Craving soft, moist banana bread muffins with tall bakery-style tops? This easy recipe transforms overripe bananas into your new favorite breakfast treat, ready in just 30 minutes. Perfect for grab-and-go mornings or afternoon snacks, these muffins burst with banana flavor and welcome mix-ins like chocolate chips or walnuts.
3 large overripe bananas (about 1 1/2 cups mashed)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/4 cup vegetable oil (or canola)
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tsp vinegar)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Optional Add-ins (up to 1 cup total):
Chocolate chips
Chopped walnuts or pecans
Cinnamon (1 tsp for spice)
1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Spray lightly for easy release.
2.
3. Mash bananas in a large bowl until smooth (a few small chunks add texture). Stir in melted butter, oil, brown sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla until combined.
4.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
6.
7. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet batter with a spatula. Mix just until no flour streaks remain – lumps are okay. Fold in chocolate chips or nuts now.
8.
9. For streusel: Mix 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, pinch of salt. Cut in 2 tbsp cold cubed butter with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.
10.
11. Fill liners 3/4 full (use an ice cream scoop for even portions).
12.
13. Bake at 425°F for 8 minutes. Reduce to 350°F without opening the door. Bake 7-10 more minutes until toothpick comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter). Centers register 200°F.
14.
15. Cool in tin 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Enjoy warm.
Start with speckled or brown bananas – they mash easily and pack sweet flavor.
Room-temperature eggs and buttermilk prevent curdling and ensure even rise.
Avoid overmixing: Stop when flour disappears to keep muffins tender.
High initial oven temp shocks batter for tall domes; don’t skip the temp drop.
Weigh flour (250g per cup) for precision if possible.
No buttermilk? Mix 1/2 cup milk + 1/2 tsp lemon juice; let sit 5 minutes.
Storage: Counter up to 3 days airtight. Fridge 1 week. Freeze 3 months – wrap individually.
Nutrition (per muffin, plain): 245 cal, 38g carbs, 4g protein, 10g fat, 22g sugar, 2g fiber.