Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 21 Comments

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These Banana Nut Muffins are really all about the taste, but you can't beat a muffin that's also healthier, thanks to whole wheat flour and less sugar.
Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (1)

Over the past (almost) six years of writing this blog, I've learned an important lesson when it comes to recipe development. As much fun as it is to come up with new flavor combinations and crazy original ideas, more often then not, it's the simplest flavors that resonate with you, the readers, and even my family.

Years ago (pre-food blog), I made some banana muffins that my husband and I immediately fell in love with. The texture, the flavor...they had it all. But when I made the muffins again several years later, I was surprised by how sweet they were. My tastebuds had changed, and muffins that resembled cupcakes, rather than healthy snacks, just didn't do it for me anymore.

Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2)

If you visit here often, you already know that I like to lighten things up. It was time to put our old standby banana muffin recipe under the microscope.

First came the flour. I rarely use all-purpose flour anymore, as I've discovered that whole wheat pastry flour (my favorite is the one by Bob's Red Mill) produces a really tender texture, with the benefit of added fiber.

Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (3)

The next victim was the sugar, which I slashed by half. That sounds rather drastic but, to me, the muffins have just the right amount of sweetness, veering away from the cloyingly rich taste of many store-bought muffins (or our banana muffins of the past). In previous muffin recipes, such as my Whole Wheat Carrot Muffins, I've used brown sugar. That would certainly work in this recipe, but I decided to try something new this time. I picked up some organic coconut palm sugar at one of the local supermarkets. Coconut palm sugar has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar (that being said, remember that is still sugar, and should be used sparingly in your diet) and can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio for granulated or brown sugars.

Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (4)

What if you're not a nut lover? That's okay, just leave them out. No harm, no foul.

The result? These muffins got rave reviews from everyone in my family. In fact, both kids and my husband put one in their lunches for the next day. I'd say that's a good day at the office!

Other whole wheat muffin recipes:

Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (5)
Whole Wheat Carrot Muffins
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Spice Latte Muffins

Printable Recipe

Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (6)

Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe

These muffins are really all about the taste, but you can't beat a muffin that's also healthier, thanks to whole wheat flour and less sugar.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breads, Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Vegetarian, Whole Wheat Recipe

Servings: 12 Muffins

Calories: 141kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a muffin tin with cooking spray.

  • In a large bowl, stir together the bananas, coconut palm sugar (or brown sugar), applesauce, egg and vanilla extract.

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

  • Stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until combined. Stir in the pecans.

  • Spoon the muffin batter into the prepared muffin cups.

  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffins comes out clean, 15 to 17 minutes.

  • Remove muffins from the pan and allow to cool. Serve.

Notes

Weight Watchers Points: 4 (Points+), 3 (Old Points)

Nutrition

Serving: 1Muffin | Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 207mg | Potassium: 222mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: This post contains links to my Amazon affiliate page. Any revenue made from sales through these links helps to support this blog. Thank you!

Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (7)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Hanna

    What ingredients are causing the 27.9 grams of cholesterol as stated in the nutritional information. Is it the egg? I'm assuming it was supposed to be milligrams and not grams? I need a no cholesterol recipe for my mum. What can be substituted for this egg? Is it just the egg causing the cholesterol?

    Also, would it come out good with brown sugar rather than honey? Further, would I be able to use paper cups without the muffins sticking?

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Reply

    • Dara

      Yes, that's supposed to read mg. Sorry about that! I haven't tested this recipe with brown sugar, so can't speak to that. However, agave nectar or maple syrup would be good substitutes. I never have much luck with paper cups and usually end up coating them with cooking spray to stop them from sticking.

      For the egg, many people have luck making a vegan flax egg, which is 1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water for one egg. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  2. Rania

    Do you think it will be just as good if I make it into banana bread instead?

    Reply

    • Dara

      I've never tried it as banana bread, but I'd imagine it would be good. Just be sure to increase the baking time. 🙂

      Reply

  3. Caroline Kaufman Nutrition (@sweetfoodie)

    These are my new favorite banana nut muffins. I just sent the recipe to a friend, and I know I'll be sending it along to more! I love that there's only 1/2 cup of sugar and the only sources of fat are from the nuts and one egg, yet they're sweet, rich, and moist from the bananas. Awesome job. Thanks so much 🙂

    Reply

  4. Erin @ Texanerin Baking

    Despite actually reading the post, I hadn't realized you linked to my muffins until now. Embarrassing! Thanks for the link. 🙂

    Reply

  5. Sarah

    These are in my oven right now! I just had a moment of panic thinking I forgot to add butter, but there's not any! My kitchen smells awesome 🙂

    Reply

  6. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl

    We make a similar recipe with walnuts - why don't I ever use pecans?? These look amazing my friend! My boys would devour them!

    Reply

  7. Lauren @ Healthy Delicious

    I agree- classic flavors are classic for a reason! I love these muffins though. Whole wheat pastry flour is really an amazing thing. 🙂

    Reply

« Older Comments

Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

FAQs

How many calories in a whole wheat banana muffin? ›

Calories in Whole Wheat Banana Muffin
Calories230.2
Total Fat7.9 g
Saturated Fat4.9 g
Polyunsaturated Fat0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat0.4 g
8 more rows

Why is my banana muffin hard? ›

Sometimes if the batter of muffins is over mixed or overcooked it results into hard muffins.

How ripe do bananas need to be for muffins? ›

Save. Mile-high moist and flavorful banana muffins are sure to become your new favorite recipe. Be sure to use very ripe bananas that are deeply spotted and almost black for moist and flavorful muffins. Add in nuts or chocolate chips, or leave plain!

Can you use bread flour to make muffins? ›

1 cup All-Purpose Flour = 1 cup Bread Flour

But muffins, cookies, and pie crusts made with Bread Flour will be a little tougher and chewier. To help with the texture differences, make sure to mix your dough as little as possible, since mixing develops gluten and makes baked goods tough.

Are whole wheat muffins good for you? ›

Whole wheat English muffins may be especially beneficial for maintaining a moderate weight. Not only do they contain more fiber than other varieties, but studies suggest that a higher intake of whole grains may be linked to a lower body weight and a lower body mass index ( 1 , 7 ).

How many carbs are in a whole wheat muffin? ›

Muffin, whole wheat contains 36 calories per 10 g serving. This serving contains 1.8 g of fat, 0.7 g of protein and 4.4 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 2 g sugar and 0.4 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Muffin, whole wheat contains 0.3 g of saturated fat and 5.4 mg of cholesterol per serving.

What not to do when making muffins? ›

Here are some common mistakes that might be causing this:
  1. Over mixing the batter.
  2. Overfilling the muffin tray.
  3. Leaving the muffins in the pan after they have baked.
  4. Berries, nuts, and chocolate chips sink to the bottom.
Mar 12, 2019

How can I make my muffins more moist? ›

How to Make Homemade Muffins Moist: Our Top Tips
  1. Tips to Make Homemade Muffins Moist.
  2. Keep Wet and Dry Ingredients Separately.
  3. Add All Flavorings Last.
  4. Consider Paper Liners.
  5. Don't Overfill the Muffin Cups.
  6. Check the Temperature of Your Oven.
  7. Test if Muffins Are Fully Cooked.
  8. Top Your Muffins with Flavor.
Aug 9, 2021

How do you keep homemade muffins moist? ›

If muffins are left exposed, the moisture starts to leak from them and they dry out. To store muffins up to 4 days, line an airtight container or zip-lock bag with paper towel and store the muffins in a single layer. Place another layer of paper towel on top of the muffins as well.

When should you throw away bananas? ›

Mold on bananas is fuzzy white, gray, or greenish—it looks a lot like mold on bread. If a banana smells rotten or fermented or is leaking fluid, it's time to say goodbye. If the fruit inside, not just the peel, is black, that's a sign that your banana is too far gone to safely eat.

Is it good to eat a banana before going to bed? ›

Bananas are a Sleep-Friendly Snack: Bananas contain essential nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B6, which can promote better sleep quality. These nutrients help reduce muscle cramps, lower stress and anxiety, and support the production of sleep-regulating hormones like serotonin and melatonin.

What can you do with old bananas? ›

What to Do with Overripe Bananas
  1. Mash Into Oatmeal. Breakfast is a great time to take advantage of the energy boost that comes from eating the natural sugars in bananas. ...
  2. Blend Into Waffle or Pancake Batter. ...
  3. Make Banana Muffins. ...
  4. Bake Banana Cookies. ...
  5. Add to a Smoothie. ...
  6. Turn Into Ice Cream. ...
  7. Whip Up Beignets.
Mar 12, 2024

What type of flour is best for muffins? ›

You can use either all-purpose flour or pastry flour; all-purpose flour gives you a sturdier muffin while a pastry flour muffin will be lighter and more delicate.

What is the healthiest flour for muffins? ›

Quinoa flour is great for pancakes, muffins, and pizza and pie crusts. You can also use it to thicken soups and sauces. Quinoa flour is a grain-based, gluten-free flour that's high in protein, iron, fiber, and unsaturated fats.

Can you substitute whole wheat flour for all-purpose in muffins? ›

Generally speaking, substituting whole wheat can result in a drier, denser product. This likely isn't a problem when you're making muffins or quick breads, but using all whole wheat flour may be too heavy for cakes and cookies.

How many calories in a whole wheat muffin? ›

There are 333 calories in 1 medium Whole Wheat Muffin. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

How many calories are in 1 banana bread muffin? ›

Muffins, banana (1 medium - approx 2 3/4" to 3" diameter) contains 53.5g total carbs, 51.4g net carbs, 12.4g fat, 6.6g protein, and 348 calories.

How many calories in a homemade banana nut muffin? ›

Common serving sizes:
Serving SizeCalories
1 oz86
1 small200
100 g303
1 medium342
1 more row
Aug 27, 2020

How many calories in a banana but muffin? ›

Common serving sizes:
Serving SizeCalories
1 miniature58
1 small200
100 g303
1 medium342
2 more rows
Aug 27, 2020

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