Savory Butternut Muffins with Meat Stock Glaze
From one mama to another — feeding a little one well is beautiful, but it's also exhausting. You want nutrient-dense foods that actually support their development and digestion, but you're also managing picky eating, short windows to cook, and possibly your own healing postpartum needs.
These muffins are one of those go-to recipes that check all the boxes.
They’re:
GAPS- and WAPF-aligned
Toddler-approved
Easy for baby-led weaning
Deeply nourishing for moms too
And yes — they taste incredible, especially with that silky meat stock glaze on top.
The Recipe: Savory Butternut Muffins with Meat Stock Glaze
Ingredients:
Muffins:
1 cup cooked and mashed butternut squash
1/4 cup finely minced onion (optional under 10 months)
1 egg yolk (omit whites under 12 months)
2 tbsp coconut flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp ghee or duck fat (melted)
1/2 tsp dried thyme or 1 tsp finely chopped chives
Pinch of sea salt (omit under 12 months)
Glaze:
2 tbsp meat stock (chicken or beef)
1 tsp ghee or tallow
Optional: small pinch of garlic powder or fresh grated garlic
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix all muffin ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Let sit 2–3 minutes for coconut flour to absorb.
Spoon into greased mini muffin tin or silicone cups.
Bake for 18–20 minutes, until tops are firm and edges slightly golden.
While muffins cool, gently warm meat stock and fat together. Whisk in garlic if using.
Brush glaze over warm muffins just before serving.
What Makes This Recipe So Nutrient-Dense?
These muffins may look small, but every ingredient was chosen with purpose. Here’s how each one supports your child’s growing body and brain — and why it matters.
Egg Yolk — Nature’s Brain Builder
Egg yolks are rich in:
Choline: A critical nutrient for memory, focus, language development, and emotional regulation. It’s also essential for helping the body make acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps with muscle control and learning.
Vitamin A (retinol): Needed for vision, immune health, and gut lining integrity.
B Vitamins: Especially B12 and folate, which support energy production and brain development.
Healthy fats: These nourish the developing nervous system and are essential for hormonal balance in postpartum moms.
➡️ Why it matters: Many toddlers and infants are not getting enough choline or fat-soluble vitamins — especially if they’re eating a low-fat or plant-based diet. Egg yolk gives both in an easy-to-digest form.
Butternut Squash — Gentle Carbohydrates + Plant-Based Nutrients
Butternut squash is loaded with:
Beta-carotene: Converts to Vitamin A, which is needed for skin repair, eye development, and immune protection.
Vitamin C: Supports collagen production and iron absorption.
Electrolytes (potassium + magnesium): Help regulate hydration and calm the nervous system.
Soluble fiber: Supports healthy bowel movements and feeds beneficial gut bacteria (without overfeeding yeasts or pathogens like starchier carbs can).
➡️ Why it matters: This is a root vegetable your child’s body can actually use — gentle on the digestive system and rich in color-based antioxidants for cellular repair.
Ghee or Duck Fat — Traditional Fats for Modern Health
These ancestral fats are:
Rich in saturated fat: Crucial for growing brains, strong cell membranes, and healthy hormone production.
High in butyrate: A short-chain fatty acid that feeds the gut lining and calms inflammation.
Loaded with Vitamin K2: This often-missing nutrient helps shuttle calcium into bones and teeth and away from soft tissue. It also supports facial and jaw development, according to Weston A. Price’s research.
➡️ Why it matters: Fat isn’t just fuel. It’s the building block of every cell, nerve, and hormone in your child’s body. Using traditional fats like ghee instead of seed oils creates stronger, more resilient systems — from the inside out.
Coconut Flour — Gentle Fiber & Blood Sugar Support
Coconut flour:
Is low in carbohydrates but high in digestible fiber, helping to slow the release of sugars and maintain steady energy and mood.
Contains lauric acid, a compound also found in breast milk that has antimicrobial and immune-supportive properties.
Is GAPS-legal, meaning it’s well tolerated even by sensitive or healing guts.
➡️ Why it matters: The fiber supports digestion without irritating the gut lining — and it helps little bellies stay full and satisfied.
Meat Stock Glaze — Gut-Healing Gold
This glaze may be optional in flavor — but it’s essential in function.
Meat stock (not bone broth) contains:
Gelatin and collagen: Help “seal and heal” the gut lining, reducing inflammation and allowing better nutrient absorption.
Glycine and proline: Amino acids that support detoxification, liver health, and the building of new tissue (think skin, joints, and the GI tract).
Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus: Crucial for growing bones and calming the nervous system.
➡️ Why it matters: If your baby has eczema, food sensitivities, or irregular digestion, the gut likely needs help. Stock gives it in the most bioavailable, gentle, and natural form.
Why All These Ingredients Work Best Together
Here’s the truth: it’s not about one “superfood.”
It’s about how real, whole foods work in combination to support:
Gut integrity and microbiome development
Nervous system resilience
Mood and sleep regulation
Healthy weight and energy balance
Long-term immune health
This muffin brings together:
Fats for hormone and brain function
Protein and amino acids for tissue repair
Gentle carbs for sustained energy
Vitamins + minerals for immune and skeletal development
All in one hand-held bite. 🙌
For Toddlers Who Are Picky
Even if your child is going through a picky phase or has food texture sensitivities, these muffins are a great option:
Soft and moist, perfect for little mouths
Not overly sweet — helps train the palate to love savory foods
Can be served plain or dipped in yogurt or ghee for extra variety
How to Serve
Infants (BLW): Break into soft strips or small chunks
Toddlers: Serve with ghee, yogurt dip, or soft avocado on the side
Mamas: Pair with a mug of meat stock and fermented veggies for a full meal
Add This to Your Weekly Batch
These freeze beautifully. Bake a batch on the weekend and reheat gently with ghee or meat stock before serving. They also travel well and make an ideal snack on the go.
Want More Recipes Like This?
If you’re loving this kind of traditional, gut-healing food — but want help making it doable week after week — come join us inside the Nourishing Tiny Tummies Membership.
For just $5.99/month (grandfathered in at that special price!), you'll get:
✅ 16 new toddler-friendly recipes each week (GAPS/WAPF inspired)
✅ Mommy & me cooking visuals for hands-on learning
✅ Easy swaps for sensitivities like dairy or egg-free options
✅ A calm, nourishing rhythm for feeding your whole family — without stress
✨ Real food. Real healing. Real mom-life simplicity.