Healthy Sweet Potato Muffins

These Healthy Sweet Potato Muffins are soft, fluffy, and made with simple ingredients like oat flour, maple syrup, and sweet potato. They’re easy to make, naturally gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free oats, and perfect for breakfast, snacks, or meal prep.

The best healthy sweet potato muffins

If you’ve been here for a while, you know I love sneaking veggies into baked goods whenever I can. Zucchini has already had a very solid run around here, and now it’s sweet potato’s turn, which honestly feels very right.

The nice thing is, these muffins are really easy to make! You whisk the wet ingredients, stir the dry together, mix everything up, and bake. If you already have leftover roasted sweet potato in the fridge, they come together even faster, which is always a win. You can also steam sweet potatoes or use canned puree, so there’s nothing fussy about it.

The first time I made these, I was very into how soft and fluffy they turned out. Gluten-free muffins can sometimes go a little dense, but these stay light, tender, and cozy, with just enough cinnamon to make them feel extra good. Add chocolate chips or pecans if you want, and suddenly breakfast feels a lot more exciting.

Ingredients for healthy sweet potato muffins

The base is made up of ground oatmeal, aka oat flour, and only made with a handful of other ingredients. Here’s what else you’ll need:

• Mashed sweet potato: you’ll need 1 cup mashed sweet potato, cooked and cooled. Roasted sweet potato gives great flavor, but steamed or canned sweet potato puree works too.
• Coconut oil: You’ll need 1/2 cup of coconut oil for moisture and richness. Melt it first if needed. Avocado oil or a neutral oil can work too.
• Eggs: You’ll need 2 eggs to help bind the batter and keep the muffins fluffy.
• Maple syrup: You’ll need 1/3 cup maple syrup for natural sweetness. Honey can work if that’s what you have.
• Vanilla: You’ll need 1 tsp vanilla to round out the flavor.
• Homemade oat flour: You’ll need 2 cups of oat flour, measured after blending. This gives the muffins their soft, light texture. Store-bought oat flour works too.
• Baking powder: You’ll need 1 tsp of baking powder to help the muffins rise.
• Baking soda: You’ll need 1/2 tsp baking soda for extra lift.
• Salt: You’ll need 1/2 tsp salt to balance the sweetness.
• Cinnamon: You’ll need 1 tsp cinnamon for a lovely spiced flavor.
• Chocolate chips: This is optional, but about 1 cup of chocolate chips adds a sweet, melty bite.
• Chopped pecans: This is optional, but about 1 cup chopped pecans adds crunch and pairs really well with the sweet potato.

Kitchen tools required

• Blender
• Large mixing bowl
• Small mixing bowl
• Whisk or spoon
• Muffin tin
• Muffin liners
• Nonstick spray

How to make these healthy muffins

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with liners. Give the liners a quick spray with nonstick spray, too!

If you’re making your own oat flour, add oats to a blender and blend until finely ground. It only takes about 10 seconds. Measure the oat flour after blending, not before, so you get the right amount.

In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed sweet potato, coconut oil, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla until smooth. If your sweet potato has a few small lumps, that’s okay, but you want the mixture mostly smooth so the batter comes together evenly.

In a small bowl, stir together the oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until fully combined. Fold in chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or both if you’re using them.

Divide the muffin batter evenly into the muffin tin. Top with a few extra chocolate chips or nuts if you want them to look a little extra nice on top.

Bake for about 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let them cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack so they do not get too soft on the bottom.

Below are some common healthy sweet potato muffin questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post! I’ll be happy to help.

ARE SWEET POTATO MUFFINS GOOD FOR YOU?

These muffins are made with simple ingredients like sweet potato, oat flour, eggs, and maple syrup. They also have fiber from the oats and sweet potato, which helps make them feel more balanced than a typical bakery muffin.

CAN I USE CANNED SWEET POTATO PUREE?

Yes, that works well here. Just make sure it is plain sweet potato puree and not sweetened pie filling.

WHY ARE MY OAT FLOUR MUFFINS DENSE?

Usually, it comes down to overmixing, using too much flour, or not enough lift from the baking powder and baking soda. Measure carefully, stir gently, and make sure your leavening is fresh.

CAN I ADD CHOCOLATE CHIPS OR NUTS?

Yes, and I highly recommend it. Chocolate chips make them feel a little more fun, and chopped pecans add a really nice texture.

CAN I FREEZE SWEET POTATO MUFFINS?

Yes. These freeze really well, which makes them great for meal prep. Let them cool completely first, then freeze in an airtight container or wrap them individually.

HOW SHOULD I SERVE THESE?

They’re great as is, but I also love them slightly warmed. You can eat them on their own, with coffee, or with a little nut butter if you want to make them more filling.

Store the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days.For longer storage, freeze them for up to 2 months. Let them thaw at room temperature for about an hour, or warm one in the microwave for a softer, fresh-from-the-kitchen feel!

If you make this recipe, be sure to comment below and let me know how it was! Also tag @erinliveswhole on Instagram and use the hashtag #erinliveswhole so I can see it and feature you!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

If you love muffins as much as I do, you’ll love these recipes:

• Paleo Banana Bread Muffins
• Strawberry Banana Muffins
• Blueberry Muffins