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Easy Bento Box Cold Lunch with Apple Cinnamon Muffins

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A make-ahead cold lunch featuring tender apple cinnamon muffins paired with protein, cheese, veggies, fruit, and dip. Perfect for busy weeks, no reheating required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • ⅓ cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large apple, peeled and finely diced
  • 2–3 ounces protein (sliced turkey, ham, rotisserie chicken, or hard-boiled eggs)
  • ¼ cup cheese cubes or slices
  • ½ cup fresh veggies (baby carrots, cucumber rounds, cherry tomatoes, snap peas)
  • ¼ cup fresh fruit (apple slices, grapes, berries, or clementine segments)
  • 1–2 tablespoons dip (hummus, ranch, or yogurt-based dressing)
  • 1 apple cinnamon muffin, cooled completely

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or grease each cup.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk egg, vegetable oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth and slightly pale, about 30 seconds.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir with a rubber spatula until just combined—do not overmix.
  5. Fold in diced apple gently. Batter will be thick and chunky.
  6. Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full.
  7. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Let muffins cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. To assemble bento box: Start with protein. Roll up sliced turkey or ham into small pinwheels.
  10. Add cheese cubes or slices to one compartment.
  11. Fill another compartment with fresh veggies.
  12. Add fresh fruit to a separate compartment. If using apple slices, toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
  13. Place a small container of dip in the box.
  14. Add one fully cooled apple cinnamon muffin.

Notes

Muffins stay moist for days and taste even better on day two. Freeze extras individually for up to 3 months. Pack dip separately to prevent sogginess. Dice apple into ¼-inch cubes to avoid gummy pockets. Room temperature ingredients ensure tender muffins.

Nutrition

Keywords: bento box, cold lunch, apple cinnamon muffins, make-ahead lunch, kid-friendly lunch, no-reheat lunch

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/easy-bento-box-cold-lunch-with-apple-cinnamon-muffins/