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Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Muffin Recipe – A moist, delicious and super healthy muffin loaded with dark chocolate chips, flaxseed meal and whole oats.
I know, you must be surprised. I’m kind of surprised myself. I’m posting a super healthy recipe that is wonderfully delicious and includes dark chocolate chips. What a deal! These muffins are made with no added sugar and have only been sweetened with honey, bananas and applesauce.
While not a cupcake, this Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Muffin Recipe has a dessert quality that can be appealing to our little ones, especially when we try to provide good choices and get away from processed sugar as much as possible.
With school already starting back in many areas, a good grab-and-go breakfast can be weighing heavily on our minds. I recently read that the cereal industry is seeing a slump in sales. The article said that’s because Millennials aren’t eating as much cereal in the morning as previous generations…because they don’t want to have to wash the bowl! I can’t imagine that nobody wants to pour some milk over a bowl of cereal and wash the bowl; how hard is that?
Or, the problem of lagging sales could have something to do with a healthier generation looking to get away from sugar loaded and artificially colored cereals. I’m not a nutritionist, but I can see that brightly dyed, processed sugar coated cereals have done nothing for our society’s health. Does it seem weird then, that I post desserts on a regular basis? It may to some, but we try t0 avoid all the other things that come with added sugar, such as many breakfast cereals that are typically targeted to appeal to kids.
We “save room for dessert” by eating a mostly plant based diet loaded with vegetables, whole grains and healthier choices overall (most of the time!).
I recently posted a recipe for Lactation Cookies. The cookies were originally made for my daughter and daughter-in-law because they’re both still nursing their babies and work hard to maintain a good milk supply. Breast-feeding is the most natural thing in the world. The health benefits are widely known and the cost of formula is outrageous. With all that in mind, I developed these super healthy muffins based on that cookie recipe.
However we can all benefit from a healthier muffin; babies, children and young adults all need healthy choices. Most of all, I would rather them have this muffin for breakfast than a bowl of funny shaped cereal. This is a tasty, healthy and delicious choice perfect for the whole family!
My Traveling Husband, son, and son-in-law all love the cookies and muffins as much as the girls do. They sometimes make sarcastic comments about ‘lactating’ while scarfing these down…but they’d eat the whole batch if I let them.
Finally, this super Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Muffin recipe is loaded with ground flaxseed, oats and brewer’s yeast. That makes these muffins the perfect grab-and-go breakfast, or after school snack, or a great way to pump-up your milk supply while nursing.
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Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Muffin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 ripe bananas mashed with a fork
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/2 cup 4 ounces unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed meal
- 2 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips plus extra for muffin tops
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, honey, mashed bananas, melted coconut oil, applesauce, and vanilla until blended.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the pastry flour, pats, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder, flaxseed meal and brewer’s yeast. Whisk until combined.
- Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until combined. Add the chopped nuts and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Fold together with a spatula until combined.
- Fill the muffins to the top of each liner then top with a few chocolate chips or extra whole lots for a garnish.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool.
Recipe Notes
All-purpose flour may be substituted for the whole wheat pastry flour, although the texture may be a little different.
Finally, I’m off to the kitchen to do something with a “pile-o-tomatoes” from our garden. A girl can only eat so many tomato sandwiches in one day. And you know I’ll come back soon with another rich dessert, but it’s all about the balance! Guess I better hit the treadmill too 🙂 Have a lovely weekend and thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
Ceri says
Can I ask if you know roughly what the calorie value do these lovely looking muffins? I’m looking for some snack ideas that are around 100 calories.
Many thanks
Tricia Buice says
Hi Ceri – I have not calculated the nutritional information for these muffins. I think Weight Watchers has an app you can use to create recipes and gather calorie information. Sorry!
Pat C.Wilson says
Dear Tricia, I love all your recipes because they always fresh me up. my kids love bananas so this is a great idea for me to prepare a lunch at school for them. thanks for sharing. Love from me xoxo
Patricia Ohlhoff says
Made these for my super-fussy granddaughters today….the 9 year old helped make them…and the 11 year-old ate THREE!! of them when she returned from playing two soccer games. My son-in-law loves them too!!! Thanks Tricia for this amazing, healthy breakfast muffin recipe!! Warm regards from another Trisha☺️
Tricia Buice says
How wonderful! I love cooking with youngsters 🙂 I am so pleased they liked these and thank you so much for letting me know they were a success all around. Thanks so much Trisha! Have a lovely weekend.
Platt College says
These look yummy and healthy to boot!
Monica says
Something healthy that looks and sounds this good is screaming my name, Tricia! I was thinking I need to load up on muffins soon since my son devours them readily and it’ll help get him out the door for school in the morning (we have an earlier start now that we’re heading to middle school) so this is very handy. Hope you’re enjoying these last official days of summer!!
Tricia Buice says
I guess you must be torn between school starting and having your son home. I hope he enjoys middle school. The recipe is a good one and I hope he enjoys the muffins!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
I just love it when healthy looks and tastes more delicious than junk food and this is a definite preference to cereal! Such a great recipe, Tricia, and I’m going to make these for my little nephews for next week when they start back to school. Thanks!
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Robyn! I hope they love them too 🙂
Mandy says
Wonderful alternative to a cupcake Tricia.
Have a beautiful weekend ahead.
🙂 Mandy xo
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Mandy – hope you have a great “spring-like” weekend!
Gerlinde @ Sunnycovechef says
I am always looking for healthy recipes and these muffins fit the bill. I love the taste of honey . Have a great weekend.
Tricia Buice says
I love honey too Gerlinde – have a great weekend!
Chris Scheuer says
I love muffins for breakfast but most of them are so loaded with sugar and carbs I feel like I have to go back to bed for a nap! These sound wonderful and with all those great ingredients sound like they’d give everyone lots of energy for the day ahead!
Tricia Buice says
I hear you Chris – we have the same problem. These really satisfy in a good way! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
Love these muffins! I’m always looking for healthy muffin recipes to make up and keep in the freezer. Always a great snack.
Tricia Buice says
These freeze beautifully Jennifer – we love a good hearty but healthy muffin to keep us going!
Katherine | Omnivore's Cookbook says
These make me wanna go back to school! Looks perfect. Definitely an A+!
Tricia Buice says
Haha – thanks Katherine!
cheri says
We eat tomatoes sandwiches too, so funny. Anyway, love these delicious looking healthy muffins…… and a little chocolate in the morning to get me going is a great thing. Thanks Tricia, take care!
Tricia Buice says
Dark chocolate is good for us right Cheri? Especially first thing in the morning 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I am all for the healthy and delicious treats. These muffins are perfect and right up my alley, Tricia.
Tricia Buice says
I always think of you when I make something healthy Angie – glad you like the recipe!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
I can’t resist a muffin like this in the morning, and the bonus chocolate chips just make it all the more tempting, what a great way to send kids off to school, too. I have to get some Brewer’s yeast, I never see it!
Tricia Buice says
These muffins really stick with you too Sue – thanks – have a great weekend!