Banana Bread Muffins Recipe {Fast & Easy} - Savory Simple (2024)

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These epic banana bread muffins are foolproof, soft and flavorful, with perfectly rounded dome tops. I’ve adapted them from my favorite banana bread recipe, and the results are everything I want in a muffin. They’re also incredibly fast and easy. You’re going to love these easy muffins! Trust me; just make them!

Banana Bread Muffins Recipe {Fast & Easy} - Savory Simple (1)

I never used to be a huge fan of banana bread, but let me tell you- I fell in love with these muffins the moment I tasted them. They’re soft, nutty, moist without being overly sweet or dense.

I’ve gone on to make these many more times since that first batch, and I can safely say we are both hooked.

Recipe Ingredients

For this recipe, you’ll need the following:

  • Bananas
  • All-purpose flour
  • Walnuts
  • Granulated sugar
  • Baking soda
  • Plain yogurt
  • Large eggs
  • Unsalted butter
  • Kosher salt

How to Make Banana Bread Muffins

If you’ve ever made banana bread, preparing these muffins is almost exactly the same process except you use a standard muffin pan instead of a loaf pan. It’s also a very similar process to making muffins:

  1. Mash super ripe bananas in one bowl.
  2. Whisk together the dry ingredients in another bowl, followed by the wet ingredients in another.
  3. Combine the three, divide evenly among greased muffin tins. Bake!

Banana Bread Muffins Recipe {Fast & Easy} - Savory Simple (2)

I adapted these muffins from a Cook’s Illustrated banana bread recipe. They have never let me down, and this time was no exception.

I love these so much that I’ve even gone one step further and created brown butter banana bread muffinsIf you like brown butter as much as I do, I highly recommend checking those out.

Banana Bread Muffins Recipe {Fast & Easy} - Savory Simple (3)

Recipe tips

  • I chop the walnuts very finely, both because I prefer less texture in the muffins, and because I think you get better flavor distribution that way. If you’re using raw nuts and need to toast them first, spread the walnuts in a thin layer on a baking sheet, and toast in a 350 degree F oven for around 5-7 minutes, shaking the pan once or twice, until fragrant.
  • I always recommend weighing the flour over using a measuring cup. I used 10 ounces of flour. If you measure out two cups, it might be 8 ounces (or more/less). You can buy inexpensive kitchen scales on Amazon. So worth it.You can also read more about this in my post How to Measure Flour Correctly.
  • I always use plain, full fat or part-skim yogurt in this recipe, but I’d imagine that sour cream works as well. However, I haven’t personally tried it yet.

How to Quickly Ripen Bananas

To speed up ripening, place the bananas in a paper bag and loosely fold the top to seal. If available, add an apple or 1-2 already ripe bananas to the bag to increase the amount of ethylene gas (this is what causes ripening). With this method, your bananas should ripen within 1-2 days.

How to Store

To store banana bread muffins, place them in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag, then store at room temperature for up to three days.

Can You Freeze These Muffins?

Yes, you can absolutely store these muffins in the freezer. It’s a great way to preserve their shelf life! To freeze, store the muffins in resealable freezer bags freeze for up to three months.

Why Egg Size Matters in Baking

This recipe calls for large eggs. Using different size eggs can drastically impact baked goods. Don’t substitute a different size unless you have a kitchen scale to measure an equal weight by volume (ounces or grams) to get the same total amount of egg.

Read more about why egg size matters in baking (and how to make substitutions).

How to Measure Flour

For baked goods (as well as desserts like custard and ice cream), I always recommend using a kitchen scale to measure flour by weight instead of volume. Weight (ounces, grams, etc) will always give an accurate measurement of dry goods; volume (cups) can create varied results.

A cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 3 1/2 to 5 ounces. That could make a big difference in your recipe! If you still want to use cups, there’s a proper technique to make sure you get the best results possible.

My post How to Measure Flour explains all of this in more detail.

Banana Bread Muffins Recipe {Fast & Easy} - Savory Simple (4)

More Muffin Recipes

If you like this banana bread muffin recipe, you may also enjoy my pumpkin muffins, cherry vanilla muffins, and stone fruit yogurt muffins!

Banana Bread Muffins Recipe {Fast & Easy} - Savory Simple (5)

Print Pin Recipe

Banana Bread Muffins

These banana bread muffins are a perfect breakfast for a lazy Sunday.

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword banana bread muffins

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 12 muffins

Calories 274

Author Jennifer Farley

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 10 ounces all-purpose flour (approximately 2 cups using the Scoop & Sweep Method)
  • 1 1/4 cups toasted walnuts, chopped finely
  • 5 1/4 ounces granulated sugar (approximately 3/4 cup)
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt (I recommend full or low-fat)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 12-cup standard-size muffin tin.

  • In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and walnuts together. In a separate bowl, combine the bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter and vanilla. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined. Scoop the batter evenly between the muffin tins.

  • Bake until the muffins are golden brown on top, approximately 20-25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag at room temperature for up to three days. You can also freeze them in a freezer bag for up to three months.

Video

Notes

Adapted from The Best New Recipe by Cook's Illustrated Magazine. Read my post "How to Measure Flour" for the Scoop & Sweep Method.

Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!

Nutrition

Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 230mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 2.7mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1.7mg

Recipe Troubleshooting

For immediate help troubleshooting a recipe, please email me using the form on my contact page. I’ll try to respond to urgent questions as quickly as possible! For all general questions, please leave a comment here :)

Banana Bread Muffins Recipe {Fast & Easy} - Savory Simple (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist muffins? ›

How to Make Homemade Muffins Moist: Our Top Tips
  1. Tips to Make Homemade Muffins Moist.
  2. Keep Wet and Dry Ingredients Separately.
  3. Add All Flavorings Last.
  4. Consider Paper Liners.
  5. Don't Overfill the Muffin Cups.
  6. Check the Temperature of Your Oven.
  7. Test if Muffins Are Fully Cooked.
  8. Top Your Muffins with Flavor.
Aug 9, 2021

Why is my banana muffin hard? ›

Sometimes if the batter of muffins is over mixed or overcooked it results into hard muffins.

How long does it take to bake muffins? ›

In an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, a dozen banana muffins should be fully baked in 25 to 30 minutes. You'll know they're done when the top springs back when lightly pressed. If you make mini muffins, decrease the baking time to 10 to 15 minutes.

How do you make muffins less tough? ›

Option #1: Overnight Batter Rest (my favorite!)

Chilling your muffin batter overnight in the fridge is the BEST thing you can do for amazing muffins. It makes them more moist, tender, and TALLER!

Are muffins better with oil or butter? ›

Structure - although oil makes baked goods very moist and longer lasting than butter, for high rising baked goods that need more structure, like muffins, butter is a better choice. Butter is wonderful for incorporating air into baked goods.

What oil is best for moist muffins? ›

Choosing vegetable oil is the best option for baking moist, delicious baked goods. Canola oil, the most common vegetable oil used in baking, doesn't add a strong flavor. It allows your cake's flavor will shine through while still achieving a moist texture.

Can bananas be too ripe for banana bread? ›

If they smell off, that's another good indicator that they are no longer okay to use. Rotten bananas will often have a fermented or alcohol-like smell. While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten.

How do you keep banana muffins moist? ›

The Best Way to Store Muffins

Let them cool for no more than five-to-10 minutes in the pan, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. STEP TWO: Line an airtight storage container with paper towels. The paper towels will act like a “sponge,” absorbing the moisture the muffins emit as they age.

Should muffin batter be thick or thin? ›

Depending on what ingredients you're using, the batter will range from runny (like thin cake batter) to very thick (like drop-cookie dough). As a general rule, the thinner the batter, the lighter the muffins will be when baked. But don't be afraid to bake thick, gloppy batter.

What not to do when baking muffins? ›

Common Muffin Making Mistakes To Avoid
  1. Over mixing the batter.
  2. Overfilling the muffin tray.
  3. Leaving the muffins in the pan after they have baked.
  4. Berries, nuts, and chocolate chips sink to the bottom.
Mar 12, 2019

Should I bake muffins at 350 or 375? ›

Ideal Muffin Cooking Temperature

That being said, the standard oven temperature for baking desserts like quick breads and muffins is commonly set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Setting your oven to this temperature will almost always produce a well-cooked muffin recipe.

Should muffin batter rest before baking? ›

Rest the Muffin Batter

The first, most hands-off way to make your muffins pop (literally) is to let the batter rest. Make the batter, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let the batter rest at room temperature for about 1 hour. If you're short on time, just 30 minutes can make a difference.

Why are bakery muffins so much better? ›

The best bakery-style crumb muffins start with cake flour

Cake flour is more finely ground and has less protein, which leaves the muffins with a fine, light crumb and soft texture. Using cake flour is an easy way to avoid heavy, dense muffins even if you end up stirring just a bit too much. What is this?

What ingredient may she have forgotten to add to her muffins that would have caused them not to rise? ›

The baker had forgotten to add baking powder. Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda (sodium hydrogencarbonate) and a mild edible acid such as tartaric acid.

How do you make high domed muffins? ›

According to O. Corriher, the way to get a perfectly puffed up dome on your muffins is to increase your oven heat. She says that 400° should do it, no matter what the recipe says. The higher baking temperature means that the the outside edges of the muffin will set while the middle is still liquidy.

How do you moisten baked muffins? ›

First, prick the muffin tops all over with a toothpick. Next, pour your liquid of choice (e.g., milk or fruit juice) into a bowl, dip a pastry brush into it, and brush the tops of the muffins. The liquid will seep into the muffin's interior, soaking the crumb and softening the muffins, turning them as good as new.

Should you let muffin batter rest? ›

Quickbreads and muffins are hydrating batters, which means the flour absorbs the liquid over time, resulting in a very moist muffin, and improving the flavor. So let your muffin batter rest, up to 24 hours if possible.

What makes muffins gooey? ›

Overbaking or underbaking the muffins.

Take the muffins out of the oven too soon and they're sticky and uncooked at the center. Bake them a few minutes too long, and those once-moist and fluffy muffins run the risk of turning dry.

References

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