Healthy Banana Muffins

These healthy banana muffins are soft, naturally sweetened, and maybe most importantly, super easy to make! It takes just a few minutes of prep to make these healthy muffins for toddlers and kids.

Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Banana Muffins

Looking for a way to serve healthy muffins to your kids, but not looking to sacrifice flavor?

Here’s the muffin recipe you’ll make over and over again. These healthy banana muffins are naturally sweetened with maple syrup and bananas (of course!) and are super yummy and soft.

These banana muffins are baby, toddler, kid, and even adult-friendly. They come together quick, which is perfect for those busy weekends when you need to meal prep, but don’t have ALL DAY. Plus, they’ve freezer friendly and easily adjustable to make gluten or dairy free.

If you are looking for more easy and healthy muffin recipes for kids and toddlers, then be sure to check out these fan-favorite Blueberry Avocado Mini Muffins, Mini Pumpkin Muffins, these delicious Spinach Muffins, or the best ever Applesauce Muffins. You can also find more recipes and information in my best-selling cookbook, Little Foodies: Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste.

Reasons to Love these Healthy Banana Muffins

• baby, toddler, kid and adult-friendly
• easy to make
• great for school or packed lunches
• healthy
• freezer-friendly
• great for breakfasts on the go
• can be made gluten and dairy-free
• naturally nut-free

Banana Muffin Health Benefits

These banana muffins are nutritious and delicious, the perfect combo for feeding babies and toddlers.

• Bananas load these muffins up with potassium, B vitamins, vitamin C, and fiber.
• These muffins use maple syrup instead of sugar, which make them less processed and contain more vitamins and nutrients.
• Eggs provide fats and choline for brain and cognitive development.

Ingredients

Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

• Flour: you can use all-purpose, white whole wheat flour, a mixture of 50/50 white and whole wheat flour, or gluten-free one-for-one flour. 
• Banana: you will need 2-3 very ripe bananas (1 cup) with lots of brown spots.
• Maple Syrup: a good quality maple syrup to bring out the natural sweetness of bananas. You can also use honey (for babies 1 year and up) or agave nectar.
• Eggs: use 2 large eggs or substitute 2 flax eggs to make it vegan
• Oil/Butter: to make the muffins nice and moist. You can use coconut, avocado, vegetable, olive oil, or melted butter.
• Vanilla Extract
• Cinnamon
• Baking Soda
• Salt

Allergy Tips: to make these muffins gluten-free, you can use any one-for-one gluten-free flour blend. If you are looking for a dairy-free muffin option, you can use any plant-based milk you prefer such as almond, soy, hemp, oat, etc.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray or line a muffin tin.
2. Whisk: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Stir: In a large bowl, stir together the mashed banana, maple syrup, butter/oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.
4. Combine: pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Fill Muffin Tin: Scoop the batter into the muffin tin 3/4 of the way full. Add any toppings you prefer.
6. Bake: Place the muffin tin into the oven, and bake for 18-20 minutes or until just golden brown.
7. Eat: Let cool for 5-10 minutes, and serve.

Best Way to Mash Bananas

One of the easiest ways to mash bananas is to simply peel and toss the peeled, ripe, bananas into a medium mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher until you reach a desired consistency. If you don’t have a potato masher, the next best option is to mash bananas with a fork.

Tools Needed

• Muffin Pan
• Cookie Scoop
• Measuring Cups and Spoons

Toppings

Although these healthy banana muffins are completely delicious as is, feel free to experiment and mix in a few toppings. Toddlers and older kids love to help with sprinkling on their own toppings before baking!

• chopped walnuts
• chopped pecans
• chocolate chips
• white chocolate chips
• chopped strawberries
• blueberries

Mini Muffins

You can easily adjust these healthy banana muffins from regular size to mini muffins. Just bake mini muffins at the same temperature but decrease the baking time to 8-10 minutes. Mini muffins are one-third the size of regular muffins, which means that a muffin recipe that yields 12 large muffins will produce 36 mini muffins.

How to Store & Freeze

Once the muffins have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container. They will keep on the counter for up to 4 days and in the fridge for up to a week.

To freeze the muffins, place the mini muffins into a freezer zip-lock baggie or stasher bag and place in the freezer. They will keep for up to 3 months frozen.

Thaw frozen mini Banana Muffins overnight in the fridge or by gently warming them in the microwave.

Banana Muffins for Toddlers & Kids

These quick and easy muffins are also great for toddlers and kids. You can serve them as is, or with a smear of cream cheese, butter, or peanut butter for breakfast, snack, or packed into a school lunch.