Banana, Raspberry & Almond Muffins | Baby & Toddler Friendly BLW Recipe

Banana, Raspberry & Almond Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 large ripe banana
• 1 handful of fresh or frozen raspberries (approx ½ cup)
• 2 tablespoons smooth almond butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (fan-forced).
2. In a mixing bowl, mash a large ripe banana until smooth.
3. Add a handful of raspberries and gently mash them through the banana.
4. Add 2 tablespoons of smooth almond butter.
5. Mix well to combine.
6. Add 2 eggs and whisk through to combine.
7. Add 1 cup of wholemeal self-raising flour.
8. Whisk to combine into a smooth batter.
9. Pour the batter evenly into your Dainty Dozen baking tray.
10. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 12–15 minutes.
11. Check if done by inserting a butter knife or skewer into one muffin. If it comes out clean, they're ready.
12. Cool in the tray for a few minutes before turning out. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Storage Instructions

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To freeze, place cooled muffins in a single layer on a tray and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for an hour, or warm gently in the microwave for 20–30 seconds.

This recipe scales beautifully — double the batch and freeze half, so future-you always has a snack ready to go.

Nutrition Notes

These muffins are a brilliant little nutrition package for babies and toddlers. Banana provides natural sweetness, potassium and fibre. Raspberries add antioxidants, vitamin C and gentle fibre. Almond butter contributes healthy fats, protein and vitamin E — all important for growing bodies and brains. Wholemeal self-raising flour delivers slow-release energy and additional fibre, helping keep little tummies satisfied between meals.

This recipe also makes nut introduction simple — almond butter mixed into a soft muffin is a safe, age-appropriate way to introduce tree nuts to babies from around 6 months. Current guidelines recommend introducing common allergens early and often, so once your baby has tolerated almonds, keep them in the rotation.

Parent Tip

The riper the banana, the sweeter the muffin — those speckly brown bananas at the bottom of the fruit bowl are exactly what you want here. If your bananas aren't quite there yet, you can ripen them quickly by baking the whole unpeeled banana on a tray at 180°C for 10–15 minutes until the skin turns black.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can babies have almond butter?

Yes. Smooth almond butter mixed into a soft recipe like this is a safe and age-appropriate way to introduce tree nuts from around 6 months. Never serve whole almonds or thick blobs of almond butter on a spoon, as both are a choking hazard.

Can I use frozen raspberries?

Yes. Frozen raspberries work brilliantly — just mash them through with the banana straight from frozen. No need to thaw first.

Can I make these egg free?

Yes. Swap each egg for a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water, rested for 5 minutes), a chia egg, or ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce. The texture will be a little denser but still delicious.

Can I make these nut free?

Absolutely. Swap the almond butter for a smooth seed butter like sunflower seed butter or tahini. The flavour will be slightly different but the texture and nutrition stay similar.

Can I add other fruit?

Yes — blueberries, chopped strawberries, or grated apple all work well in place of (or alongside) the raspberries. Keep the total fruit volume similar so the batter consistency stays right.

Do these contain added sugar?

No. These muffins are naturally sweetened by the ripe banana and raspberries — there's no added sugar, honey, or maple syrup, which makes them suitable for babies from 6 months.

Are these suitable for toddler lunchboxes?

Yes — they're a lunchbox favourite. They hold up well at room temperature, aren't crumbly, and most childcare centres and schools allow them (always check your centre's allergen policy if they contain almond butter).