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    Home » Recipes » Sweets

    Updated: Jul 19, 2023 by Gus · This post contains affiliate links.

    Dairy-Free Banana Bread Mini Muffins (Back to School)

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    Ready to go bananas over a delicious treat? Get set for our Mini Banana Muffins! These little flavor powerhouses, perfect for back-to-school snack, aren't just for the kids. They're a hit with everyone who appreciates a sweet nibble that's also dairy-free and plant-based. Bursting with the natural goodness of ripe bananas, these mini muffins are a fun and nutritious addition to any lunchbox or coffee break.

    mini banana muffins.
    Jump to Recipe

    This mini banana muffin recipe is definitely a surefire winner. The joy of biting into one of these perfectly moist muffins is second to none. It's not just their appealing bite-sized form that charms you, but the delight of savoring the rich banana flavor, possibly accentuated by optional mini chocolate chips, that truly steals the show.

    However, the real beauty of these banana mini muffins lies in their perfect fusion of simplicity and nutrition. All you need to do is mix your ripe or overripe bananas, a bit of brown sugar, vanilla extract, and a handful of other pantry staples in a bowl. The batter comes together quickly, ready to be spooned into your mini muffin tin.

    Moreover, these moist banana muffins are crafted with wholesome, plant-based ingredients. Bananas, renowned for their high fiber content, potassium, and vitamin C, star in this recipe.

    Whether you're a seasoned baker or new to the game, this banana muffin recipe is set to impress. Stick around for more easy and nutritious banana recipes we're excited to share!

    No matter how busy your morning may be, these banana bread muffins, inspired by our vegan banana bread recipe, can be effortlessly prepared in a jiffy. Furthermore, by preparing a batch in advance, you'll always have a delightful homemade breakfast or snack at hand, or add it to a special occasion brunch, just like our mini blueberry muffins and zucchini muffins.

    Jump to:
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🥢 How to serve
    • 🍶 Substitutions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🍽 Equipment
    • 🥡 How to store muffins?
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 📚 More healthy sweet recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 🌡️ Food safety
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    🧾 Ingredients

    This convenient mini banana muffins recipe is made with just a few ingredients:

    mini banana muffins ingredients.
    • Mashed bananas: Not only do they infuse the muffins with natural sweetness, but their texture also adds moisture, helping to achieve a fluffy, moist crumb.
    • All-purpose flour: The backbone of our muffins provides the necessary structure to hold their shape while maintaining a tender crumb.
    • Brown sugar: Adds a sweetness, and its molasses content lends a depth of flavor and color to the muffins.
    • Coconut oil (melted) or vegetable oil: Fat is crucial in baked goods, ensuring moistness and richness. Both oils give the muffins a tender texture.
    • Vanilla extract: Enhances other flavors and brings a lovely, subtle aroma that complements the banana perfectly.
    • Cinnamon: A warm spice that pairs beautifully with banana, it adds a depth of flavor and an inviting aroma to the muffins.
    • Baking powder & baking soda: Our leavening agents work together to make the muffins rise and become light and fluffy.
    • Chia seeds: When combined with liquid, they act as a vegan egg substitute to bind the ingredients together and add a healthy dose of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
    • Soy milk: This helps create a smooth batter and contributes to the moistness of the muffins. Soy milk also adds a bit of protein to the mix.
    • Lemon juice: When combined with soy milk, it curdles slightly to mimic buttermilk, which makes our muffins extra tender and moist.
    • Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavors in the muffins.
    • Optional - Walnuts: Walnuts are a great addition if you're a fan of a little crunch. They also add healthy fats and protein.
    • Optional - Vegan chocolate chips: If added, they introduce little pockets of sweetness and chocolatey decadence that pair wonderfully with the banana.

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    Pro tip: Typically, one medium to large banana yields about ½ cup of mashed banana.

    🔪 Instructions

    To make these delicious banana muffins, follow these simple steps.

    1. Creating a unified blend of chia eggs and dairy-free buttermilk.
    2. Combining the wet ingredients with dry ones.
    3. Executing the baking process.

    Kick-off by preheating your oven to 375°F (175 ºC) – starting with a sufficiently heated oven is crucial for optimal baking results. Also, remember to employ a measuring cup to ensure accurate ingredient proportions.

    combining chia eggs and vegan buttermilk ingredients and letting it curdle.

    Combine the chia seeds with soy milk and lemon juice in a medium bowl and let curdle; this way, you are creating a combination of chia eggs and vegan buttermilk in one bowl.

    mashing bananas over the chia seeds and vegan buttermilk mix.

    Add the rest of the wet ingredients, and mash bananas with a fork or potato masher.

    Pro tip: We recommend incorporating brown sugar with the wet ingredients instead of sieving it with the dry ones. This is because brown sugar tends to clump together, making the sieving process a bit more difficult. When mixed with wet ingredients, it dissolves and distributes evenly, ensuring a smoother and more manageable batter.

    adding brown sugar to wet ingredients and mashed bananas.

    Add brown sugar. Combine well. Fold all the wet and dry ingredients into one uniform batter.

    sieving dry ingredients.

    In the same large mixing bowl, sift in your dry ingredients, including baking soda, flour, baking powder, and salt.

    mini banana muffins batter in a mini muffins pan.

    Divide the banana muffin batter evenly into the mini muffin pans; aim to fill muffin tins about three-thirds full, giving them space to rise. You will need about one heaping teaspoon for each muffin.

    baked mini banana muffins.

    You're looking for a beautiful golden brown color and a clean toothpick after poking it in the middle. All in all, they'll need about 15-17 in the oven.

    Helpful hint: To safely remove the mini muffins from the tin, we suggest using a knife to loosen them gently. Once they're out, transfer them to a cooling rack. For the best texture and flavor, let them cool down fully, which should take about 10 minutes, before enjoying.

    mini banana bread muffins in a cooling rack.

    Handy Hint: Feel free to experiment with this adaptable batter to create full-sized banana muffins too. Just be mindful of the size difference – you'll be using a full tablespoon of batter instead of a teaspoon – which means a little extra baking time, around 20-22 minutes, will be required. With these slight tweaks, your muffins will turn out just right, no matter their size.

    Read on: vegan protein chocolate chip cookies, vegan zucchini muffins, and almond flour protein balls.

    🥢 How to serve

    bunch of mini banana bread muffins with a glass of dairy-free milk.
    1. Energizing Breakfast: Complement your muffin with a cool glass of your preferred plant-based milk – both oat and almond milk are great choices. Include some fresh fruit for a balanced, nourishing start to your day.
    2. Outdoor Dining: These muffins are ideal for a picnic outing. Bring them along with fresh fruit slices, a tub of dark chocolate hummus, some homemade oatmeal bars, or vegan granola bars, and cool iced tea for an uplifting al fresco meal.
    3. Tea Time Treat: Serve these muffins as a charming partner to your afternoon tea or coffee, along with mini vegan egg salad and tuna salad sandwiches. They make for a fantastic energy booster during the afternoon lull!
    4. Packed Lunch Surprise: Add a muffin to your or your child's lunchbox, accompanying a vibrant veggie wrap or salad. It's a delightful lunchtime treat that everyone will look forward to!

    🍶 Substitutions

    Adapting these mini muffins for a gluten-free diet? Here are some changes you can consider:

    hand holding a mini banana bread muffin.
    • Gluten-free banana muffins
      • Oat Flour: Replacing All-Purpose wheat flour with oat flour introduces a slightly denser texture and subtly sweet and nutty flavor.
      • Almond Flour: Expect a rich, moist muffin with a pronounced nuttiness. Remember that muffins made with almond flour may not rise as much as those made with all-purpose flour.
      • Gluten-Free Flour Mixture: With our gluten-free flour blend, you can mimic the texture of all-purpose flour. Do note that the flavor might differ slightly, depending on the blend's ingredients.
    • Chia Egg: Flax eggs can step in as binders like chia eggs. Your muffins' texture will stay virtually the same, perhaps with a hint of more nuttiness.
    • Coconut Oil Alternatives:
      • Canola Oil: Much like coconut oil, canola oil is neutral and can be used without significantly altering your muffins' flavor or texture.
      • Vegan Unsalted Butter: Opting for melted butter instead of coconut oil could add richness to your muffins. The flavor might vary slightly based on the specific vegan butter you choose.
    • Brown Sugar Substitute: You can also swap out brown sugar for other types like coconut palm sugar or granulated sugar.

    📖 Variations

    mini banana chocolate chip muffins.
    Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
    • Zesty Banana Lemon Muffins: Give your muffins a gentle citrus spin by adding a tablespoon of lemon zest to your batter. Try two tablespoons for a vibrantly zesty variant if you like bold lemon flavor.
    • Banana nut muffins: Incorporate pumpkin seeds, a mix of chopped nuts, walnuts, or pecans for an enjoyable crunch and an added nutritional boost.
    • Fruit Puree Fusion: Introduce a bit of applesauce into the batter. This increases the sweetness and enhances the moistness of your muffins.
    • For Chocolate Chip Aficionados: Sprinkle a handful of vegan dark mini chocolate chips into the batter for a rich, chocolatey take on this mini muffin recipe, making delicious mini banana chocolate chip muffins.

    🍽 Equipment

    • Muffin Tins: Mini muffin tins are key to shaping your muffins. Without muffin tins, the batter would spread out, failing to create individual portions.
    • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for obtaining the right ingredient quantities. As baking is a precision-driven endeavor, accurate measurements lead to the tastiest results.
    • Mixing Bowl: This is the spot where all your ingredients unite. Opting for a large bowl provides ample space for mixing, minimizing the chance of any messy spills.
    • Spatula: a spatula is ideal for scraping the sides of the bowl to ensure thorough ingredient blending. It's also quite handy for transferring the batter into the muffin tins.

    🥡 How to store muffins?

    • At Room Temperature: Once completely cooled, muffins can be stored at room temperature for about 2-3 days. Just place them in a sealed container or a ziplock bag. To prevent sogginess, consider using parchment paper between layers.
    • In the Refrigerator: Consider refrigeration to keep them fresh for longer. After letting them cool completely, store the muffins in a sealed container. They can stay fresh for up to a week when refrigerated.
    • In the Freezer: For an even longer storage period, you can freeze cooled muffins for up to three months. Wrap each in plastic wrap once completely cooled and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature or gently warm in the oven or microwave.

    Keep in mind, it's essential to allow your muffins to cool entirely before storing them, regardless of your chosen method. If you store them while still warm, condensation can form, resulting in less-than-appealing, soggy muffins.

    ❓ FAQ

    Can I use unripe bananas for this recipe?

    While it's possible to use unripe bananas, ripe or overripe bananas are preferred as they're naturally sweeter and mashed more easily, providing a moist, rich flavor to the muffins. If you only have unripe bananas on hand, you can still use them, but consider adding an extra tablespoon of brown sugar per banana to help replicate the sweet depth of flavor usually achieved with ripe bananas.

    📚 More healthy sweet recipes

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      Easy Sweet Potato Cake
    • chocolate-covered pumpkin protein balls in a plate.
      Healthy Pumpkin Protein Balls (No-Bake Snack)
    • gluten-free pumpkin cookies with spice and cake mix.
      4-ingredient Vegan & Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies
    • Italian plum cake featured.
      Best Italian Plum Cake Recipe (Moist & Fluffy)

    Try out these 3-ingredient low-calorie protein balls, no-bake pumpkin balls, and pumpkin cookies; they are gluten-free and made in minutes.

    mini banana bread muffins in a cooling rack.

    ⭐ If you try this banana muffin recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

    📋 Recipe

    mini banana muffins.

    Dairy-Free Banana Bread Mini Muffins (Back to School)

    Gus
    Discover the joy of plant-based baking with our delightful mini banana muffins. Perfect for a back to school snack, these dairy-free treats are a sweet surprise everyone will love.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Snack, Sweet
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 muffins
    Calories 77 kcal

    Equipment

    glass mixing bowls.
    (affiliate link)
    Glass mixing bowl (affiliate link)
    potato-masher
    (affiliate link)
    Potato masher (affiliate link)
    mini muffins pan.
    (affiliate link)
    Mini muffins pan (affiliate link)

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup mashed bananas ~2 large
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour (180 g)
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar 80 g, or coconut palm sugar
    • ⅓ cup coconut oil melted, or vegetable oil like olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin spice mix
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 tablespoon chia seeds or flax meal
    • ⅓ cup soy milk or oat milk
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice and optional lemon zest
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Optional

    • ¼ cup walnuts crushed, or pecan nuts
    • ¼ cup vegan chocolate chips or chopped baking dark chocolate
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Directions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 ºC).
    • Prepare the chia eggs by combining the chia seeds, lemon juice, and plant milk in a cup, then set aside to allow it to thicken.
    • Mash the bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth.
    • Mix. In a large bowl, mix the coconut oil and coconut palm sugar, add the thickened chia mixture, followed by sieving in the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Ensure all ingredients are well combined but be cautious not to overmix.
    • Grease a mini muffin tin lightly with coconut oil, then distribute the batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each up to ¾ full.
    • Bake your muffins on the middle rack for 15-17 minutes, or until they have achieved a lovely golden brown hue and a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
    • Cool the muffins by gently lifting them out of the tin with the assistance of a knife and transferring them to a wire rack. Remember, it's essential to let them cool entirely before enjoying.

    Video

    Notes

    To make this recipe soy-free, consider using oat milk or almond milk in place of soy milk when preparing the vegan buttermilk and chia seed mixture.

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 77kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gTrans Fat: 0.001gSodium: 68mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 0.4mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram and Hashtag it #ourplantbasedworld so we can see what's cooking!!
    Nutrition Facts
    Dairy-Free Banana Bread Mini Muffins (Back to School)
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    77
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    4
    g
    6
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.001
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    0.3
    g
    Sodium
     
    68
    mg
    3
    %
    Potassium
     
    56
    mg
    2
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    10
    g
    3
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    4
    g
    4
    %
    Protein
     
    1
    g
    2
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    20
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    23
    mg
    2
    %
    Iron
     
    0.4
    mg
    2
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
     
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    🌡️ Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Nutritional Disclaimer

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.

    Affiliate Disclaimer

    Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Liza says

      July 19, 2023 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      My whole family loves these wholesome and nutritious mini muffins! Perfect for an easy breakfast and snacking!

      Reply
    2. Sara Welch says

      July 19, 2023 at 7:25 pm

      5 stars
      Whipped up a batch of these this afternoon and they were a sweet success! Light yet hearty, fluffy and moist; like little bites of heaven, indeed!

      Reply
    3. Jess says

      July 19, 2023 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      I love that I now have a delicious dairy-free option for banana bread muffins. Perfect!

      Reply
    4. Carrie Robinson says

      July 19, 2023 at 4:42 pm

      5 stars
      These would definitely make the perfect fun, on-the-go breakfast idea for busy school mornings! 🙂 Saving this one.

      Reply
    5. Ali says

      July 19, 2023 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      These mini muffins are so cute! They are perfect for my toddler.

      Reply

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