Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Triple chocolate banana muffins, chock full of dark chocolate chunks and mini chocolate chips, are nutritious and filling with whole wheat flour and very little oil. This muffin recipe is dark chocolate decadent yet healthier than you would think.
How long it takes: 38 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: mixing bowls, muffin tins, oven
Servings: 18 muffins
Chocolate + Banana
The words “triple chocolate” always get my attention, how about you? I rarely can resist anything that boasts triple chocolate and these muffins are no exception.
Add bananas to the mix and I’m a goner, for sure. You’ll find all sorts of recipes that combine bananas and chocolate on my site, like banana chocolate chip cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting. Bet that got your attention, didn’t it? Or how about a chocolate banana milkshake? And of course, there’s good ol’ chocolate banana bread!
But here’s a little secret: These triple chocolate banana muffins are actually pretty good for you. They’re still a treat, for sure, but one that you don’t have to sacrifice calories for the rest of the day.
Triple Chocolate Banana muffins
Triple chocolate! If you’re observant, you may have noticed I’ve only mentioned chocolate chunks and mini chocolate chips. That makes these muffins double chocolate, right? As you can probably guess, cocoa powder is added to the muffin batter, and there you have it, triple chocolate banana muffins.
Better than bakery muffins. Homemade beats bakery or store-bought muffins hands down. Homemade muffins are more nutritious, lower in fat and sugar, with no added preservatives. They are easy to make and much less expensive.
Healthier ingredients. This is a basic muffin recipe made healthier with the substitution of whole wheat flour for all-purpose flour. Whole wheat flour adds nutrition and fiber. Applesauce and mashed bananas make the muffins extra moist, replacing nearly all the fat that is usually found in muffin recipes. Cocoa powder is unsweetened and is loaded with antioxidants and other nutrients.
Cooking Tip
If your cocoa powder has hard lumps, press it through a flour sifter or a fine strainer into the mixing bowl.How To Make Chocolate Banana Muffins
In a large bowl, mash three ripe bananas, and add sugar, eggs, applesauce (insider tip: one of the snack sized containers is exactly the right amount), vanilla extract and merely a couple tablespoons of oil. Blend the dry ingredients into the wet, lightly mixing the batter until it’s just combined.
Spoon the batter into muffin cups, sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, and bake. Drop everything and enjoy at least one warm muffin, while the chocolate is still soft and melty, to experience the best ever chocolate bliss.
Easy to make and irresistible, triple chocolate banana muffins will be a regular visitor in your kitchen but they won’t stay long! They’ll disappear before you know it.
Tips For Success
- Don’t overmix the batter. Fold in the dry ingredients until they are just moistened.
- Watch the time. I usually set the timer for a bit less than the recipe calls for because everyone’s oven varies. Use the toothpick test: Insert a toothpick in the center of the muffin. If it comes out clean or with a crumb or two, the muffin is ready to take out of the oven. If it comes out with batter sticking to it, set the timer for a couple more minutes.
- Follow my recipes. I always test my muffin recipes multiple times so they’ll turn out perfectly for you.
Recipe Variations
- Add different types of chips. Replace the chocolate chunks and mini chocolate chips with regular chocolate chips, or mix it up and use white chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.
- Whole wheat flour not your thing? My family has gotten used to whole wheat in most recipes but if you don’t stock it in your kitchen, simply substitute all-purpose flour.
- Applesauce alternatives: Plain yogurt (regular or Greek), sour cream, or milk can be substituted.
- Reduce the sugar. I often make this recipe with at least one third less sugar (½ cup). The riper the bananas, the less sugar you’ll need.
- Rather not have chocolate muffins? Try whole wheat banana muffins with streusel, banana bread muffins, or one of the recipes listed below.
- Looking for banana bread instead? My whole wheat banana bread is a staple in my house.
- Gluten-free: Replace the whole wheat flour with gluten-free flour. Alternatively, try this banana muffin recipe from my friend at Well Plated for Gluten-Free Muffins, with almond flour, mashed bananas, and coconut oil.
How To Freeze Bananas
Ripe bananas can be frozen so that you always have some on hand for recipes like this one. Simply slice the bananas, place in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze for an hour or so, and then put into freezer safe bags (see how to freeze bananas). If you have lots of ripe bananas, be sure to check out my list of 16 banana recipes!
How to store: While triple chocolate banana muffins are out of this world good when they’re warm, they’re great at room temperature too. If you have any muffins left over, cool them completely before storing them in an airtight container. They’ll keep for a few days on the counter or a week in the fridge.
Make ahead: Make a double batch of muffins, put the extra muffins in a freezer bag and freeze for up to a month. For a great lunch box treat, freeze the muffins in individual bags. A frozen muffin will be thawed by lunchtime and is guaranteed to put a smile on the recipient’s face.
More Muffin Recipes
Triple Chocolate Banana Muffins – healthier!
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat flour (see note)
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chocolate chunks
- 1 ½ cups mashed ripe banana (about 4 bananas)
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup applesauce
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray muffin tins (18 wells) with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir in chocolate chunks. Set aside.2 cups whole wheat flour, ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 cup chocolate chunks
- In a large bowl, mash bananas (see note). Add sugar, applesauce, oil, vanilla extract, and eggs. Whisk to combine all wet ingredients.1 ½ cups mashed ripe banana, ¾ cup sugar, ½ cup applesauce, 2 tablespoons canola oil, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 2 large eggs, beaten
- Stir in the flour mixture into the banana mixture just until the flour is incorporated. Don't overmix the batter; a few lumps are okay.
- Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin tins. Sprinkle each muffin with mini chocolate chips.¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean and muffins are firm, 18 to 20 minutes.
- Transfer muffin tins to a wire rack and let cool 5 minutes. Remove muffins from tin and cool completely on wire rack, or better yet, enjoy warm.
Notes
- Bananas: Since bananas vary widely in size, it’s best to measure the bananas after you mash them to make sure you have 1 ½ cups of mashed banana.
- Flour: Substitute all-purpose flour for some or all of the whole wheat flour, if you prefer.
- Applesauce substitutes: Use the same amount of plain yogurt (regular or Greek), sour cream, or milk instead of applesauce.
- Possible variations: Replace the chocolate chunks and mini chocolate chips with regular chocolate chips. Mix it up and use white chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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