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Big Batch Whole Wheat Harvest Muffins Recipe

Big Batch Whole Wheat Harvest Muffins are warm, tender and delicious. They’ll feed a crowd and freeze well making them a perfect make-ahead anytime muffin.

Horizontal view of whole muffin, split muffin and filled muffin tin

Big Batch Whole Wheat Harvest Muffins are great for any meal of the day and are perfect for last-minute guests since they can be stored in the freezer.

Close up of split Harvest Muffin on butter paddle

It’s no secret that I am in love with muffins. Homemade muffins are perfect for breakfast with a plate of eggs or with a bowl of soup at dinner time. They add that little bit of sweetness when you’re balancing out savory or just want a nice little snack.

Side view of Harvest muffin in paper liner

What is the difference between a muffin and a cupcake? Well for one, you normally don’t frost muffins. They may come with a topping such as a crumble, streusel, a sprinkling of oats, or maybe even a glaze but not frosting.

They are more like a quick bread though since you don’t use yeast in them and they can be sweet or savory.

The difference between muffins and cupcakes

DifferenceMuffinCupcake
FlavorSweet or SavorySweet
Topping None, streusel, glaze Frosting
CrumbDenserLight, Soft
ServedBreakfast, with mealDessert
Distant top view of Harvest muffin with carrots and knife

To me, they are a legal food to have with a meal or snack whereas a cupcake is a dessert. And, since you can’t have dessert unless you finish your dinner, muffins aren’t subject to such food laws.

Also according to my own food laws the more stuff I can put into a muffin the better. Just take these Harvest Muffins. There are different versions of them out there but I Julieized them (another undefined term).

Top view of whole Harvest Muffin

The whole wheat flour gives these muffins a nutty flavor and blended with white flour keeps them moist and tender. In this recipe, most of the oils are switched out for butter and half the white sugar for brown sugar.

They’re loaded with cinnamon and spice, and even though some recipes come with coconut, we don’t harvest coconut here in Nebraska. We don’t really harvest grapes either but don’t draw that comparison, please. These muffins could live without raisins, but that would be a culinary travesty.

Side view of hrvest muffin with carrots and apples in the rear

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

Close up of split Harvest Muffin on butter paddle

Big Batch Whole Wheat Harvest Muffins

Author: Julie Menghini
Big Batch Whole Wheat Harvest Muffins are warm, tender and delicious.  They’ll feed a crowd and freeze well making them a perfect make-ahead anytime muffin.
5 from 11 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Bread, Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword: Harvest Muffin
Servings: 36 muffins

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1-1/2 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp cloves
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup butter unsalted, melted
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 cups apples peeled and shredded (3 large apples)
  • 1 cup carrots peeled and shredded (3 large)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup pecans chopped
  • 1/2 cup milk any is fine
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 3 eggs beaten

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 °F.  Grease or line 36 muffin cups with liner papers. 
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and nutmeg.
  • In a separate large bowl add melted butter, vegetable oil, sugars, apples, carrots, raisins, pecans, milk, vanilla, and eggs.
  • Combine both bowls together and stir until just combined.
  • Spoon batter into muffin cups 3/4 full.  Bake for 18-20 minutes, turning pans halfway through baking.  Remove muffins from pans to a cooling rack immediately.
  • Muffins can be frozen in an air-tight container once they’ve cooled completely.

Nutrition

Calories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 261mgPotassium: 121mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 785IUVitamin C: 1.1mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 0.9mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

We are muffin lovers and here are a few more favorite recipes!

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Pinterest collage of Harvest Muffins
5 from 11 votes
Recipe Rating




Shannon

Thursday 20th of July 2023

Delicious! I replaced the raisins with dates and sprinkled some oats on the top.

Julie Menghini

Friday 21st of July 2023

I love dates, Shannon! I'm glad you enjoyed these delicious muffins.

W Gedye

Friday 22nd of November 2019

Harvest muffins were a big hit with everyone! They were easy to make and freeze well. Just wanted to point out that no where in directions do you tell the novice baker where to add the sugars.

Julie Menghini

Friday 22nd of November 2019

Thank you so much for your comment! I'll definitely update those instructions! I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Alissa

Tuesday 4th of June 2019

would these freeze well? if so for how long?

Julie Menghini

Tuesday 4th of June 2019

They do Alissa! I just put them in an air-tight container or freezer bag. I would use them within a couple months.

Michaela Kenkel

Tuesday 30th of October 2018

what glorious looking muffins you have made!! These are happening at our house for Thanksgiving!

Julie Menghini

Tuesday 30th of October 2018

Thank you Michaela! We really enjoyed these muffins and they would be perfect on Thanksgiving!

Jennifer Stewart

Tuesday 30th of October 2018

I love a muffin recipe that is a big batch and not just 6 muffins! We get hungry in the am and need lots of fuel. Plus these are perfect for Christmas morning when there is a crowd!

Julie Menghini

Tuesday 30th of October 2018

Thank you, Jennifer! This batch kept me going for a long time. Even after sending them to my in-laws and to Johns office!

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