Air Fryer Morning Glory Muffins (Moist + Easy)

These air fryer morning glory muffins are everything I want in a make-ahead breakfast — moist, lightly sweet, and absolutely packed with grated carrot, diced apple, raisins, coconut, and walnuts. They cook in just 12 to 15 minutes, with no oven to preheat and no heating up the kitchen.

I’ve made a lot of air fryer muffin recipes over the years, and this is the one I come back to when I want something that actually keeps me full past 9 a.m. Two whole cups of fruit and vegetables go into one batch, and swapping half the oil for unsweetened applesauce keeps them tender without making them heavy.

I’m not a morning person — never have been. So a muffin I can bake on Sunday, stash in a container, and grab all week is my kind of breakfast.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• No oven required. The air fryer bakes these evenly in about 12 minutes — perfect for summer, small kitchens, or RVs.
• A full serving of fruit and veg in every batch. Carrots, apple, raisins, and coconut, plus whole wheat flour and oats for 4 grams of fiber per muffin.
• Naturally lower in sugar. Applesauce replaces part of the sugar and oil, so each muffin comes in at 251 calories.
• Freezer-friendly. They keep for 2 to 3 months frozen, and reheat in the air fryer in minutes.

What Are Morning Glory Muffins?

Morning glory muffins are hearty breakfast muffins loaded with grated carrots, apple, raisins, coconut, and nuts, usually made with whole wheat flour and warm spices like cinnamon and ginger. Think of them as carrot cake’s wholesome cousin — all the flavor, built for breakfast.

They have a real origin story, too. Chef Pam McKinstry created them in 1978 at her Morning Glory Café on Nantucket, and after Gourmet magazine published the recipe in 1981, it became one of the magazine’s most requested recipes ever. Her original version included crushed pineapple, which still makes a great addition — I’ve included it in the variations below.

Ingredients Needed

The full measurements are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, along with the nutrition information.

• Whole wheat flour: I use whole wheat pastry flour, which keeps the crumb tender. Regular whole wheat works, and all-purpose can be swapped 1:1 if that’s what you have.
• Old-fashioned rolled oats: These add a hearty, bakery-style texture. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed — just note the flour would also need a GF swap.
• Baking soda + baking powder: You need both here; the batter is heavy with mix-ins, and the pair gives the muffins their lift.
• Eggs: Two large eggs, at room temperature so they blend smoothly into the batter.
• Granulated sugar: Half a cup is all it takes, because the applesauce, apple, raisins, and carrots bring natural sweetness. Light brown sugar works for a deeper, molasses-y flavor.
• Unsweetened applesauce: My favorite trick — it replaces part of the oil and sugar while keeping the muffins moist.
• Oil: Canola, avocado, or grapeseed all work. You only need 1/4 cup.
• Apple: One large apple, peeled and diced small. Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith all hold up well.
• Carrots: Two medium carrots, grated on the fine side of a box grater so they soften fully as the muffins bake.
• Raisins, shredded coconut, and walnuts: The classic morning glory trio. Sliced almonds work in place of walnuts, or leave the nuts out entirely for a nut-free batch.
• Spices: Ground cinnamon, ground ginger, vanilla extract, and salt.

How To Cook Morning Glory Muffins In The Air Fryer

Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, rolled oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.

Step 2: In a second bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, applesauce, oil, and vanilla until smooth and fully combined.

Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until just combined — a few streaks of flour are fine. Fold in the diced apple, grated carrots, raisins, coconut, and walnuts. Don’t overmix; that’s what keeps the muffins tender.

Step 4: Fill silicone muffin cups or lined muffin cups about 2/3 full. Set them into the air fryer basket in a single layer — most basket-style air fryers fit 4 to 6 at a time, so plan on cooking in batches (the batter is fine sitting at room temperature between rounds). Air fry at 320 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool in the cups for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.

Pro Tips

• Use silicone muffin cups or parchment liners. A standard 12-cup metal tin won’t fit in most basket air fryers — individual silicone cups are the easiest workaround and release cleanly every time.
• Grate the carrots finely. Coarse shreds can stay firm in the short cook time; fine shreds melt right into the crumb.
• Check early. Every air fryer runs a little differently, so start testing with a toothpick at the 11 to 12 minute mark.
• Don’t overfill. Two-thirds full gives you a nice dome without batter spilling over the cups.
• Stir gently. Overmixed batter is the number one cause of dense, rubbery muffins.

Oven Directions

No air fryer, or baking for a crowd? Divide the batter into a lined 12-cup muffin tin and bake at 350 degrees F for 18 to 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Variations

• Add pineapple. Fold in 1/2 cup well-drained crushed pineapple, just like the original 1978 Nantucket recipe.
• Swap the raisins. Dried cranberries or chopped dates both work cup-for-cup.
• Brighten it up. A teaspoon of orange zest in the wet ingredients is a classic morning glory touch.
• Make them nut-free. Skip the walnuts and add an extra tablespoon of oats for texture — great for school lunchboxes.
• Prefer a fruitier muffin? My air fryer strawberry muffins use the same easy method with fresh berries.

How to Store Morning Glory Muffins

Cool the muffins completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

To freeze: Freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for 2 to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or on the counter.

To reheat: Pop a muffin back in the air fryer at 300 degrees F for 2 to 3 minutes and it tastes fresh-baked again. The microwave works too — about 15 to 20 seconds.

What to Serve With Them

For a full weekend breakfast, I serve these alongside crispy air fryer breakfast potatoes and something protein-packed like air fryer chorizo egg muffins. If you’re building a brunch spread, air fryer Kodiak cake waffles and air fryer cinnamon raisin scones round things out beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are morning glory muffins healthy?

They’re one of the more nutritious muffins you can make. Each one has 251 calories, 4 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of protein, with real carrots, apple, and raisins in every bite. They do contain sugar and oil — this is still a muffin — but the applesauce swap and whole wheat flour make them far more balanced than a bakery version.

Can I bake these in the oven instead?

Yes — bake at 350 degrees F for 18 to 22 minutes in a lined muffin tin. Full details are in the oven directions above and in the recipe card notes.

What muffin pan fits in an air fryer?

Most basket air fryers won’t fit a standard 12-cup tin. Use individual silicone muffin cups or parchment baking cups set directly in the basket, 4 to 6 at a time. Oven-style air fryers can often fit a small 6-cup tin.

Can I make mini muffins?

Yes. Fill mini silicone cups 2/3 full and air fry at 320 degrees F for 7 to 9 minutes, checking with a toothpick. One batch makes about 30 minis.

Can I make this as a loaf?

It works best in mini loaf pans that fit your air fryer basket. Air fry at 310 degrees F and start checking with a toothpick around 15 minutes — depending on your pan size it may need up to 25.

Can I use all-purpose flour?

Yes, swap it 1:1 for the whole wheat flour. The muffins will be a touch lighter in color and texture.

More Easy Air Fryer Breakfasts

If these become part of your morning rotation, try my air fryer cinnamon sugar English muffins next — and when you want a weekend treat worth lingering over, the air fryer cinnamon roll monkey bread never lasts long in my house.

Made these muffins? Leave a star rating and comment below — I read every one, and your reviews help other readers find the recipe.