Morning Glory Muffins

Morning Glory Muffins are like carrot cake for breakfast! They are made with shredded carrots, apples, raisins, and whole wheat flour.

By
Sheryl Julian
Sheryl Julian
Sheryl Julian
Sheryl Julian was the Food Editor, reporter, stylist, and recipe developer for The Boston Globe for 30 years. She teaches food journalism at Boston University in the Masters in Gastronomy program.
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Updated April 14, 2023
Sheryl Julian
Morning Glory Muffins
Sheryl Julian

Everyone needs one great muffin recipe. This is mine.

These Morning Glory muffins are like carrot cake cupcakes, though not as sweet and at least somewhat more nutritious. They’re mixed with grated carrots and apple, along with raisins, walnuts, and spices.

Curious about where Morning Glory muffins first originated?

Most bakers attribute them to the Morning Glory Cafe on Nantucket, an island off the coast of Massachusetts. That was in the 1970s when bakers were first starting to experiment with adding vegetables such as grated carrots and zucchini to their baked goods.

This wasn’t an entirely new phenomenon: during World War II, bakers used grated beets as a cheap way to intensify chocolate cakes.

In these muffins, carrots add moisture and color, and when you bite into one, the familiar taste of carrot cake will please and delight you.

Morning Glory Muffins on a Parchment Lined Baking Pan

Simply Recipes / Sheryl Julian

Morning Glory Muffins

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Servings 12 muffins

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (90g) all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup (85g) whole wheat flour
  • 3/4 packed cup (160g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup (149g) canola oil
  • 1/4 cup (85g) honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 medium carrots, grated (about 1 1/4 cups)
  • 1 small apple, peeled, cored, and grated (about 1/2 cup)
  • Zest from one medium orange
  • 1/2 cup golden or dark raisins
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F:

    Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper cups or grease with butter.

  2. Combine the dry ingredients:

    In a bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice to combine. Use a spoon to smash apart any remaining brown sugar lumps. (If you shake the bowl, any lumps will rise to the surface.)

    Morning Glory Muffins
    Sheryl Julian
  3. Make the batter:

    In a large bowl, stir the eggs to break them up. Add the canola oil, honey, vanilla, carrots, apple, orange rind, raisins, and walnuts. Stir thoroughly. Stir in the dry ingredients until well blended.

    Morning Glory Muffins
    Sheryl Julian

    Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling them almost to the top. Tap the muffin pan once, hard, on the counter to settle any air pockets.

    Morning Glory Muffins
    Sheryl Julian
  4. Bake the muffins for 22 to 25 minutes:

    or until they are firm and a toothpick inserted into the middle emerges clean. Set the muffins on a wire rack to cool. Muffins keep well for several days stored in an airtight container.

    Morning Glory Muffins
    Sheryl Julian