Healthy Chewy Muffin Squares

We made an even easier version of the Dinner Done muffins you love.

I was making muffins. Not just any muffins, but our favorite Whole Wheat Muffins from Dinner Done.

The recipe, by Elky Friedman, health and fitness enthusiast and founder of the Power of Wholesome snack line, is one of our favorite whole wheat muffins ever.

Chances are, they’re also your favorite. 

While we love them fresh, we also like to keep them in the freezer so they’re ready to grab.

But this time that I was preparing them, I didn’t have cupcake liners. I know that I could have sprayed the muffin pan, but I didn’t want to–I prefer when they pop out easily with liners, and I didn’t want the muffin pan mess in the end.

So what did I do?

Pouring oil from a glass measuring cup into a bowl with muffin ingredients. 1 cup measuring cup with chocolate chips nearby.

I doubled the recipe, as I usually do –

Chocolate chips added to the bowl of muffin batter.

all the ingredients come together easily in one bowl –

Pouring the muffin batter onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

and poured the whole batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Use whatever flour you like–whole wheat, white spelt, white whole wheat, regular, they all work. 

Muffin batter on a parchment lined baking sheet.

The batter spreads out really nicely. 

Healthy Chewy Muffin Squares. Baked muffin batter on parchment paper, cut into squares.

But this is where they became something entirely new. Instead of keeping the muffin texture, this time I underbaked them (on purpose!) yielding a soft, chewy granola bar breakfast item instead. 

Closeup of Healthy Chewy Muffin Squares. Baked muffin batter on parchment paper, cut into squares.

Instead of the 20 minutes that muffins normally take to bake, these bars bake in 12-15 minutes (when spread on a baking sheet, they’re also flatter).

Healthy Chewy Muffin Squares in separate Ziploc bags.

Simply cut into squares (we cut them into 24) when they’re ready. You can freeze them in separate Ziplocs once they’re cooled so they’re ready to grab! We found these containers that we talked about in this post perfect to store these.

It’s something that’s familiar and comforting–but also new and fun at the same time.

(Below you will find the original recipe but doubled to accomodate one standard size baking sheet (approx 12″x18″). The baking time has changed as well with this baking method.)

Closeup of Healthy Chewy Muffin Squares. Baked muffin batter on parchment paper, cut into squares.
Print Recipe
4.50 from 4 votes

Healthy Chewy Muffin Squares

Ingredients

  • 2 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 2 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1 cup honey
  • 2 eggs
  • cup cup oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a bowl, combine flour, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add applesauce, honey, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Pour batter onto baking sheet; bake for 12-15 minutes, until top is just set.
header between carpools logo

Shaindy Menzer

Shaindy, a graphic and web designer, is the creative mind and designer behind multiple brands. It’s her artistic vision that results in the beautiful aesthetic and flawless design of this site.

43 responses to “Healthy Chewy Muffin Squares”

  1. Lgr Avatar
    Lgr

    What size baking sheet?

    1. Shaindy Menzer Avatar
      Shaindy Menzer

      Standard size Sheet Pan 12″x 18″ (approx) fits one of this recipe above. To clarify, the recipe above is the same recipe as this post: My Favorite Whole Wheat Oat Muffins but this one is already doubled. Hope this helps.

      1. Anon Avatar
        Anon

        Meaning the “big sheet” you guys always recommend, not a regular cookie sheet

        1. Shaindy Menzer Avatar
          Shaindy Menzer

          I am sorry, originally we stated it is a large baking sheet, but its actually a Standard size Sheet Pan 12″x 18″ (approx) that fits this above recipe.

          The recipe above is the same recipe as this post: My Favorite Whole Wheat Oat Muffins but this one is already doubled. Hope this helps.

      2. Sara Avatar
        Sara

        It’s not clear from the instructions that this recipe needs to be doubled to bake on a large baking sheet.

        1. Shaindy Menzer Avatar
          Shaindy Menzer

          I am sorry, originally we stated it is a large baking sheet, but its actually a Standard size Sheet Pan 12″x 18″ (approx) that fits this above recipe.

          The recipe above is the same recipe as this post: My Favorite Whole Wheat Oat Muffins but this one is already doubled. Hope this helps.

      3. Mindy Avatar
        Mindy

        Can you please clarify, it’s a little confusing from this answer and another further down:
        This recipe as posted, needs the large baking sheet? Or only when you double this recipe (which would fit on a regular baking sheet) do you need the large one?
        And someone else said they do it in a 9×13… ?

        1. Shaindy Menzer Avatar
          Shaindy Menzer

          One recipe will fit a standard size baking sheet approximatly 12″x18″.
          For the Large Baking sheet it would need to be doubled.

  2. chaya Avatar
    chaya

    Looks great! Cant wait to try! Where are the containers from?

    1. Shaindy Menzer Avatar
      Shaindy Menzer

      These are the containers. https://amzn.to/4cWCG0o

      1. SY Avatar
        SY

        If I want to bake this on a disposable cookie sheet, how long would it take bake it for?

  3. Gitty Avatar
    Gitty

    It’s in the oven! Btw one cup Applesauce is exactly two 4 oz Applesauce cups so that was convenient

    1. Gitty Avatar
      Gitty

      UPDATE they came out yummy I baked them in a 10×15 pyrex and they definitely needed a full 20 minutes plus. I think they might have done better with whole wheat flour vs all purpose but I guess I’ll only know if I try again with WW

  4. Rivka Avatar
    Rivka

    Double recipe is 2 cookie sheets?

    1. Shaindy Menzer Avatar
      Shaindy Menzer

      Sorry I am going to clarify. The above recipe is basically the same as a previous recipe, we just DOUBLED IT for this baking method to fit on one regular size bakign sheet (approx 12″x18″)
      So ONE of the above recipe will fit ONE baking sheet. Hope this helps.

  5. C Avatar
    C

    Where can I buy the container?

    1. Shaindy Menzer Avatar
      Shaindy Menzer

      These are the containers. https://amzn.to/4cWCG0o

  6. Tzivia Nyer Avatar
    Tzivia Nyer

    Can I substitute blueberries for chocolate chips? Thank you

    1. Shaindy Menzer Avatar
      Shaindy Menzer

      We’ve never tried but it should be delicious! Let us know.

      1. Yocheved Avatar
        Yocheved

        I do it with blueberries and my kids love them! My son grabs one out of the freezer every morning to eat by the bus stop. Thank you so much for making my mornings easier!

  7. Miriam Avatar
    Miriam

    I’ve been baking a single batch of this recipe in a 9×13 since the cookbook hit our home! I even mix it straight in the 9×13 pan- it totally works. I’ve tried underbaking and overbaking and regular baking and all ways it’s delicious!

  8. Jenny Avatar
    Jenny

    love these muffins from the cookbook, excited to try this version!

  9. Giti Avatar
    Giti

    Can I divide batter and bake on 2 cookie sheet trays? I don’t have such a large baking tray.

    1. Shaindy Menzer Avatar
      Shaindy Menzer

      clarifying that the above recipe fits on a STANDARD size baking sheet, you do not need a large size.

  10. Lea Avatar
    Lea

    I bake these muffins every 2 weeks on repeat… HEAVEN!!
    Excited to try this.
    Something I like to add- whenever I have an extra carrot I shred it and add it in. Adds moisture and a healthy twist without changing the taste.

  11. Tzippy Avatar
    Tzippy

    I’ve been baking these muffins for years, my family eats them daily, I 8 times the recipe and add flax and chia seeds as well, I keep it in the freezer and it lasts us about a month, they’re delicious for breakfast, snack and an afternoon power boost, thanks for a great recipe!

    1. Dina Avatar
      Dina

      How much flax and chia do you add and do you modify anything else because of it? Flax and chia both absorb liquids so is it dry?

      1. Shifra Malamud Avatar
        Shifra Malamud

        I would love to know this as well

  12. Leah Avatar
    Leah

    Love this!! i make these muffins all the time for the freezer and this was a fun way to change things up:) I used a big foil cooking sheet and they needed more like 17 minutes for the middle to be set but then I cut them into squares and packaged in little bags to grab for lunch snacks

  13. leah Avatar
    leah

    Slightly off-topic – Walmart square snack bags would be a better size for these – and so many other items as well

  14. Ms Avatar
    Ms

    5 stars
    Stop what you’re doing and go make these! We love the muffins, but these are sooooooo much easier!!!!

  15. miriam Avatar
    miriam

    substitute the applesauce in this recipe for 2-3 bananas for an amazing banana muffin

  16. RS Avatar
    RS

    Amazing recipe! Delicious!! I think comes out less dense than when made as muffins… – Thank you!

  17. TM Avatar
    TM

    3 stars
    Came out very mushy, not sure it I underbaked them… but left them in the oven for over25 minutes and they still fee like they are row.

  18. Mindee Avatar
    Mindee

    will it be good with regular white all purpose flour?

  19. Tzipory Avatar
    Tzipory

    5 stars
    This recipe is a repeat in our house!
    We love them and it’s much easier to grab and eat in the morning than the cupcakes.
    I do bake them for at least 20 minutes, if I take them out after the recommended 12-15 min it’s very underbaked on the center

  20. NM Avatar
    NM

    Looks yum! Could white spelt be used, or would that not work with this recipe?

  21. Ilana Avatar
    Ilana

    Has anyone tried using almond flour for these, would that work?

    1. Meira Avatar
      Meira

      Yes! i use 1 cup almonf flour and 1 cup regualr. I keep in freezer and they arev amazing

  22. Nechama Avatar
    Nechama

    We listened to the comments and added 3 TB of chia seeds for some extra fiber… they are delicious! My kids give me notice when we’re running low cuz it’s all they eat for breakfast!

  23. Rikki Avatar
    Rikki

    5 stars
    These work like a charm and taste like a dream! I also added in some craisins. Thank you so much for this idea!

  24. Sy Avatar
    Sy

    If I want to bake this on a disposable cookie sheet, how long would it take bake it for?

  25. BG H Avatar
    BG H

    Can this be made with regular oats not instant? Thank you looks amazing

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Contact Us

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FREE GIFT!

Close the CTA

Get our BCP Lifepages Planner by signing up to our email list!