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Start your day with bite-sized bliss: these Mini Banana Muffins are a healthy snack that tastes like your favorite banana bread but in a perfectly portable treat.
Let me explain why these little wonders have stolen my heart—and hopefully yours, too. Imagine ripe bananas mashed into a tender crumb, sweetened just right without tons of sugar, and baked in a mini tin so you can pop them in lunchboxes or enjoy breakfast on-the-go. As a busy 50-year-old mom who juggles school carpools, Zoom meetings, and touring local farmer’s markets, I’m always on the hunt for a healthy snack that travels well—and these mini banana muffins fit the bill beautifully.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Portable Treats: Perfect for tossing into backpacks or taking on road trips.
- Healthy Snack: Whole-grain flour and ripe bananas give you fiber and natural sweetness.
- Kid-Approved: Bite-sized and fun—little hands love mini muffins.
- Banana Bread Vibes: All the cozy taste of banana bread, in a quicker bake.
- Breakfast On-The-Go: Ready in just 25 minutes, so you never skip the most important meal.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Bake a batch on Sunday, freeze extras, reheat all week.
- Customizable: Stir in nuts, chocolate chips or berries for endless flavor swaps.
Ingredients
• 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour (or King Arthur White Whole Wheat for a lighter crumb)
• 1 tsp baking powder (aluminum-free)
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp fine sea salt
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional, but adds warm spice)
• 2 large very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup; look for lots of brown spots)
• ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt (whole milk brand for extra creaminess)
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup or honey (for natural sweetness)
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 2 tbsp light olive oil or melted coconut oil (keeps them moist)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Tips on ingredients:
• Bananas: The riper, the sweeter—brown-spotted fruit is your friend.
• Flour swap: Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free flour works great, just add an extra egg white for structure.
• Yogurt: Use plant-based yogurt in a 1:1 ratio for a dairy-free twist.
Directions
- Preheat & Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan (or line with mini papers). Having a quality nonstick pan, like Wilton’s mini pan, helps the muffins slide out effortlessly. - Whisk Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until evenly blended—this gives you even leavening. - Mix Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, mash the bananas until mostly smooth, then stir in Greek yogurt, maple syrup, egg, oil, and vanilla. Scrape the sides so everything combines evenly. - Combine & Fold
Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, folding gently with a spatula until no streaks of flour remain. Overmixing can make muffins tough—stop once it’s just combined. - Fill Muffin Cups
Using a small cookie scoop or two teaspoons, fill each mini well about two-thirds full. This trick keeps them uniformly sized and fluffy. - Bake & Watch
Place in the oven and bake for 12–14 minutes, rotating halfway through to ensure even browning. Look for golden tops and a toothpick coming out with a few moist crumbs. - Cool & Enjoy
Let the muffins rest in the pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. They finish baking as they cool, giving you that perfect springy texture.
Servings & Timing
Makes 24 mini muffins
Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 5 minutes for banana mashing)
Bake Time: 12–14 minutes
Total Time: 25–30 minutes
Variations
• Chocolate Chip Banana Minis: Fold in ¼ cup dark chocolate chunks.
• Nutty Banana Crunch: Stir 2 tbsp chopped walnuts into the batter.
• Berry Burst: Gently fold in ¼ cup fresh blueberries for a tangy pop.
• Peanut Butter Swirl: Dollop 2 tbsp peanut butter into each cup before baking.
• Lemon-Banana Twist: Add 1 tsp lemon zest and swap yogurt for ricotta.
• Vegan Version: Replace egg with flax “egg” (1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 3 tbsp water).
Storage & Reheating
• Room Temp: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• Refrigerator: Keeps fresh for 4–5 days; bring to room temp before serving.
• Freezer: Freeze in a zip-lock bag, separating layers with parchment, for up to 3 months.
• To Reheat: Microwave one muffin on high for 12–15 seconds (or thaw overnight and warm at 300°F for 5 minutes).
• Make-Ahead Tip: Bake on Sunday, freeze by mid-week to keep weekday breakfasts stress-free.
Notes
• I tested these muffins in three different pans—silicone, aluminum, and nonstick—and the nonstick gave the nicest domes.
• If your bananas aren’t super ripe, pop them in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes to speed up softening.
• For an extra boost of fiber, stir in a tablespoon of chia seeds—just note they’ll thicken the batter.
• Texture tweak: If you like them denser, reduce yogurt by 1 tbsp; for lighter crumb, add 1 tbsp milk.
FAQs
Q: Can I use all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat?
A: Absolutely—swap 1:1, though you might lose a touch of fiber; your muffins will be lighter in color.
Q: My muffins stuck in the pan—help!
A: Try lining cups with mini liners, give your pan a gentle spray, and wait a minute before unmolding.
Q: Can I make these as regular-sized muffins?
A: Yes—bake at 350°F for 18–20 minutes; watch the tops so they don’t overbrown.
Q: How do I know when they’re done?
A: A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with a few damp crumbs, not wet batter.
Q: Are these vegan?
A: Use a flax egg and coconut yogurt, and swap honey for maple syrup to keep them vegan-friendly.
Q: What’s the best way to mash bananas?
A: A fork works fine, but an immersion blender gives you a super-smooth texture if you prefer.
Q: Can I halve the recipe?
A: Yes—all measurements scale in half nicely; you’ll fill about 12 mini cups.
Q: Any tip for evenly sized muffins?
A: A small cookie scoop or dipper ensures consistent portions and uniform bake times.
Conclusion
From weekday breakfasts to after-school snacks, these Mini Banana Muffins deliver portable goodness and all the classic banana bread flavor—without the fuss. Give them a try, drop a comment with your favorite twist, and don’t forget to explore my Banana Oatmeal Muffins for more on-the-go inspiration!
Mini Banana Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 tsp baking powder (aluminum-free)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional, but adds warm spice)
- 2 large very ripe bananas mashed (about 1 cup) (look for lots of brown spots)
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt (whole milk brand for extra creaminess)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup or honey (for natural sweetness)
- 1 large egg (at room temperature)
- 2 tbsp light olive oil or melted coconut oil (keeps them moist)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan (or line with mini papers).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until evenly blended.
- In a separate bowl, mash the bananas until mostly smooth, then stir in Greek yogurt, maple syrup, egg, oil, and vanilla.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, folding gently with a spatula until no streaks of flour remain.
- Using a small cookie scoop or two teaspoons, fill each mini well about two-thirds full.
- Place in the oven and bake for 12–14 minutes, rotating halfway through to ensure even browning.
- Let the muffins rest in the pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes
• Flour swap: Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free flour works great, just add an extra egg white for structure.
• Yogurt: Use plant-based yogurt in a 1:1 ratio for a dairy-free twist.
