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    Hummusapien » Recipes » Snacks » Healthy Chocolate Banana Muffins (no added sugar!)
    ★★★★★ from 18 reviews

    Healthy Chocolate Banana Muffins (no added sugar!)

    Published Mar 17, 2022 · Modified Jun 21, 2023 · by Alexis Joseph · 151 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Healthy Chocolate Banana Muffins sweetened with dates and banana for a tasty, satisfying snack with no added sugar! Free of eggs, dairy, and gluten.

    plate of chocolate muffins

    This recipe came into the world because my bananas were so overripe that I swear they were starting to ferment. Can bananas turn into wine? Maybe that's why these tasted so spectacular.

    These stunners are super moist with a delightfully crisp top. They're banana-y and chocolatey in the most sensational way. Just sweet enough from bananas and dates but not the teeth hurting kind.

    They're made in the food processor instead of two bowls for easy peasy clean up! See, I'm always thinking about you guys.

    hands holding muffins

    I was actually shocked at how great these turned out. I thought they might taste like chocolatey hockey pucks. Or banana-y cardboard. Sometimes I surprise myself.

    How to make healthy chocolate banana muffins

    1. Blend bananas, dates, oil, and vanilla in a food processor until smooth.
    2. Add almond and oat flour, cacao, salt, and baking soda. Blend until you don't see any more flour. It's quite thick!
    3. Spoon batter into muffin tin. Bake for about 25 minutes and devour!
    food processor with muffin batter

    Key ingredients and tips

    No added sugar, gluten, dairy, or eggs...oh my!

    • Bananas: One of our lovely natural sweeteners! I like to use extra ripe mashed bananas for sweeter muffins but regular yellow bananas will work too for slightly less sweet muffins.
    • Medjool dates: The one and only. I buy them in bulk at Costco but all grocery stores have them now. If they're dry and hard, remove the pit and pop them in a bowl of hot water to soften up.
    • Oat flour: I blend oats quickly in the Nutribullet to make my own. Use certified gluten free if needed.
    • Almond flour: For delicate sweet flavor and amazing fats that lend a beautiful crumb.
    • Cacao powder: Any unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe. I like using raw cacao for an extra antioxidant punch.
    • Ground flax: To help bind the muffins and an extra boost of healthy fats.
    • Baking soda: Essential for a nice rise.
    • Avocado oil: Just a couple tablespoons for moist texture. Melted and cooled coconut oil or canola oil also work.
    • Vanilla extract: Love how this brings out the amazing chocolate flavor. A teaspoon of instant espresso powder would be delish here, too!
    • Chocolate chips: Optional for extra chocolate goodness! You can also use dark chocolate chunks. These will add a bit of added sugar.
    chocolate muffins in tin

    Storage tips

    You can keep these muffins in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 3 days.

    Can you freeze muffins?

    Yes, I love freezing muffins for easy snacks! You can freeze completely cooled muffins on a lined baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer baggie and squeeze all the air out (this prevents them from sticking together).

    They'll keep for 3 months in the freezer.

    More banana recipes to enjoy

    • Almond Flour Chocolate Banana Bread
    • Gluten Free Banana Bread
    • Banana Bread Protein Bars
    • Banana Oatmeal Cookies
    Print
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    plate of chocolate muffins

    Healthy Chocolate Banana Muffins Recipe

    ★★★★★ 5 from 18 reviews
    • Author: Alexis Joseph
    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 25 mins
    • Total Time: 35 mins
    • Yield: 9 muffins 1x
    • Category: Snack
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Healthy Chocolate Banana Muffins sweetened with dates and banana for a tasty, satisfying snack with no added sugar! Free of eggs, dairy, and gluten. Recipe makes 9 muffins.


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 medium overripe bananas
    • 2 tbsp avocado oil, melted (can sub coconut oil)
    • 8 large soft medjool dates, pitted
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 cup almond flour
    • 1 ¼ cups oat flour*
    • ¼ cup cacao powder (can sub cocoa powder)
    • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
    • ¾ tsp baking soda
    • ½ tsp fine sea salt

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a muffin tin with silicone liners or spray with cooking spray.
    2. Place bananas, coconut oil, dates and vanilla in the bowl of a large food processor. Blend until very smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed with a rubber spatula.
    3. Add almond flour, oat flour, cacao powder, flax, baking soda, and salt. Process until combined, being sure not to over-mix. The mixture will be very thick.
    4. Spoon mixture evenly into 9 muffin cups. Top each muffin with a few chocolate chips (these have added sugar) if you fancy! Wet your fingers and gently press down the top of each muffin to get rid of any peaks.
    5. Bake for about 25 minutes. Cool muffins in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store cooled muffins at room temperature for up to 3 days and then store in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    *I make my own oat flour by grinding old fashioned oats in the Nutribullet until it forms a fine powder.

    Keywords: healthy chocolate banana muffins

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @hummusapien on Instagram. I love sharing what you make!

    About Alexis Joseph


    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Haley says

      September 16, 2023 at 9:22 pm

      These look AMAZING! Just made your sweet potato muffins and they were perfection. Love that these are sweetened with dates - do you think it would be possible to use deglet nour dates instead of medjool? I have a massive Costco bag I needa use! Thanks for your blog, I'm excited to explore more(:

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        September 17, 2023 at 12:58 pm

        Hey there! Hmmm I’ve never tried with any other kind of date so I can’t say for certain. If you do try it please let me know!

        Reply
    2. Katelyn Jacob says

      February 08, 2023 at 1:24 pm

      Hi, I was wondering if a blender would work instead of a food processor?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 08, 2023 at 6:27 pm

        Hi! The batter is suuuuper thick. Unless you have a blender where you'd made a thick batter before successfully, I wouldn't recommend it!

        Reply
    3. Karen says

      August 14, 2022 at 5:26 pm

      In instructions it says to add oats in #3. but in ingredients there are no oats?

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        August 14, 2022 at 6:49 pm

        Shoot--just updated this! Just oat flour 🙂 Thanks, Karen!

        Reply
    4. Kori Daniel says

      March 23, 2022 at 2:26 pm

      Fantastic recipe! I made these last night, and I absolutely love having a homemade baked good to enjoy. Your recipes are stellar! A coworker saw me eating it, and he asked for the recipe for him and his wife. I shared it and your baby banana muffins. Spreading the wealth that is your blog!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        March 23, 2022 at 5:00 pm

        Thanks a TON Kori! And how fun that your coworker got in on the goodness, too 🙂

        Reply
    5. Dylan says

      March 22, 2022 at 10:49 am

      These are so good, and love that they are sweetened with dates only!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        March 22, 2022 at 7:12 pm

        AMEN!!

        Reply
    6. Michele says

      March 17, 2022 at 1:18 pm

      I make your original chocolate banana muffins (with the coffee grounds) a lot and they’re always delicious. My teenage son devours them! I see this recipe has some tweaks to the old one - will have to bake and compare! But I’m sure both will be equally yummy. Thanks for all your lovely recipes!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        March 17, 2022 at 8:02 pm

        Love it! This is the exact same recipe, I just removed the coffee to simplify the ingredients a bit 🙂 Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Alisha says

      March 14, 2022 at 8:39 pm

      I love these! A guild free snack when I’m craving a yummy treat 😋

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. andrea jensen says

      March 16, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      I am excited to find this recipe! My kids are allergic to eggs, peanuts and milk. Now they are on a 3-month elimination diet and can't have gluten or almond either. Do you have any suggestion for replacing the almond meal? Thanks so much. I love your blog btw.

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 16, 2018 at 4:35 pm

        Yay! You could use cashew meal? I haven’t tried it with anything else, sorry!

        Reply
    9. andrea jensen says

      March 16, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      I am excited to find this recipe! My kids are allergic to eggs, peanuts and milk. Now they are on a 3-month elimination diet and can't have gluten or almond either. Do you have any suggestion for replacing the almond meal? Thanks so much. I love your blog btw.

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 16, 2018 at 4:35 pm

        Yay! You could use cashew meal? I haven’t tried it with anything else, sorry!

        Reply
    10. Ananda says

      November 09, 2015 at 10:09 am

      I made these muffins yesterday, following the recipe exactly, and they are delicious! My husband liked them and usually his radar goes off when baked goods are 'too healthy'. Just wanted to say Thanks!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Ananda says

      November 09, 2015 at 10:09 am

      I made these muffins yesterday, following the recipe exactly, and they are delicious! My husband liked them and usually his radar goes off when baked goods are 'too healthy'. Just wanted to say Thanks!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Jenny says

      July 23, 2015 at 1:40 pm

      Any nutritional info? 🙂

      Reply
    13. Jenny says

      July 23, 2015 at 1:40 pm

      Any nutritional info? 🙂

      Reply
    14. Madeleine says

      April 18, 2015 at 11:28 pm

      First of all, bananas are one of my top five favorite foods, so thank you for giving me another way to consume them. 😉

      Secondly, I don't drink (or eat) coffee in any way, shape, or form. But I still want to give these a go. Do you think they'll be yummy?

      P.S. Might an oil-free adaptation exist? Maybe with more banana or applesauce? I realize the texture could be quite different with a replacement.

      Reply
    15. Madeleine says

      April 18, 2015 at 11:28 pm

      First of all, bananas are one of my top five favorite foods, so thank you for giving me another way to consume them. 😉

      Secondly, I don't drink (or eat) coffee in any way, shape, or form. But I still want to give these a go. Do you think they'll be yummy?

      P.S. Might an oil-free adaptation exist? Maybe with more banana or applesauce? I realize the texture could be quite different with a replacement.

      Reply
    16. Dana says

      April 11, 2015 at 6:11 pm

      hi Alexis! I do not own a food procesesor but I really want to try out these muffins? What do you think about using a blender instead?? They look fantastic! Thanks!!
      Dana

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 9:53 am

        Hmmm I would suggest blending the dates and bananas in the blender and then removing them from the blender and putting the mixture in a large bowl. Then stir in everything else by hand. Hope it works!

        Reply
    17. Dana says

      April 11, 2015 at 6:11 pm

      hi Alexis! I do not own a food procesesor but I really want to try out these muffins? What do you think about using a blender instead?? They look fantastic! Thanks!!
      Dana

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 9:53 am

        Hmmm I would suggest blending the dates and bananas in the blender and then removing them from the blender and putting the mixture in a large bowl. Then stir in everything else by hand. Hope it works!

        Reply
    18. Erica says

      April 09, 2015 at 7:09 pm

      These are so good! I have been seeing your pictures of them on instagram and I finally decided to make them (plus I had bananas). I omitted the coffee because I have little kids, but I followed the recipe exact otherwise. Easy to make, I had everything on hand and they turned out so yummy. They're sweet and delicious but not a sugar gut bomb.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 9:57 am

        I'm so glad you made them!! The coffee really just intensifies the chocolate flavor 🙂

        Reply
    19. Erica says

      April 09, 2015 at 7:09 pm

      These are so good! I have been seeing your pictures of them on instagram and I finally decided to make them (plus I had bananas). I omitted the coffee because I have little kids, but I followed the recipe exact otherwise. Easy to make, I had everything on hand and they turned out so yummy. They're sweet and delicious but not a sugar gut bomb.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 16, 2015 at 9:57 am

        I'm so glad you made them!! The coffee really just intensifies the chocolate flavor 🙂

        Reply
    20. Tara says

      March 29, 2015 at 8:51 pm

      Just made this muffins - wow, they are so yummy and were super easy to make! I should have made double because I feel like these are not going to last for long. I always have overripe bananas and never know what to do with them, so this was a great recipe - thanks!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 9:22 am

        Fabulous! Aren't they so easy?! I've literally been making them every weekend!

        Reply
    21. Tara says

      March 29, 2015 at 8:51 pm

      Just made this muffins - wow, they are so yummy and were super easy to make! I should have made double because I feel like these are not going to last for long. I always have overripe bananas and never know what to do with them, so this was a great recipe - thanks!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 9:22 am

        Fabulous! Aren't they so easy?! I've literally been making them every weekend!

        Reply
    22. Anna says

      March 19, 2015 at 2:52 pm

      Second time making these! I love them! This time, along with cutting the oil, I added a banana and halved the number of dates and added, wait for it....zucchini! I was inspired by your WIAW from this week mentioning how forgiving the recipe is. Guess what, you were right! So great!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 23, 2015 at 7:37 pm

        WOWZA! Look at all those fab substitutions! I'm so glad that all of that worked. I'm totally gonna post a zucchini version!

        Reply
    23. Anna says

      March 19, 2015 at 2:52 pm

      Second time making these! I love them! This time, along with cutting the oil, I added a banana and halved the number of dates and added, wait for it....zucchini! I was inspired by your WIAW from this week mentioning how forgiving the recipe is. Guess what, you were right! So great!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 23, 2015 at 7:37 pm

        WOWZA! Look at all those fab substitutions! I'm so glad that all of that worked. I'm totally gonna post a zucchini version!

        Reply
    24. swati says

      March 03, 2015 at 10:45 pm

      HI Alexis, I baked these yesterday and they turned out fab. Didn't have flax seed and rolled oats at hand. replaced coconut oil with EVOO as i didn't have that too..and still they turned out gorgeous. I added some chocochips :))
      This recipe definitely a keeper. Thank you so much for sharing. Now i'm all excited to try out your vegan raspberry muffins.Cheers

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 03, 2015 at 11:00 pm

        I'm so glad they worked with your adjustments! I make these like one a week--so easy and perfect for snacking. Hope you love the raspberry version as well!

        Reply
    25. swati says

      March 03, 2015 at 10:45 pm

      HI Alexis, I baked these yesterday and they turned out fab. Didn't have flax seed and rolled oats at hand. replaced coconut oil with EVOO as i didn't have that too..and still they turned out gorgeous. I added some chocochips :))
      This recipe definitely a keeper. Thank you so much for sharing. Now i'm all excited to try out your vegan raspberry muffins.Cheers

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 03, 2015 at 11:00 pm

        I'm so glad they worked with your adjustments! I make these like one a week--so easy and perfect for snacking. Hope you love the raspberry version as well!

        Reply
    26. Frauleinbutterlfy says

      March 01, 2015 at 12:20 pm

      Thank you for the inspiration!
      I just made My on chocolate - banana muffins - nom! Nom!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 01, 2015 at 9:43 pm

        Yummy!!

        Reply
    27. Frauleinbutterlfy says

      March 01, 2015 at 12:20 pm

      Thank you for the inspiration!
      I just made My on chocolate - banana muffins - nom! Nom!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 01, 2015 at 9:43 pm

        Yummy!!

        Reply
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