Chia Seed, Apricot and Raisin Mini Muffins

When a toddler refuses all meals, better pack those snacks

Breakfast is my happy time. Lena loves breakfast, so I love breakfast. This is a guaranteed meal for her. Ever since the little dove learnt to sleep through the night (which to be honest wasn't that long ago) she wakes standing in her cot rubbing her tummy excitedly proclaiming 'nom, nom.' 

The remaining meals of the day, however, can range from bad to ugly. Lunch and Dinner are not her happy time. Snacks on the other hand are pure bliss. She goes bounding towards the changing bag, often then dragging it towards me, almost quacking 'NAK!NAK!'

I try to make a few home made treats for her that offer a little more given how little she eats during the set meals of the day. I tend to freeze the muffins below and in the morning pop one into her snack box which then acts as a cooler for the cheese and fruit that is also in the same container. By the time she is ready for her Nak, it has defrosted whilst also ensuring the rest of the box doesn't get mushy in the heat.

What you need:

1 cup wholemeal flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

a quick grating of whole nutmeg

2 ripe mashed bananas

2 tbsp melted coconut oil

1 medium egg

1 tbsp date syrup

1 tbsp chia seeds

6 dried apricots, chopped

1 tbsp raisins

1/4 cup of whole milk

What to do:

Preheat your oven to 170C fan assisted. 

The above makes about 18 mini muffins. I tend to grease a suitable muffin tray using a silicone pastry brush and the residue of the melted coconut oil from the pan which I have just used to melt it. 

Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda.

Fold in all of the other ingredients, adding the slightly cooled and melted coconut oil last. 

Bake for approximately 18 minutes until a skewer comes out clean, but check at around 15 minutes to avoid over baking and browning which I unfortunately didn't - Lena was wedged in the kitchen door frame with her pink buggy so I dropped the ball a little! Once they had cooled she devoured three, so my mini Masterchef judge didn't seem to mind.