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December 19, 2020 By Nicky 36 Comments

Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce & Oats + Add-Ins

Little Family Adventure sometimes receives compensation and/or hosted travel and sample products related to blog posts. This story may contain affiliate links.

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healthy banana muffins on cooling rack
banana and oat muffins in tin
banana muffins
banana muffins
banana oatmeal muffins

Muffins, in my opinion, are basically just cupcakes without frosting. Yet, these fluffy, moist banana oatmeal muffins are healthier than most with white whole wheat flour, rolled oats, and applesauce. They are an easy way to start your day on a healthy note! I’ve included this easy recipe that my kids love and included a few mix-ins ideas including nuts, chocolate, and/or berries. 

Banana Oatmeal Muffins on a cooling rack

The Best Banana Oat Muffins

Hands down, banana oatmeal muffins are my favorite. It’s like a bit-sized piece of my banana bread, just better. This healthy recipe combined nutrition packed ingredients like whole grains, fruit, and nuts (when added in). I’ve cut out some of the fat by using unsweetened applesauce for the egg and decreased the amount of butter. 

Banana Oatmeal Muffin with a soft moist center

Muffins make the perfect portable breakfast. Whether you are at home, camping, or traveling, muffins can be enjoyed anywhere you are. Plus they freeze really well, so you can make them ahead of time in larger batches. 

How ripe should your bananas be for bread & muffins?

Using really ripe bananas helps you cut down on the added sugar or sweetener you need in a recipe. I think that is the trick to making these banana bread and/or muffins healthier. REALLY ripe bananas are those that have brown spots and have softened a bit. At this stage, all those natural sugars have intensified and make whatever you are baking naturally sweet. 

ripe bananas next to baking ingredients

Here’s a tip for always having perfect bananas for banana bread or muffins. When your bananas get to the really ripe stage. Unpeel them and freeze them for later use. I like to slice them in half or several pieces and store in freezer bags. This way, I can pull exactly what I need and they thaw quickly. If left frozen,  they can also be used for smoothies or dairy free ice cream like this Blackberry Banana Ice Cream.

banana oatmeal muffins on a cooling rack

Muffin Add-Ins

It is really easy to customize this healthy banana muffin recipe with a little of this or that. Below, I’ve listed a few add-in or mix-in ideas for you. 

  • Banana nut muffins – fold in ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • Banana cinnamon muffins – fold in 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • Banana chocolate chip muffins – fold in ½ cup milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Banana blueberry muffins – fold in ¼ cup thawed frozen blueberries
  • For extra texture and Omega 3s – add 1 tablespoon flaxseed to dry ingredients and ½ teaspoon water to wet ingredients
Banana Oatmeal muffins in a muffin tin

How to Make Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Here’s what you’ll need: 

  • 1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 bananas) plus 1 banana cut into 12 slices for garnish
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce 
  • 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup cane sugar + 1 Tablespoon for sprinkling on muffin tops
  • 1 ½  cup white whole wheat flour – you can also use all-purpose flour if needed
  • ½  cup rolled oats 
  • 1 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
banana muffins on plate

Here’s how to make them – step by step

  • Preheat the oven to 350˚F. 
  • Line muffin tin with paper liners or silicone muffin cups. 
  • In a large mixing bowl, mash up 2 bananas with a fork. This should equal about 1 cup of mashed banana. 
  • Add unsweetened applesauce, melted butter, and vanilla extract to the mashed up banana. Mix well to combine. 
  • Next, add 1/2 cup cane sugar, white whole wheat flour, rolled oats, flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg to the banana mixture. Mix just until combined.
  • If you would like to add in a mix-in, fold that in now. 
  • Scoop batter into 12 prepared/lined muffin cups. 
  • Sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of sugar over the batter and top each muffin with a slice of banana. 
  • Place in a preheated oven and bake for 16-18 minutes or until toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving. 
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months.

Want more muffin recipes? Try these:

  • Healthy Recipe for Apple Muffins with Walnuts
  • Snickerdoodle Muffins Recipe with Streusel Crumble Topping
  • Cake Doughnut Muffins
Continue to Content
Yield: 12 muffins

Healthy Banana Muffins with Oats & Applesauce

banana oatmeal muffins on a cooling rack
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 21 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 bananas) plus 1 banana cut into 12 slices for garnish
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup cane sugar + 1 Tablespoon for sprinkling on muffin tops
  • 1 ½ cup white whole wheat flour - you can also use all-purpose flour if needed
  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
  2. Line muffin tin with paper liners or silicone muffin cups.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, mash up 2 bananas with a fork. This should equal about 1 cup of mashed banana.
  4. Add unsweetened applesauce, melted butter, and vanilla extract to the mashed up banana. Mix well to combine.
  5. Next, add 1/2 cup cane sugar, white whole wheat flour, rolled oats, flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg to the banana mixture. Mix just until combined.
  6. If you would like to add in a mix-in, fold that in now.
  7. Scoop batter into 12 prepared/lined muffin cups.
  8. Sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of sugar over the batter and top each muffin with a slice of banana.
  9. Place in a preheated oven and bake for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
  10. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving.
  11. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Here are a few mix-in ideas:
Banana nut muffins - fold in ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Banana cinnamon muffins - add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon when you add dry ingredients
Banana chocolate chip muffins - fold in ½ cup milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Banana blueberry muffins - fold in ¼ cup thawed frozen blueberries
For extra texture and Omega 3s - add 1 tablespoon flaxseed to dry ingredients and ½ teaspoon water to wet ingredients

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Stasher 100% Silicone Reusable Food Bags
    Stasher 100% Silicone Reusable Food Bags
  • KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers
    KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers
  • Cupcake Baking Cups Liners - 24ct
    Cupcake Baking Cups Liners - 24ct

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1 muffin

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 230Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 267mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 3gSugar: 14gProtein: 4g
© LittleFamilyAdventure.com
Cuisine: Vegan

banana muffins

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: baking, breakfasts

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About Nicky

Nicky Omohundro is a travel and active family lifestyle blogger and social media influencer based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She shares stories, destinations, and ideas on food, family, health, and outdoor recreation to help families find their own adventures. Her spirit animal is a caffeinated squirrel fueled by coffee, real food, and the desire to seek new adventures.

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Comments

  1. blankRyan Biddulph says

    April 22, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    Banana nut is about my fave too Nicky. Glorious, just glorious. I noted to my wife when reading this post how vegan desserts seem the best on earth to me. No joke. The quality of ingredients and vegan nature create tasty and incredibly filling deals. Thanks for the rocking recipe buddy.

    Ryan

    Reply
  2. blankLori Rasmussen-Murray says

    April 23, 2018 at 12:30 pm

    I love blueberry muffins!

    Reply
  3. blankJeffrey says

    April 24, 2018 at 4:54 pm

    My favorite muffin flavor is apple cinnamon.

    Reply
  4. blankbn100 says

    April 24, 2018 at 9:31 pm

    blueberry

    Reply
  5. blankJenna Hudson says

    April 28, 2018 at 4:34 pm

    I love banana or chocolate chip muffins!

    Reply
  6. blankCheryl B says

    April 29, 2018 at 8:00 am

    I love banana nut or blueberry muffins.

    Reply
  7. blankChristina Gould says

    April 29, 2018 at 8:01 am

    My favorite muffin flavor is blueberry. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  8. blankEmily says

    April 29, 2018 at 6:29 pm

    The muffins look tasty! Good healthy substitute option.

    Reply
  9. blankEmily says

    April 29, 2018 at 6:30 pm

    My favorite flavor is double chocolate!

    Reply
  10. blankAntoinette M says

    April 30, 2018 at 10:42 am

    I love orange/cranberry muffins.

    Reply
  11. blankKristie says

    April 30, 2018 at 8:58 pm

    My favorite muffin flavor is chocolate chip please. Or any flavor with chocolate! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Spring!

    Reply
  12. blankDarlene Carbajal says

    May 1, 2018 at 2:34 pm

    Chocolate chip and blueberry muffins are my fave!

    Reply
  13. blankMary says

    May 1, 2018 at 5:04 pm

    I like blueberry muffins

    Reply
  14. blankJudy R Eudakis says

    May 1, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    Blueberry are my favorite.

    Reply
  15. blankLaurie says

    May 2, 2018 at 5:36 pm

    I love banana nut muffins

    Reply
  16. blankYona Williams says

    May 2, 2018 at 6:49 pm

    I love banana nut muffins.

    Reply
  17. blankheather says

    May 2, 2018 at 8:25 pm

    My favorite muffin flavor is blueberry.

    Reply
  18. blankDarlene Owen says

    May 2, 2018 at 8:58 pm

    My favorite is blueberry muffins.

    Reply
  19. blankHelga says

    May 3, 2018 at 10:06 am

    My favorite muffin is blueberry.

    Reply
  20. blankMichelle J. says

    May 3, 2018 at 1:17 pm

    I love crumb cake muffins!

    Reply
  21. blankNicole Lancaster says

    May 3, 2018 at 10:48 pm

    My favorite muffin flavor is Blueberry !

    Reply
  22. blankMarij says

    May 4, 2018 at 7:57 am

    Huckleberry is my favorite.

    Reply
  23. blankKelly McGrew says

    May 4, 2018 at 8:09 am

    I like cinnamon brown sugar crumb topping coffee cake muffins!

    Reply
  24. blankSunnie says

    May 4, 2018 at 9:47 pm

    I like blueberry muffins.

    Reply
  25. blankMaryann D. says

    May 5, 2018 at 6:38 am

    I enjoy chocolate chip muffins or pumpkin flavored muffins.

    Reply
  26. blankJill Rivera says

    May 5, 2018 at 5:23 pm

    I love pumpkin muffins.

    Reply
  27. blankNikki says

    May 7, 2018 at 8:55 pm

    Blueberry muffins are my favorite!

    Reply
  28. blankLeela says

    May 8, 2018 at 1:07 pm

    I love blueberry muffins.

    Reply
  29. blankJackie says

    May 8, 2018 at 5:42 pm

    My favorite muffin flavor is banana.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  30. blankTara L says

    May 10, 2018 at 9:26 pm

    I’d have to say Chocolate Chip muffin is really good.

    Reply
  31. blankMissy says

    May 11, 2018 at 9:23 am

    I love blueberry with lemon muffins.

    Reply
  32. blankLindsay A. says

    May 12, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    Ahhh, so hard to choose my favorite muffin flavor! 🙂 I’d have to say blackberry!

    Reply
  33. blankChristina Almond says

    May 13, 2018 at 1:27 am

    I definitely love blueberry muffins–a classic but so good!

    Reply
  34. blankRust says

    May 13, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    Blueberry muffins are my favorite.

    Reply
  35. blankLaurie Emerson says

    May 13, 2018 at 8:48 pm

    My favorite muffin flavor is blueberry.

    Reply
  36. blankVikki Billings says

    May 13, 2018 at 10:39 pm

    My favorites are Banana nut and chocolate chip.

    Reply

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