Healthy Banana Chocolate Muffins are made with simple, good-for-you ingredients like oats, bananas, and maple syrup. They’re gluten-free and can easily be made dairy-free & refined-sugar free. Whip up a batch using those brown bananas on your counter for an easy breakfast or healthy snack on the go!
This recipe was originally published in March of 2018, but I just updated it to shorten the recipe steps and to add fresh new photos.
These delicious, chocolatey muffins are made with super simple, wholesome ingredients. Let’s dive right in!
Why you’ll love these Healthy Banana Muffins:
- Moist Banana Muffins – These healthy muffins are rich and moist, with lots of flavor! They’re basically like chocolate banana bread muffins.
- Healthy Recipe – This easy recipe is made with healthy, everyday ingredients, making it a great recipe for a healthy breakfast!
- Chocolate Flavor – Even though this is a fairly healthy recipe, we’re still adding some chocolate in the form of cocoa powder & chocolate chips – after all, we want extra delicious muffins!
Ingredient Overview:
- Bananas – Bananas add natural sweetness to these muffins, along with banana flavor.
- Eggs – Eggs add structure.
- Oats – This recipe doesn’t require any all-purpose flour – just oats! Pulsing them in the food processor first creates oat flour. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you need them. Oats provide plenty of whole grains to this recipe.
- Maple Syrup – Maple syrup adds sweetness without adding refined sugar.
- Chocolate Chips – I definitely recommend using chocolate chips in this recipe, but you can use more or less to fit your preferences.
Ingredient Substitutions:
- Gluten-free – This recipe is naturally gluten-free, just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you have celiac disease.
- Dairy-free – This recipe can easily be made dairy-free with dairy-free milk and chocolate chips.
- Vegan – I *think* flax eggs would work in this recipe but I have not personally tested it.
- Milk – Use whatever type of milk you like – such as dairy milk, oat milk, or almond milk.
How to Make this Healthy Banana Muffin Recipe Step-by-Step:
Step 1: Make Oat Flour. Start by pulsing your oats in a food processor until they’re broken down. Congratulations, you’ve just made your own oat flour!
Step 2: Make the Muffin Batter. Mash your large bananas in a large bowl. Then, add the rest of your ingredients and mix until you have a wet, runny batter. It will not be thick. Stir in your chocolate chips.
Step 3: Bake the Muffins. Divide the muffin batter between your muffin papers, and pop a few extra chocolate chips on top for a very cute finished muffin.
Sprinkle your Healthy Chocolate Banana Muffins with a little flaky sea salt and be sure to dig in while they’re nice and warm from the oven. I like to re-heat leftover muffins as well, to get the chocolate all nice and melty again.
Serving + Storing this Recipe:
This healthy banana muffins recipe will keep nicely for 2-3 days at room temperature, in an airtight container. You can also refrigerate these to give them an even longer life, about 5-7 days.
Expert Success Tips:
- Bake Right Away – Don’t leave the batter to rest on your counter. These are best baked straight away.
- Chocolate Chips – Don’t skip the chocolate chips! But, you can use a little less if you don’t want as much added sugar.
Recipe Variations:
- Chocolate Chips – Use dairy-free chocolate chips if needed, or even mini chocolate chips if desired.
- Mini Muffins – Bake these in a mini muffin pan if desired, reducing the bake time to 6-8 minutes to start, adding more as needed.
Special Tools:
- Cupcake Pan – You’ll need a standard size cupcake or muffin tin for these easy banana muffins. (Affiliate link)
More Breakfast Recipes to Love:
- Bakery-Style Jumbo Blueberry Muffins
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- One-Bowl Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
- Gluten-Free Maple Granola
- Caramelized Pear Oatmeal Bowls
- Healthy Cookie Dough Energy Bites
- Chocolate Granola
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Pumpkin Granola
Did you make this recipe? Snap a photo and leave a comment!
Be sure to follow bluebowlrecipes on instagram and tag #bluebowlrecipes with your photo! You can also post a photo of your recipe to the bluebowlrecipes Facebook page. I’d love to see what you make!
Healthy Banana Chocolate Oat Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 large overripe bananas About 1 cup
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup milk Dairy or non-dairy both work fine
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 and 1/4 cups whole rolled oats, divided
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup chocolate chunks Use dairy-free if needed
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a muffin tin with nonstick spray or line it with muffin papers.
- Make the Oat Flour: Add 1 and 1/4 cups of the whole rolled oats to a food processor, and pulse until they are pulverized and flour-like. You just made oat flour!
- Make the Muffin Batter: Mash your bananas in a large mixing bowl using a fork, until there are no lumps. Add the maple syrup, eggs, milk, and vanilla to the mashed bananas and whisk together until combined. Add the dry ingredients – the oat flour, whole oats, baking powder and soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Whisk until well combined. Stir in the chocolate chunks last.
- Bake: Spoon batter into your muffin cups (I filled each a little more than 3/4 of the way full). Sprinkle some extra chocolate chunks on top before baking, if desired. Bake for 15-18 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin should have some moist crumbs on it but should NOT have wet batter on it.
- Serve + Store: Enjoy while warm from the oven, with a pinch of flaky sea salt. Let leftovers cool and store in an airtight container at room temp fo 2-3 days, or in the fridge for 5-7. Reheat in the microwave for warm muffin goodness.
Notes
Nutrition
Katie says
I made these into little loafs and they were so good! I added some cinnamon and espresso too to switch things up and it was delish! Thanks for the recipe!
Stephanie Simmons says
So glad you liked it, Katie! 🙂
Lauri says
I just made these and they were delicious!! I really like using maple syrup instead of sugar in muffin recipes. Thanks
marilyn @family food around the clock says
I have tried a few banana muffins, so I can’t wait to make these ones. I sounds delicious
Jenn says
Totally stoked and shocked they’re GF, refined sugar free, and oil free! Holy cow! So awesome!
Stephanie Simmons says
I was shocked too, that something lacking all those things could taste so good!! I mean, the chocolate helps! ?
Jenn says
It’s fantastic!
Pam Greer says
These sound delicious! I have been wanting to make some healthier treats! These are perfect!
Stephanie Simmons says
Hope you make and love them! ☺️
Candice says
Perfect way to ease my daughter back into healthy eating after an indulgent Easter weekend 🙂
Stephanie Simmons says
Absolutely! ❤️
melve says
Funtastic! I love muffins, we love muffins, but I would love to try these Simple and healthy muffins you made with bananas, chocolate chips, and oats! Sounds delicious.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you! Hope you love them ?
Heather says
These muffins combine three of my favorite things…chocolate, bananas and oats! I can’t wait to try them! I am also sooo happy that they are gluten free, just perfect for me 🙂
Stephanie Simmons says
Love it! Hope you enjoy them ?
April says
Oat flour sound pretty simple to make I see. Another interesting recipe I’ll have to try. My kids love muffins but my 5 yr old kid does not like nuts in his food but he’ll eat them straight out of a jar. I do not understand that kid lol. I’ll have to make them without nuts and add nuts to the side for him lol.
Stephanie Simmons says
That’s too funny! Kids ??♀️ These actually don’t have any nuts in them, though!
Mirlene says
You had me at banana chocolate! Love the two together. Ever sit and have chocolate covered banana for a snack? If not, you should. Along with some tea. These muffins look so incredibly good!
Stephanie Simmons says
That sounds like a great snack! Hope you try these ?
Jyothi says
Chocolate makes everything delicious! That muffin looks absolutely delicious! My kids would be very happy to finish this off
Stephanie Simmons says
I agree – chocolate is the best!
Elizabeth says
What a lovely sounding recipe! These would make for a great fuel during hillwalks or bike rides too, I think!
Stephanie Simmons says
Absolutely! ❤️
Yvonne says
Great tip on how to make your own oat flour. These would be such a great after school snack for the kids.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you! Enjoy! ❤️
Linda says
OK, I have to say I do LOVE bananas so these muffins are on my must make list. ‘Cause who wouldn’t love banana bread and chocolate, right? I like that you sweetened them with maple syrup and, because they’re made with gluten-freeoats, I can give some away to my daughter and gluten-free friends. Love your pictures too! They kinda made me want to lick my screen. lol
Stephanie Simmons says
Haha glad that the pictures are having that effect!! Thanks for your kind words ❤️
Asia says
I have tried to make chocolate-banana muffins before, but not with the oat flour. I like the concept, though. Thank you for inspiration!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks! Hope you make these! ❤️