Banana Bread Muffins Recipe – Easy & Quick!

Updated February 2021

Banana bread muffins are an easy way to use brown bananas and create a breakfast or snack that your entire family will gobble up. Plus, the brown sugar topping in this recipe makes it unique and adds a little crunch too.

Trust me, this banana bread recipe will become an instant family favorite in your household.  I can’t recommend it enough. And be sure to follow my tips and tricks below to make the perfect muffins every time.

The Ultimate Snack Using Ripe Bananas

Would you believe me if I told you that my daughter ate six of these banana bread muffins in one day? Yep, six. I’m not sure where she puts them. I can’t blame her, though, because these banana muffins are that good. They are great to make in big batches to freeze for a quick breakfast, brunch, or after-school snack.

I feel like we always have leftover bananas. Even though we all love bananas and eat them regularly, sometimes a few still slip through the cracks and end up turning brown. I’ve made so many different muffin recipes using bananas, and so far these are my favorite. It is easy to see why these have become so popular with the family. They are easy to put together and bake, and there is just nothing like warm, delicious muffins right out of the oven with a little melted butter. Yum!

Why Muffins Are The Best Way To Eat Banana Bread

Let’s be honest; the best part about banana bread is the outside browned edges. I usually eat a slice of banana bread from the outside in because I want that outer crust first! When you bake banana bread in a loaf pan, the inside gets fluffy, but you have way less surface area that comes into contact with the pan than you do when baking muffins. This means fewer brown edges.

Instead, a muffin tin allows for the batter to have crispy browned outside edges with every single bite! Also, the butter and sugar topping caramelizes on the sides of each muffin, so you get a lovely caramelized crunch around your banana bread muffin.

I have also made these into mini muffins using a mini muffin pan. This way, the mini muffins can be popped into your mouth in one bite!

Ingredients For Banana Bread Muffins

This easy recipe can be changed to fit anyone’s taste, such as adding chopped walnuts or wheat flour. Everything you will need for these banana bread muffins is:

• 1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 mashed bananas
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• Brown sugar topping:
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tbsp butter

How To Make Banana Bread Muffins

Add all your dry ingredients to a mixing bowl and combine well.

In a separate large bowl (large enough that you can whisk or use a hand mixer) or in your stand mixer, mix the wet ingredients.

Once both are mixed separately, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and keep on mixing until the banana bread muffin batter is just combined. Don’t over mix these or they won’t be as light and fluffy.

Fill muffin pan slots about 3/4 of the way up with batter. You don’t have to line the tins since the muffins come out pretty easily without them, but it doesn’t hurt if you do want to line them.

In a small bowl, mix up the brown sugar and butter crumb topping using a fork, and place a spoonful (or more) on each banana bread muffin.

Now, you are ready to bake for 17–19 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. All that’s left to do is enjoy this simple banana muffin recipe!

Banana Bread Tips And Tricks

• Make a batch and freeze the extra to defrost later in the week for breakfast or an after-school snack.
• Add chocolate chips to make them a bit sweeter.  Everyone needs chocolate for breakfast!
• Turn this recipe into banana bread by using a bread pan rather than a muffin pan.
• To help ripen bananas that are not quite brown enough, place them in a brown paper bag and close loosely.
• You can also brown bananas by placing them on a baking sheet and putting them in an oven at 300 degrees for 40 minutes. Once the skin is black, they are browned and ready to be used in this banana bread muffin recipe.

FAQs About Banana Bread Muffins

Are Banana Muffins Bad For You?

This answer depends on how much butter and sugar is in the muffins. Bananas are naturally good for you and have lots of potassium. If you like your muffins sweet, the sugar content will be higher, therefore the muffins might be slightly less healthy.

Should You Refrigerate Banana Muffins?

You can certainly refrigerate your leftover muffins to keep them fresh. I like to store my muffins for tomorrow’s breakfast or after-school snack inan airtight container in the fridge. This way, the muffins stay fresh for days after baking!

How Do You Keep Muffins Moist When Baking?

Butter is the best ingredient to help keep muffins moist while baking. I recommend using a high-quality butter to have the best texture and flavor throughout your muffins, such as grass-fed or Irish butter.

You should also avoid over-mixing your batter to ensure optimal texture. Over-mixing works the gluten in the flour too much, resulting in a tough, dense muffin.

At What Temperature Should I Bake The Muffins?

Bake these muffins at 350 degrees F. so that the oven is not too hot and not too cold. Any lower and the muffins would not be as browned on the outside,. Any higher and the batter will burn before the inside gets a chance to cook fully.

Are Muffins Better With Oil Or Butter?

This depends on the muffin itself and your preferences. I personally like to make cakes and muffins with butter, and brownies with oil. Brownies are dense and can handle oil, whereas cakes and muffins are tender and delicate, which I believe calls for butter. 

Recipes Similar To Banana Bread Muffins

• If you are a major dessert person, you have to try this Easy Rum Cake Recipe! The rum gives a special touch that is irresistible!
• Apple Pie Bites are an amazing treat that is also great for breakfast or an after-school snack!
• If you love muffins as much as my family does, try out this Bite-Size Peanut Butter Muffins recipe!