Easy Baking with Kids: Green Smoothie Muffins!

I have honestly lost count of how many batches of these green smoothie muffins I have made with my kids since this whole quarantine/social distancing thing started.

My kids cannot get enough of them!

Don’t get me wrong – my kids know what candy and doughnuts taste like.

They also know what a McDonalds Happy Meal tastes like.

So they don’t love these super healthy Green Smoothie Muffins because they don’t know any better.

They’re just really good!

The taste aside, they are also a great way to introduce your children to baking.

Baking is such a practical skill you can easily teach in your homeschool – while you’re just living life!

Why Green Smoothie Muffins Are Perfect For Teaching Kids About Baking

1. They are oh so healthy

The large majority of baking produces things that you probably don’t want your kids eating daily.

If your kids really like baking – like mine do – they will beg to make cookies, breads, and cupcakes all the time!

This recipe is so perfect for teaching kids about baking because you are going to want them to eat these every day!

Green smoothie muffins are full of fruit and vegetables and minimal sugar.

2. No eggs

I don’t know about you, but I get really freaked out about my kids being around raw eggs.

Some parents may even avoid teaching their kids about baking because they don’t want to deal with eggs!

Eggs can be messy, difficult to crack, and even make you sick if you accidentally eat them raw. We’re always watching our kids to make sure they don’t lick spoons or bowls that might be “contaminated” with raw egg.

This green smoothie muffin recipe is perfect for teaching kids to bake because there are no raw eggs!

3. Steps are super simple

As you’ll see in the recipe below, the steps are very simple and easy to follow.

It’s easy for kids to follow the recipe with minimal parenting help.

4. Result is unique!

Anybody can make a cookie, but green muffins that taste good?!

That’s something that stands out and gets your attention!

It’s something kids want to shock their friends with and send pictures to their grandparents about.

How To Get Your Kids to Eat Green Smoothie Muffins

You may be wondering, “Um…I can’t get my kids to eat anything green – definitely not muffins!”

I hear you.

My kids would not dream of drinking a green smoothie – but for some reason biting into a muffin is completely different for them!

The first time I made green smoothie muffins, I did it by myself after the kids were in bed. I told them I had a surprise breakfast for them – yummy banana muffins that I had dyed green for fun!

Now, first of all that is true. There is banana in these muffins – I just didn’t mention HOW I dyed them green (hello spinach).

It helps to call them monster muffins or leprechaun muffins too.

Get your kids laughing and they’re much more likely to take a bite!

If you think it will help, I like to cut mine in half and put a little nut butter and a dot of honey on mine too.

When your kids see you enjoying one with a cup of coffee they will be much more tempted to try it too!

Once your kids are on board with the taste, have them start making them with you!

My kids love to pour stuff, put things in the blender and watch all the green come together!

Teaching Points for Baking with Kids

The kitchen is an awesome place to teach kids!

Sometimes though, we get a little distracted with just trying to finish the baking project…and we miss the chance to teach.

As you get ready to bake green smoothie muffins with your kids – think through some of these ideas you want to teach

• Explain why you should always read through the recipe and gather ingredients before you start

• How to read fractions

• Matching fractions from the recipe to measuring spoons and cups

• How to level off when measuring

• Why you should pour ingredients low to the bowl…as opposed to pouring high above the bowl (ingredients tend to splatter more or spill)

• How to stir ingredients without splashing them out of the bowl

• What turns the muffins green and why

• What makes the muffins rise up while baking and why

• Why salt is often added to sweet baked goods

• Oven safety points

There are probably many other things you can teach, but that’s a great start to help your kid become a great baker!

How To Make Green Smoothie Muffins

****Full printable recipe at bottom of post. Adapted from Meal Garden

1.Print off the green smoothie muffin recipe so that you and your kids can easily reference it while baking. No worries about spilling something over your phone or laptop 🙂

2. Work with your children to gather all of your ingredients and supplies. That way you’re not rummaging for last minute things in a hurry.

3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

4. Combine flours, salt, baking power, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Mix until well combined.

5. Place spinach, banana, baby carrots, applesauce, and sugar (or honey) into a blender. Blend until smooth.

Yes, this is above the “max fill line” but we like to live a little on the edge over here.

6. Pour spinach mixture into dry ingredients – your kids will love this part!

7. Mix ingredients together until well combined. Batter will be a little thick.

8. Spoon batter into 12 greased muffin cups – we love this silicone muffin tin! Makes popping out muffins MUCH easier than my old metal tin.

9. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the largest muffin to make sure it’s done.

10. Enjoy!

A Note on Making Green Smoothie Muffins EVEN Healthier

I have tinkered with this recipe a lot over the years.

No matter what I’ve done to it – my kids still eat them, so don’t be afraid to experiment!

I prefer to use white whole wheat flour (as opposed to a blend of white flour and whole wheat flour). The taste and texture are the same, but it is so much better for you than that cup of white flour.

I haven’t been able to find King Arthur’s white whole wheat flour in any of my stores in a while, so I just do the blend of white and whole wheat.

I have tried doing all whole wheat flour. The muffins tasted fine, but they came out more brown colored than green. If that doesn’t matter to you or your kids – than go for it!

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