These healthy, vegan beetroot muffins are made with only one-bowl, and ingredients you will already find in your pantry. They are topped with a creamy, decadent avocado frosting (a great recipe on its own), and will fast become a family favourite.
WHY ADD BEETROOT TO A MUFFIN?
The beetroot in these healthy, vegan muffins make this an oil-free recipe (if you skip the frosting), and is a great way to get the very nutritious vegetable into your diet (or use up extra beets in the fridge). If you don’t have beetroot, a good substitution would be zucchini (courgette), and although I have not tried it- pumpkin could work too.
Beetroot is an incredibly nutritious root vegetable, and due to its natural sweetness, is very easy to bake with. Beetroot is high in iron, forte, fibre and manganese. I’ve used both raw, grated and coked, pureed beetroot to make these muffins. Both work, however I prefer the pureed version better; the texture is better, and the taste more uniform.
WILL THE FROSTING TASTE LIKE AVOCDO?
If you top the healthy, vegan beetroot muffins with avocado frosting I promise- you’ll taste NO avocado. Avocado makes such a perfect base for no-bake or raw desserts, with its flavour easily disguised by more flavoursome ingredients (like cacao or citrus). The frosting makes a really delicious and healthy dessert in itself- I love it served up with coconut yoghurt and fresh berries.
Avocado has an amazing fat profile! Filled with heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, eating avocado helps to boost mood, promote healthy skin and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE BECAUSE;
- It is a one bowl recipe, meaning less dishes and more time enjoying a cup of tea and a healthy, vegan muffin
- There are 2 secret healthy ingredients; BEETROOT and AVOCADO and no-one will even know
- They freeze well (before being frosted), and taste great warmed up, too
WHAT ARE HEALTHY VEGAN BEETROOT MUFFINS MADE FROM?
- flour
- raw cacao powder, or cocoa if you prefer
- coconut sugar
- coconut milk
- apple cider vinegar
- vanilla
- beetroot
- salt
- baking powder and bicarb soda
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY VEGAN BEETROOT MUFFINS
The recipe is very straight forward, and easy to whip up in one bowl.
Combine the wet ingredients
Start by making a vegan butter milk, using milk and vinegar. I recommend the flavour of coconut milk, but also the high-fat plant milk will work better than other lower-fat plant milks (like rice or almond). Add the pureed beetroot* to this mix, and combine well.
Once the milk has thickened, you can whisk in sugar and vanilla.
Now incorporate the dry ingredients
The next step is to add the dry ingredients. Sift in the flour, cacao, and baking powder and bicarb soda, then add in salt and coffee. The coffee is an optional ingredients, but really compliment the cacao flavour and is thus recommend. Mix your batter until it just comes together- you want to stop once the batter becomes very smooth though, not before.
Bake
Set in the preheated oven for 14-16 mins.
To test the muffins, I prefer to use my finger to gently press the top of the muffin. It should be springy, and touch right back. A skewer works well too- just ensure you take the muffins out when the skewer comes out with a few moist crumbs on it.
Allow muffins to cool completely, and in the meantime make the frosting.
* Note; you can sub for raw beetroot (I have done this in the past, but I prefer the pureed version) While the milk is thickening, grate your beetroot. Use a fine grater, if possible. A grater that creates larger pieces will work- but the texture will be slightly chunkier and you might taste a little bit of the beetroot in the cooked muffin- not necessarily a bad thing, it still tastes great this way.
Make the frosting
Gently melt the coconut oil. Coconut oil is a healthy fat, but only before it reaches smoking point. Melting it over a low flame, and removing the saucepan from the heat while some of the oil is still solid will keep the temperature low- and prevent the coconut oil from smoking. Allow coconut oil to completely melt, and then set aside for a few minutes.
Add remaining ingredients to a blender, and blitz until smooth. You will need to scrape down the blender sides. If possible, add coconut oil while the blender is running- this helps the oil emulsify into the frosting properly, but if all the ingredients are room temperature this shouldn’t be an issue anyway.
Set the frosting in the fridge to firm up a little before topping the muffin.
STORAGE
The healthy, vegan beetroot muffins are best stored without being frosted. I would recommend frosting all the muffins only if you plan to eat them all that day- otherwise, store the muffins in an air-tight container in the pantry, for 3-4 days. The frosting can likewise be stored in an airtight container in the fridge, for 3-4 days.
Muffins can be frozen in an air-tight container for up to 3 months- though in you plan to freeze them for lengthy periods, they are best stored in a an air-tight bag with the air sucked out (like a vacuum seal). If you plan to freeze them for only a week, an air-tight container will do.

Healthy vegan beetroot muffins with avocado frosting
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 1x
- Category: Cacao, dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
A healthy vegan beetroot muffin that is made in one bowl- and with ingredients you will already have in your pantry. Delicious on their own, or topped with a lush avocado frosting- they will be a veggie-filled family favourite.
Ingredients
2 cups (240g) plain flour
2/3 cup (65g) cacao powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarb powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp instant coffee (optional)
1 1/2 cups preferred plant milk (We use coconut)*
2 tsp (10mL) apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup (125g) pureed beetroot
1 cup (125g) coconut sugar
2 tsp (10mL) vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups (300g) avocado flesh
1/2 cup (105g) coconut oil
1/2 cup (40g) cacao powder
1 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Line a 12 holed muffin tray with patty pans. Ste aside.
- Add milk and apple cider vinegar to a large mixing bowl. Allow to stand for 5 minutes, then mix in sugar and vanilla until well incorporated.
- Sift in flour, cacao, baking powder, bicarb soda, and add salt and coffee. Combine until smooth, then gently fold in beetroot. Spoon mixture evenly between the 12 patty pans, then bake for 15-18 mins, or until cooked when tested***. Allow to cool for a few minutes before carefully transferring to a wire rack.
TO MAKE THE FROSTING
- Met coconut oil over a low flame. Once liquified, turn off heat and set aside to cool.
- Add avocado, cacao, maple syrup and vanilla to a blender****. Blend until very smooth, then (while the blender is running) drizzle in the melted oil coconut oil and continue to blend until completely incorporated. Scrape down the blender sides, as needed. Transfer the mix to a bowl and set in the fridge for at least 20 mins before pipping/spreading onto completely cooled muffins.
Notes
*We used coconut milk (the thin, boxed variety- not canned) but soy, almond, oat or rice will work, too.
**coconut sugar can be substituted for your favourite granulated sugar- though brown or turbinado sugar will be the best substitution.
*** The best test is to use your finger and gently press the top of the muffin. It should spring back instantly. If you test with a skewer, you want to bake until a few moist crumbs are left on skewer after insertion.
**** A stick blender can work well too. Just add everything to a tall cup or bowl.
Keywords: One bowl, healthy, vegan, plant based, egg free, dairy free
Delicious and fairly easy recipe! I just wish I didn’t use paper liners. A lot of the muffin stuck to the liners. Next time, I’ll just grease the pan and use decaf instant coffee. (I have a caffeine sensitivity apparently because 2 tsp in a whole recipe makes me feel buzzed!)
I enjoyed how the muffins weren’t overly sweet and you could taste the different flavors. This recipe is also toddler approved! I added 1/4 cup non-sweet dark chocolate chips to the batter before baking and it’s a delight! These muffins don’t even need the frosting… the frosting is a great recipe as well and I will incorporate it in my holiday baking for the future. Maybe I’ll keep this recipe handy for breakfast muffins. This recipe yielded 15 muffins for me and I have a ton of leftover frosting. 5 stars!!!
★★★★★
Interesting to hear about the liners- I’ve never had that problem before. In and case, avoiding the use of liners is better for the planet, and a great option. Glad you enjoyed these 🙂
My boyfriend and I just made these today and loved them! What a unique and exciting combination of flavours. Will add to my repertoire to make again.
So glad to hear that you liked them- we love these too! Have a great day, and thank you so much for the feedback.
Jade these muffins are Absolutely delicious!! Wonderful color by beetroot puree and taste/ texture juist right. They rose beautifully in 18 minutes! The cream is on its own the best spread and add on not only on the muffins but also on the fruits or any kind of sweet treat. Thank you! 🌹☘️
★★★★★