GF Pumpkin and Banana Muffins

Dairy free, Gluten Free, Protein rich, Soy free, Vegetarian

5 stars

About the recipe

These are the kind of muffins you make once… and then suddenly you’re making them every week. They’re naturally gluten free, beautifully moist and genuinely filling thanks to the protein from chickpea flour, almond meal, egg and yoghurt. The pumpkin adds softness, natural sweetness and an extra veggie boost without anyone really noticing.

They make the perfect snack for busy toddlers, lunchboxes or a quick breakfast on the go. And honestly, they’re just as good for mums. I especially love these as a one-handed postpartum snack while breastfeeding. Nourishing, satisfying and not overly sweet. Just real food that keeps everyone going.

Age Appropriate

12 months +

Storage (Fridge and Freezer)

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freeze for up to 3 months in a glass freezer-proof container. Defrost overnight in the fridge or gently warm before serving.

GF Pumpkin + Banana Muffins

GF | RSF – Can be DF

  • Muffin tray
  • Bowls
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • 1/2 cup yoghurt (dairy or coconut)
  • 1 large ripe spotty banana 
  • 1/3 cup pumpkin (roasted + mashed)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup almond meal
  • 1/2 cup  cassava flour
  • 1/2 cup chickpea (besan) flour 
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil 
  • 1 tsp baking powder 
  • 2-3 tbsp honey (omit honey under 12 months)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees 

  2. Dice the pumpkin and bake for roughly 25 minutes until soft 

  3. Line a muffin tray with muffin papers 

  4. Take out a medium sized bowl and add in the chickpea flour, cassava flour, almond meal, baking powder and cinnamon. Mix gently to combine 

  5. In a separate bowl, mash in the ripe banana and also add in the yoghurt, whisked egg, honey and melted coconut oil. Mix well to combine 

  6. Once the pumpkin has cooked, mash it and allow it to cool for a moment before adding it into the wet ingredients

  7. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until smooth 

  8. Begin spooning the mixture into the muffin papers and top each muffin with an almond (omit for younger children/toddlers not yet consuming whole nuts) 

  9. Place the tray into the oven and bake for roughly 15-20 minutes until slightly golden on top and cooked within. If you insert a skewer into one muffin you will know it is cooked if it comes out clean 

Able to be frozen: yes
Age Appropriate: 3 meals+ – When tolerating all the allergens (contains egg, tree nuts, dairy)

Recipe for Boob to Food by Jane Houston 

3 meals a day, Baby Led Weaning, BLW, Snack
Read More

Ingredients

½ cup yoghurt (Greek or coconut)
1 large ripe spotty banana
⅓ cup pumpkin, roasted and mashed
1 egg
½ cup almond meal
½ cup cassava flour
½ cup chickpea flour (also known as besan flour)
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 to 3 tablespoons honey (omit if serving under 12 months)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Optional topping

 

Crushed almonds (omit for younger children not yet consuming whole nuts)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius and line a muffin tray with paper cases.
  2. Dice the pumpkin and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until soft. Mash and allow to cool slightly.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the chickpea flour, cassava flour, almond meal, baking powder and cinnamon. Mix gently to combine.
  4. In a separate bowl, mash the banana. Add the yoghurt, whisked egg, honey and melted coconut oil. Stir until well combined.
  5. Add the cooled mashed pumpkin to the wet ingredients and mix again.
  6. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until smooth and fully combined.
  7. Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin cases. If using, top each muffin with some crushed almonds.
  8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly golden and cooked through. Insert a skewer into the centre of a muffin. If it comes out clean, they are ready.
  9. Allow to cool before serving.

Ingredient Swaps

Pumpkin can be swapped for mashed sweet potato or butternut squash.

Yoghurt can be replaced with coconut yoghurt for dairy free.

Coconut oil can be swapped for melted butter.

Honey can be replaced with maple syrup.

Cassava flour can be substituted with additional almond meal if needed, though texture will be slightly softer.

 

Chickpea flour can be replaced with a gluten free plain flour blend if preferred, though protein content will be lower.

You might also like

Chia Gel

Chia seeds are one of those small-but-mighty foods that we come back to again and again, especially when supporting little tummies through the transition to solids. They’re incredibly nutrient dense, meaning even a small amount delivers a beautiful boost of fibre, healthy fats, protein, calcium and magnesium. One of the biggest reasons we love chia … Continued

Learn more

Baked Pumpkin Risotto

I love risotto… but I do not love standing at the stove stirring for 40 minutes while someone’s asking for a snack or hanging off my leg. This baked version is my little kitchen hack. You get that creamy, cosy risotto texture without the constant stirring. The pumpkin softens and melts into the rice, making … Continued

Learn more

Butter Chicken

This is one of those meals I make when I want everyone at the table to eat the same thing… and actually enjoy it. It feels like a proper comfort dinner, but it’s still gentle enough for babies. The pumpkin softens into the sauce and makes it naturally sweet and creamy, which means you get … Continued

Learn more

Chicken & Mushroom Meatballs

If you’re looking for a soft, iron-rich finger food that actually holds together in little hands, these Chicken and Mushroom Meatballs are such a winner. They’re juicy, gently flavoured and packed with extra nourishment from finely chopped mushrooms, making them ideal for baby-led weaning. Using chicken thighs keeps them tender and higher in key nutrients … Continued

Learn more

Chicken & Pasta Soup

This is chicken noodle soup’s heartier, toddler-friendly cousin. The pasta cooks right in the broth and soaks up all that goodness, which means it turns thick, cosy and easy to scoop. No slippery noodles sliding everywhere. No watery broth left behind. Just a nourishing, comforting bowl that little ones can actually manage. It’s packed with … Continued

Learn more

Passionfruit Coconut Slice

This passionfruit coconut slice is one of those recipes that feels a little bit special but is still incredibly simple to make. It is light, fresh and naturally sweet, with that perfect balance of tangy passionfruit and mellow coconut that works beautifully for both kids and adults. It is a toddler-approved favourite in our house … Continued

Learn more

Spaghetti Bolognese With a Twist

Recipe from Toddler to Table This spaghetti bolognese is a classic comfort meal with a clever nutrient-dense twist. It’s the kind of dinner that feels familiar and cosy, but works a little harder behind the scenes to support growing bodies. By adding grated liver and heaps of vegetables into the sauce, you’re boosting iron, zinc, … Continued

Learn more

Pumped Up Porridge

A warm, nourishing start to the day – packed with healthy fats, fibre, and blood sugar-balancing goodness for little (and big) tummies. This porridge is a go-to in our house when I want something comforting, filling and full of goodness. Oats are a great source of fibre and antioxidants, but on their own they’re primarily … Continued

Learn more
0