For the longest time, my mornings felt like a frantic puzzle I could never solve. I needed a breakfast that was fast enough for a busy weekday, filling enough to prevent that dreaded 10 AM stomach growl, and healthy enough that I didn’t feel like I was starting my day with dessert. The search felt endless, and I was getting tired of compromising.
That’s when I decided to create the solution myself. These healthy banana almond butter muffins are the answer I was looking for. They are moist, packed with flavor, and loaded with good-for-you ingredients that provide real, lasting energy. This isn’t just another muffin recipe; it’s a way to reclaim your mornings.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Recipe
I could talk about these muffins all day, but here are the top reasons they’ve become a staple in my kitchen:
- They’re Actually Filling. Thanks to a powerhouse combination of almond butter, Greek yogurt, and eggs, these are true protein banana muffins. They have the staying power to keep you satisfied and focused all morning long.
- Perfectly Sweet, Naturally. We’re using the natural sweetness of very ripe bananas, a touch of maple syrup, and coconut sugar. This is how you make delicious low sugar banana muffins that still feel like a treat.
- Incredibly Simple to Make. This is an easy banana almond butter muffins recipe that comes together in one main bowl. The steps are straightforward, making it perfect for weekend meal prep.
The Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients to create something truly special. The blend of whole wheat banana muffins with all-purpose flour gives them a wonderfully soft texture with a nutritional boost.
- Flours: A 50/50 mix of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour.
- Leaveners: Baking powder and baking soda give these muffins the perfect lift.
- Spices & Flavor: Coconut sugar, ground cardamom, ground nutmeg, fine sea salt, and pure vanilla extract.
- Wet Ingredients: Large eggs, smooth almond butter, Greek yogurt, and pure maple syrup.
- The Stars of the Show:
- Very Ripe Bananas: This is non-negotiable! Look for bananas that are heavily speckled with brown or even mostly brown. They are significantly sweeter and provide incredible moisture.
- Creamy Almond Butter: A good quality, natural almond butter (the kind you have to stir!) works best here, as it blends seamlessly into the batter.
- Topping: Coarsely chopped raw pecans for that perfect finishing crunch.
The Secrets to Muffin Success
After making this almond butter banana muffin recipe more times than I can count, I’ve learned a couple of little tricks that make a huge difference.
- Don’t Skip the Batter Rest. That 10-minute rest after mixing the batter is pure magic. It allows the flour to fully hydrate, which results in a more tender crumb and beautifully domed muffin tops. Trust me on this one!
- Avoid Overmixing at All Costs. When you fold the dry ingredients into the wet, stop as soon as you no longer see big streaks of flour. A few lumps in the batter are perfectly fine. Overmixing develops gluten and leads to tough, dense muffins.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Ready to bake? Let’s make some delicious banana muffins with almond butter!
- Toast the Pecans: Start by spreading your chopped pecans on a small baking sheet. Toast them at 325°F (165°C) for 6–8 minutes until they smell nutty and fragrant. Set them aside and bump the oven up to 375°F (190°C).
- Prep the Pan: Line 16 muffin cups with paper or silicone liners.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the almond butter and Greek yogurt together until smooth. Add the eggs one by one, followed by the mashed bananas, maple syrup, coconut sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until everything is well combined.
- Sift in the Dry: Place a fine-mesh sieve over your bowl and add both flours, the baking powder, baking soda, cardamom, nutmeg, and salt. Sift them directly onto the wet mixture.
- Fold & Rest: Gently fold the dry ingredients in with a spatula until just combined. Remember, no overmixing! Let the batter rest for 10 minutes.
- Fill & Top: Divide the batter evenly among the 16 muffin cups. Sprinkle the toasted pecans over the top of each one.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 16–20 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the tops are golden-brown and a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Down: Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes before moving them to a wire rack. They are incredible when enjoyed warm!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1.Can I make these muffins gluten-free?
While I haven’t tested a gluten-free version of this specific recipe, you could likely have success using a high-quality, 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. The texture may be slightly different but should still be delicious.
2.How should I store these muffins?
These muffins stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They also freeze wonderfully! For easy grab-and-go breakfasts, wrap them individually and freeze for up to 3 months.
3.Can I use a different nut butter?
Absolutely! Creamy peanut butter or cashew butter would be fantastic substitutes. For a nut-free option, creamy sunflower seed butter is a great choice and a delicious way to make these high protein muffins school-safe.
You Deserve a Better Breakfast!
Give this recipe a try and see how wonderful it feels to have a delicious, homemade breakfast waiting for you. These muffins are more than just food; they’re a small act of self-care to start your day off right.
Happy baking!
Sunrise Banana Almond Butter Muffins
Equipment
- One 12-cup standard muffin pan and one 4-cup muffin pan (or equivalent for 16 muffins)
- Paper or silicone muffin liners
- Large glass or ceramic mixing bowl
- Small baking sheet
- Wire whisk & silicone spatula
- Fine-mesh sieve
Ingredients
- 1 cup 120 g whole wheat flour
- 1 cup 120 g all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup 133 g coconut sugar
- 1 ⅓ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅔ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- ½ cup 128 g smooth almond butter
- 1 ⅓ cups 300 g mashed very ripe bananas (about 3 large)
- ½ cup 125 g low-fat plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup 84 g pure maple syrup
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup 108 g raw pecans, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Toast the Topping: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Spread the chopped pecans on a small baking sheet and toast until fragrant and slightly deepened in color, about 6–8 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the Foundation: Increase the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C). Line 16 muffin cups with paper or silicone liners.
- Create the Wet Base: In a large glass bowl, vigorously whisk the almond butter and Greek yogurt until the mixture is uniform and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Beat in the mashed bananas, maple syrup, coconut sugar, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Integrate the Dry Mix: Position a fine-mesh sieve over the bowl containing the wet ingredients. Add the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom, nutmeg, and sea salt to the sieve. Sift the dry ingredients directly onto the wet base.
- Finalize the Batter: Using a silicone spatula, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet until they are about 80% incorporated. Be careful not to overmix; a few streaks of flour are acceptable. Let the batter rest at room temperature for 10 minutes to allow the flour to hydrate.
- Portion & Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the 16 prepared muffin cups; each will be about three-quarters full. Sprinkle the toasted pecans generously over the top of each muffin. Bake for 16–20 minutes, or until the tops are golden-brown and a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Cool & Serve: Transfer the muffin pan to a wire rack and let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Afterwards, you can remove them from the pan to cool completely or enjoy them while they are still warm.
Notes
Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They also freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Ingredient Swaps:
Cashew butter can be used in place of almond butter. For a different flavor profile, try replacing the cardamom and nutmeg with 1 ½ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice. Texture Tip:
The 10-minute rest period for the batter is optional but highly recommended. It helps create a more tender crumb and a better domed top on your muffins. For the best results, use bananas that are heavily speckled with brown spots.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving: 1 muffin- Calories: 231
- Total Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.1 g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 5.6 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
- Sodium: 227 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 29.8 g
- Dietary Fiber: 3.6 g
- Total Sugars: 14.8 g
- Includes: 9 g Added Sugars
- Protein: 6.5 g
- Vitamin D: 0.3 mcg (2% DV)
- Calcium: 54 mg (4% DV)
- Iron: 1.5 mg (8% DV)
- Potassium: 249 mg (5% DV)