trail Mix
• 4 Ingredient Sweet Potato Muffins
• 15 Kid-Friendly Energy Balls

How To Keep Muffins Moist for Days (How To Store Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins)

Using yogurt in these muffins will make them extra moist. You can store them in an airtight container lined with a paper towel on the counter for 3-4 days. The paper towel will help absorb any excess moisture. Be sure to cool the muffins completely before storing.

Freezer-friendly Healthy Muffins

These muffins can easily be frozen for future enjoyment. To freeze, cool the muffins completely then transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

When ready to eat, thaw on the counter or in the microwave.

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

To make these muffins gluten-free, ensure you are using certified gluten-free oats. In addition, you can sub a 1:1 Gluten-free flour blend, like King Arthur Measure for Measure, for the flour in this recipe.

You could also try replacing the flour with oat flour.

Mini vs Regular Muffins

While I prefer to make these muffins in mini muffin tins, you could also make them as full-size muffins. You’ll have to extend the baking time by a few minutes for bigger muffins but remember not to overbake!

Mix-In Ideas That Pair Well with Yogurt-Based Muffins

I chose mini chocolate chips as my mix-in for these muffins but there are lots of other possibilities including:

• Dried fruit – raisins or dried blueberries would work well
• Frozen fruit- blueberries or wild blueberries
• Chopped nuts- if you don’t need these muffins to be nut-free, chopped walnuts would be a great addition!

Common Mistakes with Yogurt Muffins

A few common errors with making yogurt-based muffins include over-mixing which results in a dense, chewy muffins and over-baking which leads to dry muffins. Also, using cold ingredients can keep all of the ingredients from mixing fully. Letting yogurt and eggs come to room temperature is helpful.

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Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins Recipe

Here’s the recipe I use:

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Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins FAQs

Are oatmeal chocolate chip mini muffins with Greek yogurt healthy?

Yes! These muffins are packed with protein thanks to the Greek yogurt and hemp seeds and also contain fiber from the oats! Plus they have zucchini!

What does Greek yogurt do in mini muffins?

Yogurt adds protein to any muffin recipe and also helps keep the muffins fluffy and moist.

Do Greek yogurt muffins have more protein?

Yes, Greek yogurt muffins typically have more protein than regular muffins due to the protein content of Greek yogurt.

Can toddlers eat Greek yogurt oatmeal muffins?

These muffins make a great snack for toddlers! They contain protein, fiber and vegetables and they’re the perfect size for toddlers!

Can I use flavored Greek yogurt in muffins?

Yes, you can sub plain Greek yogurt for flavored if you prefer. It will, however, add some additional sugar to the recipe.

How do I keep yogurt muffins from getting dense?

Don’t overmix the batter! When adding the dry ingredients, stir until just combined.

Can I freeze mini muffins made with Greek yogurt?

Yes. Let the muffins cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Can I make these muffins gluten-free with oats?

To make these muffins gluten-free, you can replace the flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. You could also try replacing the flour with oat flour.

What type of oats work best for mini muffins?

I prefer quick oats because they’re already broken into smaller pieces. You could also use rolled oats if that’s what you have on hand.

How long do Greek yogurt muffins stay fresh?

Store these muffins in a container lined with a paper towel for 3-4 days on the counter.

What can I use instead of Greek yogurt in muffins?

If you don’t have Greek yogurt, you can use regular yogurt. You can also sub buttermilk. Or make your own buttermilk by adding a splash of vinegar to regular milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.

Can I turn these into baked oatmeal instead of muffins?

You could bake this in an 8×8 or 9×9 pan instead of muffin tins and then cut into bars. They will likely be fluffier than traditional baked oatmeal.

Are mini muffins a good high-protein snack?

These muffins do contain some protein. To make an even higher protein snack, serve them with a glass of milk, a cheese stick, some trail mix or a beef stick.

Can I add protein powder to oatmeal mini muffins?

Yes, you can add one scoop of protein powder to this recipe without a noticeable effect. Any more than that and it might dry out the muffins.

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Make Ahead Snack Prep Ideas

Need a few more snack ideas? Try:

• Sweet Potato Cookies
• 50+ Easy Homemade Snacks
• Blondie Snickerdoodle Bars
• Chia Seed Peanut Butter Pudding

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–