These lightly sweetened muffins are packed with whole grains, heart-healthy walnuts, rich cocoa powder and ripe bananas.
My two year old loves drinking smoothies for breakfast so inevitably we end up with a few extra ripe bananas each week. Normally I freeze them for future smoothies but there is something about a snowy weekend that gets me in the baking mood. In lieu of making my favorite chocolate chip cookies, I decided to be a good girl and create a healthy breakfast muffin packed with bananas, oats and a little chocolate for good measure.
This recipe is adapted from Honest Fare to make them slightly less sweet with an extra dose of Omega-3’s from flax seed meal and walnuts. Because they are made with less sugar, they won’t cause that addictive “OH-MY-GOD-I-NEED-1000-MORE” response. If you’ve ever had more than one Girl Scout cookie in a sitting, you know what I’m talking about.. ;-)
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.
No fork required.
Banana Oat Chocolate Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups oats
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt (low fat)
- 1/2 cup skim milk
- 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
- 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 ripe bananas (mashed)
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and line a muffin tin with 12 baking cups.
- In a large bowl, mix together oats, yogurt and milk. Set aside to soak for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together remaining dry ingredients in a small bowl: whole wheat pastry flour through ground cloves.
- 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.
- Using an ice cream scoop or 1/4 cup measuring cup, pour batter evenly into 12 lined muffin tins. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes.
- Let cool in pan 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Chef's Notes:
Nutrition:
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!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!!!
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!
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. :)
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?
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you try them! I used rolled oats.
Nutmeg Nanny
Yum, these look perfect and so irresistible!
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. :)
Liz DellaCroce
Oh i’m so thrilled Katie!! Thank you so much!!
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!
Liz DellaCroce
heck yes!!! I heart PB. :)
Paula – bell’alimento
This looks easy and tasty! Perfect for anytime snacking!
Liz DellaCroce
Thanks Paula!
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
Liz DellaCroce
Omg maybe they are hiding with the lemons that randomly disappeared from my grocery store for 2 months!?
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.
Liz DellaCroce
No!! No idea what happened?!?!
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.
Liz DellaCroce
You and me both sista!!
April - AprilMcKinney.com
Always looking for healthy baking recipes, and I LOVE bananas and chocolate! Can’t wait to try these!
Liz DellaCroce
Let me know what you think!!
julia
We eat a lot of muffins around here. I am definitely saving these for later–love the chocolate and banana combo!
Liz DellaCroce
Your boys would love these! Hope you’re feeling good!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
These look perfect! Chocolate and bananas are so perfect together!
Liz DellaCroce
I know right? Enjoy!
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!
Liz DellaCroce
Peanut butter makes all things banana better. :)
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?
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!!
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm
I am LOVING all that is happening in this recipe, so healthy yet so delicious! You got it going on! Mmmmm!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much!!
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 :)
Liz DellaCroce
Dude if I were you I’d be making strawberry ice cream!!! :)
steph@stephsbitebybite
These would make my Friday morning sooo much better!!
Liz DellaCroce
Wouldn’t they though? Wish I could mail you some!
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!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh man the peanut butter took it to the next level!!
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. ;}
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!
Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats
I’m digging these! I’m a tad bit obsessed with muffins:)
Liz DellaCroce
Ha you and me both! It’s like cake in the form of breakfast. :)
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!
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!!
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!!
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!
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!
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!
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.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh thank you Cathy!! I hope you enjoy!!
Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen
Oh Liz, it’s like you can read my mind….or my stomach…or both!!! Love these muffins!
Liz DellaCroce
haha I’m so glad I could please!! Stay warm friend!
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.
Liz DellaCroce
What is with this snow and making me want to bake all day?! It’s not great. LOL Stay warm friend!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
I need a healthy muffin recipe for my little muffin-man scarfing down everything he can find pre-teen! Perfect :)
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. :)
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!
Liz DellaCroce
haha I do the same!! I always try to keep a good stash on hand, especially of the really sweet ripe ones. :)
DessertForTwo
These sound super easy and super delicious! :)
Liz DellaCroce
Easy is my middle name – haha.
julie
What kind of healthy oil do you use? Or can do you ever substitute your oil for applesauce?
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. :)
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.
Liz DellaCroce
I’m sorry I couldn’t resist!!
ashley - baker by nature
Um I LOVE them! And I’ll take a dozen, please :)
Liz DellaCroce
Let’s make it a BAKERS dozen! ;)