Tuck these healthy cornmeal muffins, made with avocado and cheddar cheese, into your kids' lunch boxes. Thanks to California Avocados for sponsoring this post and helping me to share this recipe with you.
There are many blissful things about summertime. Lazy afternoon at the pool, long summer evenings...and not being required to pack lunch boxes every evening. As much as I love being able to tuck sandwiches and snacks into my boys' lunch boxes, there are times when it seems downright tedious.
Is there such a thing as lunch maker's block? I think I have a bad case of it. Really, there are only so many pb & j or turkey and cheddar sandwiches that two boys can handle!
This year I'm determined to "wow" my kids with my lunch-making prowess (ha!), surprising them with brilliantly re-purposed leftovers, leftover sandwiches and savory muffins. Please remind me of this when I start griping in the middle of the school year.
This healthy take on corn muffins combines whole wheat pastry flour with cornmeal. Regular whole wheat flour can also be used, resulting in a slightly denser muffin.
Some of the fats traditionally found in corn muffins, such as whole milk and butter, are replaced with low-fat buttermilk and mashed California avocados. The latter adds in healthy fats, along with fiber, potassium (more than bananas...really), vitamin E, folic acid and various B vitamins.
While there are green flecks of avocado in the muffins, the taste of the healthy fruit is subtle. And make no mistake - these are not your usual sweet corn muffins. Rather, they have a savory flavor from some shredded Cheddar cheese.
The recipe:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk and smashed avocado.
Stir the buttermilk mixture into the cornmeal mixture just until combined. Stir in ⅓ cup Cheddar cheese.
Using a ¼ cup measure, divide the batter evenly between the muffin tins. Sprinkle the remaining Cheddar cheese over top of the muffins.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean, 10 to 12 minutes.
Cool the muffins in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and cool completely on a wire rack. Serve or store in an airtight container.
Other avocado recipes:
Cookin' Canuck's Shrimp, Corn & California Avocado Pasta Salad
Cookin' Canuck's Black Bean Sliders with Creamy California Avocado Sauce
I Wash...You Dry's Frozen Mango Lassi with Sweetened California Avocados
Gimme Some Oven's Grilled Pineapple, Chicken & Avocado Salad
Dine & Dish's Smoky California Avocado Tortilla Stacks
Healthy Cornmeal Avocado Muffin Recipe with Cheddar Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
- ⅓ cup smashed avocado about ¾ avocado
- ⅓ cup + 3 tablespoon grated Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk and smashed avocado.
- Stir the buttermilk mixture into the cornmeal mixture just until combined.
- Stir in ⅓ cup cheddar cheese.
- Using a ¼ cup measure, divide the batter evenly between the muffin tins. Sprinkle the remaining Cheddar cheese over top of the muffins.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean, 10 to 12 minutes.
- Cool the muffins in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and cool completely on a wire rack. Serve or store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
These are amazing! And that avocado touch? Brilliant!
Laura @ Family Spice
This sounds delicious! I'm not ready for school lunches, either. But luckily, two of my kids adore chicken noodle soup and eat it in their thermos for lunch EVERY DAY. I just have to make a big pot of soup EVERY WEEK!!! : )
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I've yet to try baking with avocado but you've inspired me with these muffins!
Shelly (Cookies and Cups)
How do you come up with this? Totally amazing!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
These look fantastic! I've been thinking about making some cornbread, and I want to make these. I love the healthy substitutions you made!!! Your boys are going to be very lucky this year, I have a feeling 🙂
Laurie {SimplyScratch}
These look so good! I dread packing lunches... my youngest daughter also get's 2 healthy snacks during the day on top of lunch. I run out of ideas halfway through the year! Totally bookmarked this!
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
So unique! Love this idea!
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective
These look fantastic, Dara!!
Becca
These look lovely! I hope you have other posts related to your challenge of making your sons' lunches unboring ... My challenge is my husband! (And yes, he really could be making his own lunches, but if I don't intervene it would be take out burritos every day)
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch
Thanks for this! It looks wonderful! I can't wait to try them!
Kristen @ Swanky Dietitian
Yum! I love the addition of avocado!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I always love meeting new bloggers.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
I am awful at figuring out things for lunch! I'd love to have a few of these in my lunch bag!
Jess S. @ Floptimism
I recently found that I needed a vegan corn muffin recipe so I swapped avocado for the butter, but I think I used too much and wound up with a very moist muffin...good, but definitely not corn muffin material. This recipe looks great! I'll have to keep it in mind next time.
Tieghan
Well, geez I want you to pack me a lunch so I can eat a delicious meal everyday! Your kids are so lucky, lunch for me when I was in school was Turkey and cheese + some carrots and maybe pretzels too. Your lunch and these muffins sound so good!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Me too, Tieghan! But it was always a treat when my mum slipped in something a little different from the norm.
kelley
What a great twist, I'm sure they're wonderful!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Kelley! Luckily, the boys gave them the "thumbs up".
Jenna
These look perfect for lunchbox season !! 🙂 yum
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Jenna! I have a feeling I'll be making these for my kids a lot this year.
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig
What a great twist using the avocado!! Love it! And lunches, I'm already dreading it too.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Cathy! Enjoy these last blissful weeks, free of lunch boxes. 🙂
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
These are lovely - and so unique! What a fun flavour!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Katrina. I held my breath while my kids taste-tested. Lucky for me, they loved them!