Banana Oat Muffins – Healthy Gluten-Free Recipe
These eminently healthy and naturally sweetened Banana Oat Muffins are the ideal go-to snack, delectable dessert, or even a filling breakfast or dinner idea, made only with 6 simple main ingredients, gluten-free, and requiring only 5 minutes of your time for preparation! No need for complicated steps and hard-to-find ingredients, but luckily the ones you probably already have in your kitchen!
These super nutritious Banana Oat Muffins are the perfect indulging dessert for a busy weeknight, especially when you’re highly overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and desperately crave something sweet to calm your nerves + healthy, and refined-sugar-free!
In case you’re embarking on a journey of healthy, non-processed, and toxic food diet, and on a hunt for something delectably filling, healthy, but to naturally satisfy your sugar cravings at times (I know how hard it can be to find some natural sweets that won’t mess with your healthy diet), this recipe is definitely going to be found of your favorites list! I’m like you, it’s on mine’s too!
However, I also know how hard and challenging cutting it out can be when you truly want it (when you’re aware of its consequences), and even more, finding healthy alternatives to satisfy your sugar cravings, but if you have lost hope, girl, shh, come back asap, I have good news for you! You’re going to LOVE THESE!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
- It only takes 5 minutes of preparation time + SO EASY – this recipe will only take 5 minutes of your time for preparation with an insanely simple few steps – mixing all ingredients together, and putting them into the muffin baking pan. That’s the whole philosophy! Simple and practical, right?
- You only need 6 simple main ingredients – This Banana Oat Muffins recipe only calls for a handful of everyday ingredients, you probably already have in your kitchen, so there’s probably no need to run to your nearest farmer’s market or store to get them.
- Super Healthy + No refined sugar – naturally sweetened – why do we need to constantly add artificially refined sugars into every cake, when we can naturally sweeten it with fruits? Did you know that dates are widely used as a natural substitute for sugars? Healthline even says that even though dates contain a lot of calories and natural sugars, research indicates that they probably don’t have the same profound effect on blood sugar levels as table sugar. (1) Whether that’s true or not, fruits in their natural form are always a much better option than anything refined.
Ingredients You Need
Banana – You’ll need one large banana or 2 smaller ones. The ripper banana, the sweeter the muffin will taste. So, ideally, if you have some leftover ripe bananas, this is the perfect way to use them!
Egg – You’ll need one medium egg at the room temperature so that it helps to add structure, flavor, texture or act as a leavening agent.
Honey – without the need for additional sugars or artificial sweeteners, honey may naturally sweeten and flavor your cake. Many health advantages come from raw honey that has been separated from the honeycomb. During processing, some of honey’s beneficial components, like bee pollen and antioxidants, may be lost. Sweeteners may also be added to it. (2)
Plain yogurt – These muffins are light and fluffy because the yogurt activates the baking soda and keeps the muffins wet without using a lot of oil. Alternatively, you can use butter instead of yogurt to give richness, tenderness and structure.
Oat flour – In comparison to most other grains, oats are richer in fat and protein and lower in carbohydrates and fiber. They are loaded with nutrients and vitamins. You can use the original oat flour or make your own by blending oats.
Baking powder & Baking soda – Allows baked goods to rise and become light and fluffy.
Cinnamon (optional) – adds a delicious warming effect to the muffins and is also packed with various nutritious ingredients, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Dark chocolate (optional) – You can use some high-quality dark chocolate chips
Alternatives, Tips And Ideas
- Use ripe bananas – the ripper banana, the sweeter the muffin will taste. So, ideally, if you have some leftover ripe bananas, this is the perfect way to use them!
- Yogurt alternative – In case you don’t have yogurt at hand, you can use melted butter instead and add even more richness and flavor. Both help the muffins get the required tenderness and moisture. There are also some other possible alternatives like applesauce, but I haven’t tried it.
- Be organized – honestly, can’t count how many times I forgot to pre-heat the oven before the whole preparation process since it requires only 5 minutes (maximum 10) to prepare everything. So, be wiser, and more organized, and pre-heat the oven before, and prepare your muffin baking pan (+ the first time, I wasn’t sure whether or not putting the mixture straight into the pan muffin holes would be a wise idea, so I wasted 10 more minutes covering each with parchment paper.. yeah *facepalm*)
Banana Oat Muffins – Soft, Gluten-Free, Healthy Version Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large banana (or 2 smaller ones)
- 1 medium egg
- ½ + 2 tbsp oat flour
- ⅓ plain yogurt (can be substituted with butter)
- 2-3 tbsp raw unsweetened honey
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- high-quality (at least 70% cacao) dark chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Set oven temperature to 400°F (200°C). A 6 or 8-standard muffin tray can be lightly greased or lined with parchment paper squares. Grease the liners, if you are using them, very lightly. Put aside.
- In a medium bowl mash the banana and whisk an egg into it. Add all the remaining ingredients (flour, yogurt, honey, baking powder, and baking soda + chocolate chips if you're using) and mix it all with a spatula until well incorporated.
- Divide the batter among the paper liners. (They will be very full.) Sprinkle with extra oats and cinnamon, if desired, and place to bake for 20-30 minutes or until well-baked.
Notes
- Use a scale to measure your flour and oats accurately! The most common cause of thick muffins is over-adding flour or rolled oats to the mix. A scale is the most accurate and convenient tool for measuring goods, particularly flour.
- Avoid overmixing the recipe as this might result in thick muffins or a lot of holes in the crumb.
- For uniformly sized muffins, use an ice cream scoop.
- If you choose not to use paper liners, be sure to completely butter and flour the muffin pan wells or use nonstick cooking spray. Before taking the muffins out of the tin, allow them to cool for at least 10 minutes.
