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Chocolate Banana Oat Muffins

Liz DellaCroce Avatar

LIZ DELLA CROCE

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These lightly sweetened muffins are packed with whole grains, heart-healthy walnuts, rich cocoa powder, and ripe bananas.

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prep time10 minutes

You know my family loves to have a smoothie for breakfast, like my Peach Protein Smoothie. And since we start the day with smoothies so often, we always have lots of ripe bananas in the pantry. These Chocolate Banana Oat Muffins came from having extra ripe bananas around, and wanting a slightly sweet, still fairly healthy snack option.

These muffins are perfect for on-the-go snacking or a healthy breakfast to eat during your commute or in the school drop off line. Oh and PS: they taste incredible with a smear of creamy natural peanut butter on top. You can thank me later.

Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for chocolate banana oat muffins.
  • Bananas: Adds moisture, nutrients, and natural sweetness to the muffins.
  • Flour:I like to use a whole wheat pastry flour, but you can use all purpose flour, or any gluten-free flour as well!
  • Oats: Full of fiber and plant-based protein, they add a great chewy texture to the muffins, too.
  • Cocoa powder: Makes the muffins chocolatey and rich.
  • Yogurt: Plain yogurt is my secret for moist muffins.
  • Brown sugar: I don’t have a big sweet tooth, so I use just a little brown sugar for rich, sweetness.

See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities!

How to Make Chocolate Banana Oat Muffins

Mixing yogurt, milk, and oats in a bowl.

Step 1. Put your oats, yogurt, and milk in a bowl and mix together, then let soak for about 10 minutes.

Whisking dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

Step 2. Then take all the dry ingredients, and whisk them together in a large bowl.

Mashing bananas in a bowl.

Step 3. Mash your bananas, then whisk with the egg and oil, then add to the oat mixture.

Mixing dry ingredients with wet ingredients for muffins.

Step 4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until fully combined. Gently fold in either chocolate chips or chopped walnuts.

Scooping chocolate muffin batter into muffin tin.

Step 5. In a prepared muffin tin, pour batter evenly across 12 muffin cups.

Muffin tin filled with chocolate muffin batter.

Step 6. Toss in the oven at 400 degrees for around 18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Chocolate banana oat muffin topped with mini chocolate chips.

Let your muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes before removing to cool on a rack, then enjoy your Chocolate Banana Oat Muffins!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the secret to moist muffins?

My secret to moist muffins is adding yogurt, but others swear by sour cream or buttermilk.

Can I add oats to any muffin recipe?

Yes definitely! However, you’ll need to make some adjustments for the muffins to turn out well since oats are an additional dry ingredient. You’ll need to increase moisture, or decrease dry ingredients.

Is it better to use oil or butter for baking?

For me, it depends on what you’re baking. Cookies, definitely prefer butter, but muffins oil. Oil adds more moisture, and helps make the muffins light and fluffy.

Chocolate banana oat muffins cooling in muffin tin.

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Chocolate Banana Oat Muffins?

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Chocolate Banana Oat Muffins

Liz Della Croce
4.67 stars average
These lightly sweetened muffins are packed with whole grains, heart-healthy walnuts and ripe bananas.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
CourseBaked Goods
Serves12 muffins

Ingredients
 
 

Video

Instructions
 

  1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and line a muffin tin with 12 baking cups.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together oats, yogurt and milk. Set aside to soak for 10 minutes.
    1 1/4 cups oats, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup milk
  3. Meanwhile, whisk together remaining dry ingredients in a small bowl: whole wheat pastry flour through ground cloves.
    1 cup whole wheat pastry flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup flax seed meal, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together mashed bananas with oil and egg. Add to the soaking oat mixture and stir to combine. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir in walnuts or chocolate chips.
    2 ripe bananas, 1/3 cup oil, 1 egg, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  5. Pour batter evenly into 12 lined muffin tins using small cookie scoop or 1/4 cup measuring cup. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes.
  6. Let cool in pan 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Liz’s Notes

If you want to end up with a sweeter more cake-like muffin, increase sugar to 1/2 cup and use chocolate chips instead of walnuts.

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.1g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11.2g | Saturated Fat: 1.6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9.6g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 302mg | Fiber: 4.1g | Sugar: 9.2g

Have you tried my


Chocolate Banana Oat Muffins?

Leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how you liked it in the 📝 comments and share it on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest.

We love hearing from you! This helps us continue to provide free, high-quality recipes.


4.67 from 3 votes

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65 responses to “Chocolate Banana Oat Muffins”

  1. C. Marie Avatar
    C. Marie

    Baked some, and all I can say is . . . wow! So good—and, yes, eating with peanut butter is definitely the way to go!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!!!

  2. Sara Kuijten Avatar
    Sara Kuijten

    trying to cook healthier food for my family and came across your website- loving all the healthy recipes! Is wholewheat pastry flour the same as normal wholewheat flour? (I’m from the UK and haven’t heard of this) thanks!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh thank you I’m glad you like it! No it’s not the same – it is better for baking and has a lighter end result. If you can’t find, I suggest using half regular white flour and half regular whole wheat flour. :)

  3. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    These look delicious, and I so want to make them! Can you tell me if you use rolled oats or oat bran in the recipe?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I hope you try them! I used rolled oats.

  4. Nutmeg Nanny Avatar
    Nutmeg Nanny

    Yum, these look perfect and so irresistible!

  5. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Just confirming that these are indeed AMAZING. Made a batch last night, along with your slow cooker banana walnut oatmeal for an easy breakfast today. Thanks for providing SO many easy, delicious, and clean recipes! Gratefully, your neighboring Ohio reader. :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh i’m so thrilled Katie!! Thank you so much!!

  6. Amelia Avatar
    Amelia

    Seeing that smear of PB on the muffin literally made me drool a little. Can’t wait to make these & repeat your PB idea!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      heck yes!!! I heart PB. :)

  7. Paula – bell’alimento Avatar
    Paula – bell’alimento

    This looks easy and tasty! Perfect for anytime snacking!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Thanks Paula!

  8. Erin @ Texanerin Baking Avatar
    Erin @ Texanerin Baking

    I’ve been trying for months to get some ripe bananas around here! I’ve been buying more than 20 at a time and 5 days later, they’re gone. Seriously. I don’t know where they’re going. I have at least one smoothie a day but geez!

    Um, anyway. The muffins look great! Love their healthy-ness. :D

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Omg maybe they are hiding with the lemons that randomly disappeared from my grocery store for 2 months!?

      1. Erin @ Texanerin Baking Avatar
        Erin @ Texanerin Baking

        Hahaha. Did you ever get an explanation for that? Were they out everywhere in the region or just *your* store? Maybe they were messing with you. ;)

        And I like to think I have a baby chimpanzee around. He’d just hiding! I’ve named him Oscar Jr.

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          No!! No idea what happened?!?!

  9. Joanne Avatar
    Joanne

    I refuse to have breakfast that doesn’t include a smear of peanut butter, so I love that these are so accommodating! And good for me too.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      You and me both sista!!

  10. April - AprilMcKinney.com Avatar
    April – AprilMcKinney.com

    Always looking for healthy baking recipes, and I LOVE bananas and chocolate! Can’t wait to try these!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Let me know what you think!!

  11. julia Avatar
    julia

    We eat a lot of muffins around here. I am definitely saving these for later–love the chocolate and banana combo!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Your boys would love these! Hope you’re feeling good!

  12. Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. Avatar
    Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.

    These look perfect! Chocolate and bananas are so perfect together!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I know right? Enjoy!

  13. Gaby Avatar
    Gaby

    Why haven’t I ever put peanut butter on a banana muffin? You are a genius! These muffins look like my kind of breakfast!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Peanut butter makes all things banana better. :)

  14. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    Hi Liz, I’m in the middle of making these and noticed there is no baking soda or powder in here. Is this correct?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh my goodness Ann – there should be two teaspoons baking powder and one teaspoon baking soda. I am updating the recipe right now! I am so sorry and have no idea how I could have left such key ingredients off the list!! Please forgive me!!

  15. Sophia @ NY Foodgasm Avatar
    Sophia @ NY Foodgasm

    I am LOVING all that is happening in this recipe, so healthy yet so delicious! You got it going on! Mmmmm!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Thank you so much!!

  16. Aggie Avatar
    Aggie

    Maybe I need a snowy weekend to get in the baking mood? These look incredible. The kids beg me for muffins, I am such a bad mom for not baking them for them! I love that these are full of all good things :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Dude if I were you I’d be making strawberry ice cream!!! :)

  17. steph@stephsbitebybite Avatar
    steph@stephsbitebybite

    These would make my Friday morning sooo much better!!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Wouldn’t they though? Wish I could mail you some!

  18. Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe Avatar
    Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe

    These are my favorite kind of muffins – hearty and wholesome with a good kick of health. That last photo with the peanut butter is making me want to bake a batch right now!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh man the peanut butter took it to the next level!!

  19. Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily Avatar
    Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily

    Liz these are perfect! I looovee the cocoa powder addition and the yogurt. My kids wouldn’t know what to do if I gave them an overly sweet muffin, they’d probably go into sugar shock ;) I usually sub applesauce for oil in my baked goodies, do you think that would work in these?
    Pinned onto my Healthy Treats to make ASAP board. ;}

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      haha same thing here!! You are welcome to try using applesauce but I’ve already lightened these muffins so much that I would be cautious. If you do, please let me know how they turn out!

  20. Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats Avatar
    Ally’s Sweet & Savory Eats

    I’m digging these! I’m a tad bit obsessed with muffins:)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Ha you and me both! It’s like cake in the form of breakfast. :)

  21. Holly M. Avatar
    Holly M.

    Wondering if I could use regular whole wheat flour instead of the pastry flour? Also, if I were to make mini muffins for my “mini me” :) what would be the cooking time? They look delish!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      You absolutely could although I highly suggest you buying a bag of whole wheat pastry or white whole wheat flour for baking. It results in a much lighter baked good (or pancake or muffin) but you still get all of the whole grain goodness. :) As for turning these into mini muffins, I have never made them (embarrassingly I don’t own a mini muffin tin!!!) so I couldn’t tell you with confidence. I would just start monitoring them and take them out when a toothpick comes out clean. So sorry I don’t have a firm answer on that one!!

  22. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Hi Liz! I just made your pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip muffins this weekend, and per usual…they are amazing. I have worked my way through making almost all your smoothies (green smoothie addict now), and your chicken shawarma (OMG, so good!!) Thanks for the awesome recipes! This will be on my list for Saturday baking!!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh my goodness thank you so much for your sweet words!! I’m so glad you’re enjoying everything!!!! I wish I had a pumpkin muffin right now!! :) Keep me posted if you try anything else!

  23. Joy Avatar
    Joy

    I’ve been looking for a good banana recipe and want to try these tonight. I have flax seed but not the milled flax. Do you think the seeds would work?
    Thanks, they look great!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      If you don’t have milled flax seed I would either grind them in a spice grinder or skip them and replace with more flour. You could still add the seeds for crunch but they need to be in more of a “flour form” to work in this recipe. Hope that helps!

  24. Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig Avatar
    Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig

    LIZ! I love these, just what I needed at this moment. Just shared them to Facebook so everyone can enjoy these lovlies.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh thank you Cathy!! I hope you enjoy!!

  25. Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen Avatar
    Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen

    Oh Liz, it’s like you can read my mind….or my stomach…or both!!! Love these muffins!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      haha I’m so glad I could please!! Stay warm friend!

  26. Erin | The Law Student's Wife Avatar
    Erin | The Law Student’s Wife

    This snow has totally put me on baking over drive too! It’s been a while since I’ve made muffins, but they are some of my faves. The PB smear is definitely necessary.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      What is with this snow and making me want to bake all day?! It’s not great. LOL Stay warm friend!

  27. Lori @ RecipeGirl Avatar
    Lori @ RecipeGirl

    I need a healthy muffin recipe for my little muffin-man scarfing down everything he can find pre-teen! Perfect :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Tell me about it – sometimes I feel like my 2 year old eats like a teenager!! Nervous about having two boys eating me out of house and home sooner than later – haha. :)

  28. Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living Avatar
    Jeanette | Jeanette’s Healthy Living

    Loving these healthy muffins Liz – I’m always stashing overripe bananas into my freezer for banana bread, cookies, and muffins – these would be a great healthy breakfast or snack!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      haha I do the same!! I always try to keep a good stash on hand, especially of the really sweet ripe ones. :)

  29. DessertForTwo Avatar
    DessertForTwo

    These sound super easy and super delicious! :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Easy is my middle name – haha.

  30. julie Avatar
    julie

    What kind of healthy oil do you use? Or can do you ever substitute your oil for applesauce?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I use canola oil or coconut oil (melted). I have substituted oil for applesauce but you have to be careful with that because it can really make for a dry baked good. I would almost prefer yogurt over applesauce. :)

  31. annie @ chase that i love Avatar
    annie @ chase that i love

    Chocolate and bananas are awesome enough. Then you go and add in that peanut butter, and I’ll have to hide these from myself so that I won’t be able to eat them for lunch and dinner too.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m sorry I couldn’t resist!!

  32. ashley - baker by nature Avatar
    ashley – baker by nature

    Um I LOVE them! And I’ll take a dozen, please :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Let’s make it a BAKERS dozen! ;)