Whole Wheat Applesauce Zucchini Muffins Recipe

Our family planted a garden this year and we have loved all the fresh vegetables that are ready to harvest.

Our zucchini plant is out of control, so of course we have been eating zucchini in as many ways as possible.

What’s your favorite way to use zucchini? These muffins have been one of my favorite recipes- my kids love eating them for breakfast or an after-school snack.

Zucchini Nutrition and Health Benefits

Zucchini, or Italian squash, is a healthy and good-for-you vegetable with important health benefits. It can have a place in anyone’s diet because it tastes delicious and is a very versatile vegetable in cooking and baking. It contains vitamins, fiber, minerals, plus it is low in calories. It is a nutrient-rich whole food. Eating zucchini will provide you with vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, antioxidants, and more. 

Boost your health by including zucchini in your diet regularly. It will help you improve your health as you incorporate more vegetables. Zucchini provides digestive health benefits from the fiber, anti-inflammatory benefits, helps with blood sugar regulation, and can help to lower your risk of cancers, diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases. 

What are some good zucchini recipes? 

You either have a lot of zucchini to use because you planted a garden and it grows like crazy, or it’s very affordable at the grocery store. How are you going to use it all??

Think outside of the box when planning meals with zucchini. You can shred it and add it to almost any meal. It has a versatile and mild taste that blends well with anything. I like to add it to eggs, tortilla wraps, pasta, soups, green smoothies, veggie sandwiches, rice bowls, and even baked goods like muffins, cakes, brownies, and zucchini bread. You can also easily freeze it in slices or shredded for later use. 

Because of the sweet and mild flavor, zucchini is the best vegetable to “sneak” into desserts and other foods where your kids (and spouse) won’t be able to detect it. The sky is the limit, just don’t try and sneak it into their birthday cake! 

Try some of our other favorite zucchini recipes: 

How Does Applesauce Affect Baking?

If you noticed, this recipe uses applesauce in place of oil. It is a common healthy swap to increase the nutrition of baked goods. Applesauce can be substituted for oil, melted butter, sugar, or even eggs in a baking recipe. It may slightly change the taste and consistency, so if you are experimenting to make a favorite recipe with applesauce, start out by substituting with half the amount of applesauce and see how you like it.

There are a few tips to be aware of while using applesauce in baking. If you’re substituting applesauce for sugar, you’ll need to adjust the amount of liquid in a recipe by about 1/4th. You can also use 1/4 cup of applesauce as an egg substitute. Applesauce increases the fiber amount and it keeps baked goods moist and fresh. Although, you may need to cook your baked goods slightly longer when using applesauce. 

I even prefer the taste and texture when applesauce is used in muffins, bread, or brownies rather than oil or sugar. Most people won’t be able to tell- only if you’re looking for it! 

With simple substitutions you can boost the nutrition and lower the fat, calories, sugar, and cholesterol in a recipe without sacrificing flavor.  

The problem with many muffin recipes is that they aren’t healthy at all because they are made with so much oil and sugar, which increases total calories. This healthy muffin recipe is different! It’s made with whole wheat flour and filled with applesauce and zucchini. Give it a try, you’ll love the taste and health benefits.