Nutritious Beet, Apple, Chicken, and Cheese Muffins
Perfect Baby Snack & Meal Replacement! Sugar-Free, Flour-Free Beet, Apple, Chicken, and Cheese Muffin Recipe
I’ve made these adorable and delicious Beet, Apple, Chicken, and Cheese Muffins as a healthy snack for your baby. They are packed with the goodness of beets, the sweetness of apples, and the savory flavors of chicken and cheese! With a balanced mix of nutrients, they’re not only a wonderful snack for babies past the initial pureed food stage but also a satisfying meal replacement. Made healthily without sugar or flour!
Muffin Batter
- 55g Beet (weight after peeling)
- 80g Apple (weight after removing core)
- 30g Milk Powder (baby formula)
- 1 Egg (room temperature)
- 107g Chicken Tenderloin (weight after trimming)
- 1 slice Baby Cheese
- 10g Unsalted Butter
- 15g Brown Rice Flour
- 10g Almond Flour
- 1g Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Brown Rice Oil or Vegetable Oil
Apple Topping
- 90g Apple (weight after removing core)
- 90g Apple (weight after removing core)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, thoroughly wash the beet and apple using baking soda or vinegar. Peel them and cut into pieces that are easy to blend (about 2-3 cm). While the peels contain nutrients, it’s better to remove them for a smoother texture, especially for baby food.
Step 2
In a blender, combine the chopped apple and beet, 30g of milk powder, and 1 room temperature egg. Blend until you achieve a smooth puree with no lumps. Blending thoroughly is key for a consistent batter.
Step 3
Pour the blended batter ingredients into a large bowl. This makes it easier to mix in the remaining ingredients.
Step 4
Rinse the chicken tenderloin under cold running water. Carefully trim away any tough tendons or thin membranes with a knife. This ensures a pleasant texture for your baby.
Step 5
Finely mince the trimmed chicken tenderloin into small pieces suitable for your baby to chew. You can adjust the size based on your baby’s chewing ability and development.
Step 6
Lightly grease a pan with brown rice oil or vegetable oil over medium-low heat. Add the minced chicken and cook until thoroughly cooked through, ensuring it’s not too high heat to avoid burning.
Step 7
Transfer the cooked chicken to a separate plate and let it cool down. Adding hot chicken to the batter could cook the other ingredients prematurely, so cooling is important.
Step 8
In another bowl, combine 15g of brown rice flour, 10g of almond flour, and 1g of baking powder. Whisk them together with a whisk or fork until well combined and free of lumps. Pre-mixing the dry ingredients helps ensure an even distribution in the batter.
Step 9
Now, add the torn baby cheese (1 slice) and the cooled, cooked chicken to the batter bowl. The slight saltiness of the cheese and the savory chicken will enhance the flavor.
Step 10
Melt the 10g of unsalted butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds until completely liquid. If it’s too hot, let it cool slightly before adding it to the batter and mixing it in smoothly.
Step 11
Finely dice about half an apple (90g) for the topping. Mincing it finely will give a pleasant texture and attractive appearance when baked.
Step 12
Place the diced apple in a small pan or pot over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the moisture released from the apple has completely evaporated. This process concentrates the apple’s natural sweetness.
Step 13
Spoon the batter into oven-safe muffin cups or silicone molds, filling them about 80-90% full. Avoid overfilling, as the muffins will rise during baking.
Step 14
Generously top the batter-filled muffin cups with the sweetened, cooked apple mixture you prepared earlier. This adds a delicious layer of flavor and visual appeal.
Step 15
Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) for about 20 minutes. Baking times may vary depending on your oven, so check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.
Step 16
These muffins are delicious served warm right after baking, but they are also wonderfully soft and moist when cooled. The subtle sweetness of the apple, combined with the savory chicken and cheese, creates a delightful flavor profile. The beet flavor is mild and harmonizes beautifully with the other ingredients, resulting in a sophisticated taste!
Step 17
When you cut into the muffins, you’ll see a beautiful gradient of colors from the beet! It’s visually appealing and can pique a baby’s curiosity. My baby absolutely loved them! Be sure to try making these healthy muffins for your little one!
