Zucchini Vegan Muffins
Make these Zucchini Vegan Muffins at home in under an hour for a healthy and delicious breakfast or snack. These muffins are loaded with zucchini, lemon, and applesauce for a dense and delicious treat.
This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Please see the full disclosure for further information and thank you for your support!
I always want to incorporate more healthy meals and snacks into my routine so that I feel good about what I’m eating and I know my son is eating something good too. These Zucchini Vegan Muffins were a hit with the whole family and my son keeps asking for more. That makes them a winner in my book!
I don’t regularly practice a vegan diet, however, I have been trying to make more recipes that use alternative ingredients like plant-based milk, fat substitutes, etc. These muffins definitely hit the spot and are a great recipe to make, vegan or not!
Ingredients Needed to Make Zucchini Vegan Muffins
You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry which makes this recipe even better. I also love that the prep time and cooking time happen in less than an hour so you can absolutely make this on a weekend morning and have a delicious snack for the rest of the week (if they last that long!).
Fresh Ingredients
Of course, for zucchini muffins, you will need a medium zucchini and a lemon. Zest your lemon before you juice it!
From the Fridge
Since these muffins are vegan, you will need plant-based milk like oat or almond. You will also need unsweetened applesauce which is taking place of the egg and/or oil in a traditional muffin recipe.
From the Pantry
From the pantry, you will need vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and chopped pecans.
How to Make Vegan Zucchini Muffins
Preheat the oven to 425°F and prepare a muffin tin with silicone or paper liners.
Cut off the end of a medium-sized zucchini and shred it using a cheese grater. Once fully shredded, wrap the zucchini pieces into a paper towel, twist the top to make a ball, and squeeze as much water out as you can. Set it aside.
In a small measuring cup or mixing bowl, whisk the oat milk, lemon juice, and vanilla and set aside. In another large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together to combine.
Pour the oak milk mixture and the applesauce into the flour mixture and stir with a spatula to combine. Add the zucchini and fold into the mixture followed by the chopped nuts (if using). Spoon the batter evenly into the 12 muffin sections.
Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes then turn down the heat to 350°F and bake for an additional 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and cool the muffins on a cooling rack.
Why are There two Cooking Temperatures?
A nice trick to get a fluffy top to your muffins is to blast them at 425°F for 5 minutes before turning down the heat to 350°F for the remaining cooking time. Don’t open the door, just turn down the heat and you will have a nice fluffy muffin top (the good kind!).
Optional Lemon Vanilla Glaze for Muffins
You can top these muffins with a simple vanilla glaze for an extra burst of flavor. Simple add 1/2 cup of confectioners powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl. Whisk to combine and drizzle on top.
Substitution Options for Vegan Muffins
The nuts in these muffins are optional or you could substitute walnuts or almonds instead of pecans. If you don’t have applesauce, you can substitute it with vegetable oil.
Tools You May Need to Make This Recipe
More Muffin and Breakfast Recipes to Check Out
- Banana Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Pumpkin Banana Muffins
- Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit Cups
- Sourdough French Toast Casserole
- Lavender Pancakes with Lavender Honey
Zucchini Vegan Muffins
Equipment
- 1 silicone or rubber spatula
- 1 small bowl or measuring cup
- 1 grater
- 1 zester
Ingredients
- 1 cup shredded zucchini
- ¾ cup oat milk or any plant-based milk
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ cup pecans chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and prepare a muffin tin with silicone or paper liners.
- Cut off the end of the zucchini and shred it using a cheese grater. Once fully shredded, wrap the zucchini pieces into a paper towel, twist the top to make a ball, and squeeze as much water out as you can. Set it aside.
- Zest the lemon and then juice it. In a small measuring cup or mixing bowl, whisk the oat milk, lemon juice, and vanilla and set aside.
- In another large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together to combine.
- Pour the oak milk mixture and the applesauce into the flour mixture and stir with a spatula to combine. Add the lemon zest and shredded zucchini and fold into the mixture followed by the chopped nuts (if using).
- Spoon the batter evenly into the 12 muffin sections.
- Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes then turn down the heat to 350°F and bake for an additional 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and cool the muffins on a cooling rack.
Notes
Optional Lemon Vanilla Glaze
You can top these muffins with a simple vanilla glaze for an extra burst of flavor. Simple add 1/2 cup of confectioners powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl. Whisk to combine and drizzle on top.Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Did you Make These Zucchini Vegan Muffins?
If you make these muffins don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Facebook! You can also leave a review below and tell me how it went.
Want to know when I post a new recipe? Follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my email list and you will never miss a recipe!
these vegan muffins are super moist and great for on the go
Yes! Thanks for trying them!
love this mix of veggies in these muffins! so fluffy and delicious too!
Oh, so yummy zucchini muffins! The lemon vanilla glaze really sets them off!
Thanks, Cindy!
I never made vegan zucchini muffins before. But your recipe looks so easy and delicious. I’ll give it a try.