Healthy banana muffins made with wholesome ingredients and dark chocolate chunks. Perfectly domed muffins that are soft and made in one-bowl. You and your family will love making these easy banana muffins!
There’s no doubt that I’m obsessed with bananas. Whenever I have leftover bananas, I get excited because I know baked goods are coming soon. My freezer is legit always full of bananas. So with that in mind, I made these healthy banana muffins with chocolate chunks for you/us!
For these healthy banana muffins, I really wanted to do the following:
- Use whole wheat pastry flour
- Add collagen peptides protein powder
- Keep them refined sugar-free
- Get those pretty domed muffin tops because hell yes!
And I did just that! Let me walk you through the whole process.
How To Make Healthy Banana Muffins
First things first, we make the batter. You mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients in a bowl then you have to let it rest for 1 hour, covered, at room temperature.
I KNOW, I KNOW. Ain’t nobody got time for that but hear me out. The key to getting those pretty domed muffin tops is to 2 things:
- letting the batter rest for 1 hour at room temperature.
- preheating the oven at a high temperature and immediately reducing the heat once the muffins are in the oven.
TRUST ME.
After 1 hour, transfer the batter to a prepared muffin tin. I highly recommend this nonstick muffin pan from OXO. Nothing ever sticks to it! I’ve made my egg muffin cups and my cashew butter granola cups and, cleanup is always a breeze.
How do you get muffins to rise high?
Once you’re ready to bake the muffins, preheat the oven at 425ºF. As soon as you place the muffin pan in the oven, immediately reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. The initial high heat activates the leaveners (baking soda and baking powder) to create those pretty high domed muffins!
Ahh, my favorite part of this recipe. Don’t they look beautiful!?
Make sure to not open the oven until the very end so they bake evenly and perfectly.
The result is banana muffins that are moist, soft, fluffy, perfectly sweetened, intense banana flavor with bits of chocolatey goodness and pretty domed muffin tops! Can’t get any better than that.
These banana muffins last up to 3 months in an airtight container or resealable bag in the freezer. All you gotta do is pop one in the microwave for 30-45 seconds to heat up. Thank me later.
Now, it’s your turn to make these perfect chocolate chip banana muffins. I hope you make them and LOVE them!
Healthy Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chunks
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 1/4 cup sweetener of your choice (coconut sugar, maple syrup, agave)
- 1/3 cup neutral oil (coconut oil (melted and cooled), grapeseed oil, avocado oil)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (or chopped dark chocolate)
OPTIONAL
- 2 scoops collagen peptides protein powder OR regular vanilla protein powder
Instructions
- In a bowl, add bananas, sweetener, oil, milk, vanilla extract and eggs. Mix until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Add the flour, protein powder (if using), baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix until *just* combined. Do not over mix or you risk them coming out too dense. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let the mixture rest for at least 1 hour. If you want to get those pretty domes, do not skip this step.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
- Divide batter evenly into the prepared muffin tin, filling each muffin cup almost to the top.
- Place the muffin tin in the oven and immediately turn down the heat to 350 degrees F. The initial high heat activates the leaveners (baking soda/powder) to create those pretty domed muffins.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until tooth pick inserted in the muffins comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes then serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Originally posted in April 2017; Updated photos + improved the recipe in April 2019.
Kristine says
If you don’t add the protein powder, do you have to change anything? I don’t have any!
Jamie Silva says
Nope! It will not affect the flavor either. :)
Jericho says
These were so good! I didn’t have whole wheat flour, so I substituted 1/2 white and 1/2 almond flour. Definitely will make again!
Stephanie says
I was excited to find this recipe because of the protein powder addition! Be sure to note that when adding flour to add the protein powder as well :)
I made a few changes just because of what I had in. I used almond extract instead of vanilla and I used pure maple syrup instead honey. I also made them as mini muffins and they look about 14 minutes for 24 muffins. They were delicious!! Love a healthy treat! Thanks for the recipe!
Kimberly says
I have made these about 5 times now and they are the most requested muffin from my kids! We absolutely love these! I substitute 1 1/4 cups white flour for wheat – just preference – and they turn out perfect! The more ripe the banana the better this muffin is! Thank you for such a great recipe.
Jamie Silva says
This made my day! Thank you! So glad you love them! :)
Erica says
Yay! I love quick muffins that are healthier, also. Never thought to add protein powder, great idea!
Jamie Silva says
Thank you Erica!!
The Polished Pursuit says
Dude, these actually made my mouth water. They look sooooo amazing!!!!
Jamie Silva says
Thank you!!!
Alison @ The Sunday Glutton says
Yay! I have 8 ripe bananas in my fridge as I type, so I know what I’ll be making this weekend. I love the addition of protein powder – helps boost nutrition and makes them even more filling!
Jamie Silva says
Yesss! Hope you LOVE them! :)