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Banana Bread Muffins are so easy to make! They’re moist and soft and perfect for breakfast or a snack – they freeze great. This is my favorite banana bread recipe in muffin form – perfect for grab and go – with nuts or without – your choice!

muffin in brown liner in a stack of 2


Best Banana Bread Muffins Recipe in the World

I’ve been making these banana nut muffins almost every week for years because the flavor and texture are amazing, and the muffins are freezer-friendly. It’s so easy to make a batch and freeze them to have on hand for breakfast, brunch, and snacks.

One of the most popular recipes on this site is my mom’s banana bread, and I use that recipe for these easy banana muffins. They have the same great flavor but are easier because they bake faster, so you can eat them sooner!

You’ll want to add this banana muffin recipe to your file because they are seriously the best. They are soft and full of banana flavor and you can add nuts or leave them out!

ingredients in moms banana bread

Ingredients Needed

  • Vegetable Oil: I love using oil in muffins because then I can mix by hand.
  • Granulated Sugar: For sweetness – you can also use brown sugar.
  • Mashed overripe bananas: Be sure the bananas have lots of brown spots! The brown spots make them sweeter and perfect for baking.
  • Sour Milk: This is what my mom’s recipe calls for, it’s basically buttermilk. You can use buttermilk or use 1 tsp vinegar (see recipe notes).
  • Baking Soda: The vinegar or sourness in the milk activates the baking soda, making these nice and fluffy.
  • All-purpose flour: Be sure to measure it correctly.
  • Chopped walnuts or pecans: Or use can omit, or use chocolate chips.

Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

6 grid collage of banana muffin process shots

How to make Banana Bread Muffins

  1. Mash ripe bananas using a fork in a medium bowl.
  2. Combine the sugar and oil and eggs in a large bowl. Stir until combined. You don’t need to use a mixer unless you want to.
  3. Add the mashed bananas and milk, then stir or whisk.
  4. Fold in flour, salt, and baking soda. Mixture will be slightly lumpy.
  5. Stir in the nuts.
  6. Place paper liners in a muffin tin. Add banana muffin batter to muffin cups about 2/3 full. Sprinkle the rest of the nuts over each muffin top and then bake them for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs.
muffin without liner

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips

  • The best bananas for moist banana muffins are overripe ones with very spotty or brown peels. You can use frozen bananas too – I often freeze my overripe bananas in their peels. Allow to thaw before mashing.
  • For the best soft banana muffins, use muffin liners when you bake them.
  • When you add the flour, only mix until combined. It’s okay if there are some lumps in the batter – it doesn’t need to be completely smooth. If you overmix, your muffins won’t be as soft.
  • Don’t over bake! The muffins are done baking when you insert a toothpick, and it comes out with a few moist crumbs. If you over bake them, they will be dry.
  • Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for two days.
  • You can freeze them in a freezer bag for up to one month. You can leave them out at room temperature to thaw or warm them up in the microwave.
half of muffin on pile of muffins

Banana Bread Muffin FAQ

Can you freeze banana muffins?

Yes, you can freeze banana nut muffins for up to a month.

How do you know when muffins are done baking?

Insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin. If it comes out with a few crumbs, the muffins are done baking. If there is wet batter on the toothpick, they need more time. If the toothpick comes out totally clean, they are probably overbaked.

muffin in brown liner in a stack of 2

Banana Bread Muffins

5 from 3 votes
Banana Bread Muffins are so easy to make! This recipe is my favorite banana bread recipe made into banana nut muffins, perfect for breakfast or brunch!

Recipe Video

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Yield 18 muffins
Serving Size 1 muffin
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Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup (119ml) vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 2 overripe bananas
  • 2 large eggs
  • 7 tablespoons sour milk or buttermilk (make your own by adding 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice to your milk and let it sit for 5 minutes)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chopped nuts walnuts or pecans, divided
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pans with liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Mash bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth.
  • Stir together granulated sugar and oil. Add mashed bananas, eggs, sour milk, salt, and baking soda and stir until combined. Mixture will be slightly lumpy.
  • Add flour and stir until just incorporated. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Divide evenly among muffin liners, filling about 2/3 full.
  • Sprinkle each muffin with some of the remaining nuts.
  • Bake for 13-15 minutes until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs.
  • These are wonderful fresh from the oven or cooled to room temperature. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to one month. Defrost at room temperature or in the microwave.

Recipe Notes

  • Use regular or nondairy milk (add 1 tsp vinegar) or use buttermilk
  • Use softened or melted butter or oil
  • Use GF 1:1 AP flour or half whole wheat and half all purpose flour
  • Use chocolate chips in place of nuts or leave plain.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 637mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Author Dorothy Kern

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Substitutions and Variations

  • Make banana chocolate chip muffins – just swap the nuts for chocolate chips!
  • Substitute for oil: You can use the same amount of softened butter or melted butter.
  • What is sour milk? Sour milk is just regular milk with vinegar added – you can swap it for buttermilk if you prefer. Or add 1 teaspoon vinegar and use regular milk.
  • Dairy Free Banana Muffins: You can use non-dairy milk for this recipe – just add one teaspoon of vinegar to activate the baking soda.
  • Gluten Free Banana Bread Muffins: Use 1:1 Gluten Free All Purpose Flour in place of the regular flour.
  • Whole Wheat Banana Muffins: Use half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour.

Favorite Banana Bread Recipes

Banana Bread Muffins are so easy to make! This recipe is my favorite banana bread recipe made into banana nut muffins, perfect for breakfast or brunch!



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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5 from 3 votes

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14 Comments

  2. AMAZING recipe!!! We got 7 medium and delicious muffins. I used 5 small bananas and it came up great

    Reply